The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

Adult Protective Service (APS) is mandated by the State of New York to provide social, legal and protective services to individuals 18 years of age and older, who because of mental or physical impairments are unable to meet their essential needs for food, shelter, clothing or medical care, secure benefits and entitlements or protect themselves from physical or mental injury, neglect , maltreatment, or financial exploitation; are in need of protection from actual or threatened harm, neglect or hazardous coordination; and have no one available who is willing and able to assist them responsibly.

APS establishes appropriate safeguards to protect a given individual's resources, safety, or health, and stabilizes the situation. APS ensures that medical and psychiatric services, eviction, prevention, financial management, home care, legal services and as last resort, institutional placements are provided.


APS is looking to hire one (1) Community Associate to function as a HeavyDuty Cleaning Services Coordinator/Liaison in Queens.

Under supervision of various Borough Office managers, with latitude for independent initiative and judgment, performs responsible work in the community by coordinating the services provided to APS clients' homes by the Heavy-Duty Cleaning (HDC) contractor. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating and attending cleanings based in the community throughout the assigned Borough conducting community outreach, responding to general inquiries, providing information to HDC vendors, clients and clients' representatives regarding Heavy Duty Cleaning policy and procedures. Performs liaison functions to improve communication between HDC vendor staff, community-based organizations, APS staff, and APS clients in order toto improve the coordination of services, with the goal of retaining the vulnerable client vulnerable clients in the community.


-Perform community-based field work, by attending heavy duty cleanings in client homes in order to mitigate hoarding behavior, excessive clutter, and environmental/safety hazards; coordinate and evaluates the work to ensure that cleaning specifications are met, and that client needs are met so that he/she can retain residency in the community vs. institutional settings.

-Conduct outreach meetings in the community, involving APS clients, community-based organizations, community stakeholders, and over government agencies, to ensure that HDC services are successfully implemented, and that community partners are educated, and/or involved with the cleanings when deemed appropriate.

-Work alongside the primary caseworker when conducting a community-based home visit to determine the HDC service plan; establishes a work schedule for the HDC vendor's staff; identifies a location for the HDC staff to place any client valuables discovered during the heavy-duty cleaning and confirms the estimate of the level of need for HDC.

-Act as liaison with community-based organizations, APS Borough Office, APS Contract Unit, APS Financial Management Unit and HDC vendor's staff to facilitate cooperation with the activities of the APS HDC program.

-Schedule heavy duty cleanings, maintains current records of HDC service requests; processes work orders to APS Central Office; maintains a file system of HDC vendors and referral sources in order toto provide information to the public regarding APS special services; responds to request for information from community based organizations/community stakeholders.

Hours/Schedule: 9-5 flex

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATE - 56057

Qualification Requirements
1. High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or
2. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.