Court Liaison for the Division of Tenant and Owner Resources

About the Agency: The New York City Department of Housing Preservation Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love.

• We maintain building and resident safety and health
• We create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability
• We engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity Your Team: At HPD, rent subsidy programs are administered by the Division of Tenant & Owner Resources (DTOR). HPD’s rental subsidies, including Section 8 or the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, provide funding to eligible low-income families for rental assistance toward decent, safe, and affordable housing in a neighborhood of their choice. Families pay approximately 30% of their income toward rent, and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) pays the difference, directly to the owner. The unit must have a rent that is determined reasonable and affordable by HPD and must meet federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to be approved.

Your Impact: HPD's Division of Tenant & Owner Resources (DTOR) is responsible for the administration of rental subsidy programs that include Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), Project Based Voucher (PBV), Moderate Rehab Section 8, Moderate Rehab Single Room Occupancy (SRO), and Continuum of Care (CoC)-Shelter Plus Care (SPC) and NYC 15/15. Through these programs, HPD serves over 40,000 households and 9,000 landlords in all five boroughs. DTOR is responsible for the initial application screening; confirming eligibility requirements; briefing applicants; and issuing vouchers. DTOR also monitors tenant and landlord compliance of their obligations under each program and continues to administer the ongoing subsidies throughout their participation. These continued activities include processing annual and interim recertifications to update family income/assets, household composition, and rent amounts; tenant moves and transfers; approved rent increases; Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) abatements and reinstatements to enforce Housing Quality Your Role: The Court Liaison will serve as Court Liaison in the Division of Tenant Owner Resources (DTOR), Legal Support Unit (LSU) in the Office of Housing Access and Stability. The Court Liaison will report directly to the coordinator and/or the Deputy Director of LSU.

The Court Liaison will conduct research and analyses of Agency records that are required to be produced in Court.

Specific duties include reviewing subpoenas, researching, collecting, analyzing, preparing written summary of case facts, and organizing documents for submission and/or for testifying in Court; and, assisting and working with staff attorneys and HPD employees.

The Court Liaison will also write summaries of all court appearances, coordinate required DTOR actions that relate to legal proceedings, update Agency records of court proceedings, maintains files and records to track court caseloads.

In addition, he/she will work on special projects relating to evictions and other legal proceedings.

The Court Liaison will also respond to inquiries from attorneys, owners, tenants, assist with review of legal actions, and work on special projects. The Court Liaison will perform other functions related to the DTOR Legal Support Unit including analyzing legal documents and entering relevant information into LSU and DTOR database accurately.

The Court Liaison will provide assistance to the LSU coordinator, deputy director, and the director as needed.

The Court Liaison will be responsible for, but not limited to the following:

• Reviewing subpoenas and preparing responsive documentation.
• Appearing in housing court representing the agency and completing all required follow through.
• Understanding HPD rental subsidy program policies and procedures, New York’s legal process for residential evictions and housing court proceedings.
• Analyzing legal notices and entering relevant information into LSU and DTOR databases.
• Responding to inquiries on program hotlines and assisting clients.
• Maintaining LSU court calendar as needed.
• Working on special projects.
• Attending meetings, conferences and trainings as required.
• Working with senior management team to implement and maintain best practices.
• Representing the DTOR at community events and workshops.
• Working independently and managing your own workload.

Preferred Skills:

• Excellent Communication Skills
• Strong Customer Service Focus
• Computer Proficiency including Word, Microsoft Office, and Excel
• Bilingual a Plus
• Section 8 or other Rental Subsidy experience a Plus Authorization to work in the United States is required for this position. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development does not provide sponsorship for international employees for visa applications, extensions, or status changes, including H-1B visas. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all qualifying requirements for this position at the time of application.

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.