Homeless Services staff, homeless shelter staff, homeless shelter staff training, homeless services staff training, homeless services training, housing stability plus side deals, eduacational rights of homeless students, shelter eligibility criteria and the application process for homeless families in New York City, succeeding in a changing environment
 HSU Training Opportunities
Homeless Services United convenes free and low-cost trainings for member agencies each year. Trainings provide member agencies' staff with invaluable opportunities to connect with experts and each other on a number of specific topics. HSU can sometimes accommodate staff from non-member agencies at trainings. For more information about our training schedule please contact us.

Upcoming training opportunities include:

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Hidden Resident: Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender in our Shelter Communities
Cost: $40 for members in good standing, $60 for non-members
See below for more information. To register please contact HSU at 646-827-2272 or info@hsunited.org


Training opportunities include:

Advantage Initiatives: Information and Advocacy Strategies
This training provides homeless services staff with the most up-to-date information and advocacy tools to assist single adults and families eligible for NYC Advantage housing supports. Training includes a detailed review of the Work Advantage, Fixed Income Advantage and Children's Advantage Programs and helpful advocacy information for current recipients these subsidies as well as recipients of Housing Stability Plus. Training is conducted by Lindsey Davis, Community Organizer with Coalition for the Homeless.

Combating Staff Burnout & Workplace Stress
To avoid burnout and workplace strain shelter workers must be prepared with the knowledge and tools to help them cope effectively in an emotionally and physically draining work environment. A worker cannot help their clients if they cannot remain emotionally and physically present for them. This interactive training helps direct service workers and supervisors establish positive coping mechanism to battle workplace strain and fatigue, manage the symptoms and potential triggers of vicarious or secondary trauma, and understand the causes and complexities of burnout.

Educational Rights of Homeless Students
NYS-TEACHS, a program of Advocates for Children, provides educational rights information helpful to staff serving children residing in Tier II shelters, older youth residing in singles shelters and students living in doubled-up situations in the community. This training addresses the educational rights of students living in temporary shelters and doubled-up situations, strategies for advocating for these rights and who to contact about school placement, transportation and special education issues.

The Hidden Resident
Identifying and understanding the needs of residents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) is vital to maintaining an environment in which all residents may feel safe and secure. This training explores what constitutes best practices for front-line staff working with residents who identify as LGBT. This training helps staff develop the skills to provide specialized support to LGBT individuals asking practical, theoretical and personal questions and in need of specific, concrete services; explore how to best ensure the safety of LGBT clients and staff; and advocate for the legal rights of LGBT residents.Training is conducted by Andrea Schmidt, LMSW, who shares her extensive experience training social workers and homeless services providers.

Motivational Interviewing and Strengths-Based Assessment Skills
Change can be very difficult, especially when it is related to serious problems such as client compliance around issues of curfew, housing search, entitlements, etc. Focusing on motivational interviewing practices and a strengths-based perspective to promote change in homeless families and individuals living in the shelter system, this one day workshop provides front-line homeless services staff with realistic tools and methods to help with the daily management of clients. Training conducted by Amanda Mills, LMSW, assistant professor at BMCC and Columbia University, and training consultant.

Motivational Interviewing as an Approach to Behavioral Change
Professionals who practice motivational interviewing learn specific tools to identify, discuss and address possibilities for behavioral changes that relate to the stage of change each individual client is in. This workshop gives shelter workers realistic tools and methods to address individual resident issues and to help with the daily management of residents. Training is conducted by Wendy Lauber, Director of Mental Health Services with Volunteers of America – Greater New York.

NY/NY III Supportive Housing Opportunities
This training provides a review of the eligibility criteria for supportive housing opportunities available for families and single adults, how to apply for NY/NY III housing and tools and guides for compiling an effective housing application when submitting an HRA 2010e application. Training is conducted by Center for Urban Community Services.

Public Assistance: Understanding the Basics and the Rules for Complex Households
The Community Service Society's Public Benefits Resource Center helps staff at homeless services programs effectively counsel Housing Stability Plus clients around employment related issues. The training includes sessions covering the basics of New York City's three public assistance programs (Family Assistance, Safety Net Cash Assistance, and Safety Net Non-Cash Assistance) as well as the public assistance rules for complex households.

Shelter Eligibility Criteria and the Application Process for Homeless Families
The Legal Aid Society's Homeless Rights Project leads a training to help staff understand the Department of Homeless Services family shelter application process so that they can better prepare homeless families to document their needs and obtain shelter on their first application. This training teaches staff how they can help families in need by understanding recent policy changes for re-applicant families, the steps involved in the application process and the legal standards to which the city must adhere when making eligibility decisions.

Side Deals in Advantage Program: Clients Legal Rights & Obligations
Illegal side deals are an unfortunate part of many Advantage client’s housing reality. This training provides advocates with the tools to inform and protect clients from engaging in side deals and assist those making side deal payments prepare for the challenges they may face. Training includes a review of the court systems through which a landlord may seek to enforce a side deal and helpful strategies for navigating these systems as well as answers to workers most pressing questions about side deals in the Advantage programs. Training is conducted by members of the Legal Aid Society’s Homeless Rights Project.

Succeeding in a Changing Environment
Amanda Mills, LMSW, assistant professor at BMCC and Columbia University, and training consultant, provides trainings designed to identify the challenges homeless services staff currently face and to help both front-line workers and supervising staff develop the skills to cope and succeed in a difficult and rapidly changing environment. Staff identify and develop strategies to overcome the challenges they determine most relevant and concerning, develop stress management skills and set personal goals related to these skills. Separate trainings are offered for front-line and supervising staff.

Why Do We Assess? Tools for Shelter Workers
Clients have a lot to tell us, we just need tools that will open the door to better assessment and identification. This one day workshop, focusing on client and shelter staff interaction, provides staff with tools to help see clients as unique individuals and not just numbers. Staff also build skills to help themselves cope with the daily frustrations that can impact service. Training provided by Amanda Mills, assistant professor at BMCC and Columbia University, and training consultant.


 For more information about our training schedule please contact us.