Housing Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Summary : Under the supervision of the Director of Housing Services, the Housing Specialist performs a variety of duties in assisting to low to moderate-income families in securing affordable housing within HUD regulations and guidelines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Meet high customer service standards, including prompt return of phone calls and handling walk-in clients, according to protocol standards. Cooperate with other agencies in order to evaluate and / or assist in the maintenance of housing choice voucher participation.

Meet with program participants to conduct intake briefings. Issue vouchers to participants at the point of admission to the program and before every move to a new unit.

Develop and maintain relationships with case management, service providers, and / or landlords in the community. Evaluate the needs of participants for appropriate referral to other service providers.

Answer questions and explain program goals and requirements to ensure understanding by landlords and participants

Notify landlords and tenants of responsibility to conform to Housing Quality Standards.

Counsel participants about how the subsidy is calculated, how much rent they can afford based on affordability restrictions, and their obligations under the program.

Determine participant eligibility for portals to other jurisdictions by communicating with other housing authorities about the portability process.

Create and review admissions files as needed; review applications submitted by project sponsors; run criminal checks; obtain and review income and disability verifications; determine basic eligibility for the program.

Completes required documentation for move-ins, transfers, annual re-certifications, interims, portability packets, and terminations.

Conduct research / investigation necessary to verify income, child support expenses, child-care expenses, medical expenses, all other qualifying factors to complete required Federal forms.

Verify family composition to ensure voucher bedroom size equals occupancy standards. Follow the procedure for relocation if indicated.

Calculate rent payment using all verified data to prepare HUD Form 50058.

Ensure all initial and / or changes to family composition and income are updated promptly in the computer system by HUD regulations.

Verify the file is complete, accurate, and in correct order. Information is recorded clearly and legibly, and all is given to the Records Manager within an established time frame

Performs other related essential duties as required.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Duties and Responsibilities

A high school diploma or GED, supplemented by HUD training and one to two years of relevant work experience, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Special Requirements

No special licensure or certification is required.

Physical Requirements

Ability to operate various automated office machines including calculator, copier, computer, telephone system, fax machine, etc.

Ability to utilize departmental software including CCS, WordPerfect, Word, Excel, and others

Ability to exert physical effort in sedentary to light work involving routine stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching; tasks require visual perception and discrimination.

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work effectively in an office environment

Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Other preferred Qualifications

Mathematical Ability

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percentages, and measure data.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Ability to comprehend and correctly use a variety of informational documents, including billing invoices, contracts, vouchers, re-certification reports, and other reports and records.

Ability to comprehend various reference books & manuals, including HUD manuals / notices, policy / procedure manuals, agency directives, etc.

Ability to prepare statistical reports, re-certification reports, financial transmittals, claims, utilization reports, memorandum, correspondence, and other job-related documents using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.

Ability to accurately record and deliver information, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality of restricted information.

Ability to use and interpret HUD regulations, basic computer, and counseling terminology and language.

Ability to use independent judgment, common sense, and principles of rational systems in the performance of tasks.

Ability to work under moderately stressful conditions, to respond immediately to crises, and to balance priorities within and between offices / departments.

Ability to maintain personal composure and tactfully handle difficult situations and interpret questions correctly; ability to behave in a friendly, understanding, helpful, and professional manner with clients / customers, coworkers, supervisors, and the general public.

Ability to advise and interpret the application of policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations; ability to explain, demonstrate, and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards.

Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with tenants, landlords, applicants, inspectors, outside agencies, other department staff, and the general public.

Summary : Under the supervision of the Director of Housing Services, the Housing Specialist performs a variety of duties in assisting to low to moderate-income families in securing affordable housing within HUD regulations and guidelines.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Meet high customer service standards, including prompt return of phone calls and handling walk-in clients, according to protocol standards. Cooperate with other agencies to evaluate and / or assist in maintaining housing choice voucher participation.

Meet with program participants to conduct intake briefings. Issue vouchers to participants at the point of admission to the program and before every move to a new unit.

Develop and maintain relationships with case management, service providers, and / or landlords in the community. Evaluate the needs of participants for appropriate referral to other service providers.

Answer questions and explain program goals and requirements to ensure understanding by landlords and participants

Notify landlords and tenants of responsibility to conform to Housing Quality Standards.

Counsel participants about how the subsidy is calculated, how much rent they can afford based on affordability restrictions, and their obligations under the program.

Determine participant eligibility for portals to other jurisdictions by communicating with other housing authorities about the portability process.

Create and review admissions files as needed; review applications submitted by project sponsors; run criminal checks; obtain and review income and disability verifications; determine basic eligibility for the program.

Completes required documentation for move-ins, transfers, annual re-certifications, interims, portability packets, and terminations.

Conduct research / investigation necessary to verify income, child support expenses, child-care expenses, medical expenses, all other qualifying factors to complete required Federal forms.

Verify family composition to ensure voucher bedroom size equals occupancy standards. Follow the procedure for relocation if indicated.

Calculate rent payment using all verified data to prepare HUD Form 50058.

Ensure all initial and / or family composition and income changes are updated promptly in the computer system by HUD regulations.

Verify the file is complete, accurate, and in correct order. Information is recorded clearly and legibly, and all is given to the Records Manager within an established time frame

Performs other related essential duties as required.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Duties and Responsibilities

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by HUD training and one to two years relevant work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Special Requirements

No special licensure or certification is required.

Physical Requirements

Ability to operate various automated office machines including calculator, copier, computer, telephone system, fax machine, etc.

Ability to utilize departmental software including CCS, WordPerfect, Word, Excel, and others

The ability to exert physical effort in sedentary to light work involving routine stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching requires visual perception and discrimination.

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work effectively in an office environment

Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Other preferred Qualifications

Mathematical Ability

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percentages, and measure data.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Ability to comprehend and correctly use a variety of informational documents, including billing invoices, contracts, vouchers, re-certification reports, and other reports and records.

Ability to comprehend various reference books & manuals, including HUD manuals / notices, policy / procedure manuals, agency directives, etc.

Ability to prepare statistical reports, re-certification reports, financial transmittals, claims, utilization reports, memorandum, correspondence, and other job-related documents using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.

Ability to accurately record and deliver information, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality of restricted information.

Ability to use and interpret HUD regulations, basic computer, and counseling terminology and language.

Ability to use independent judgment, common sense, and principles of rational systems in the performance of tasks.

Ability to work under moderately stressful conditions, to respond immediately to crises, and to balance priorities within and between offices / departments.

Ability to maintain personal composure and tactfully handle difficult situations and interpret questions correctly; ability to behave in a friendly, understanding, helpful, and professional manner with clients / customers, coworkers, supervisors, and the general public.

Ability to advise and interpret the application of policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations; ability to explain, demonstrate, and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards.

Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with tenants, landlords, applicants, inspectors, outside agencies, other department staff, and the general public.

The Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Anne Arundel County Housing Authority will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.