Housing Specialist
This position is responsible for interviewing, investigating and verifying, subject to review, the eligibility of residents in CMHA housing. Essential functions include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Complete and maintain accurate and compliant client files in On-base or equivalent software. (Includes verifications, eligibility, denial, etc.)
- Maintain site based waiting lists for entire agency, archive wait lists monthly, and ensure eligible clients are available. (Includes scheduling appointments etc.)
- Maintain appropriate and accurate notation within the system regarding client status.
- Obtain and verify family composition and employment income, including, but not limited to, collecting and reviewing birth certificates, marriage licenses, social security cards, check stubs and other necessary documentation.
- Obtain criminal backgrounds checks as required.
- Make any other contacts necessary to determine applicant's eligibility for low-income public housing.
- Interview, and verify those factors mentioned above that are necessary to establish the eligibility of applicants for initial occupancy.
- Accurately and timely input of data into the system.
- Compute rents by entering the income amount on the CMHA system to allow the system to automatically calculate the rent along with the deductions.
- Explain rent determinations to applicants.
- Effectively prepare for CMHA eligibility hearings (Includes preparing hearing packets with necessary documents to substantiate denial of applicant) prior to the hearings.
- Sort wait list daily.
- Represent CMHA in hearings if supervisor is out of the office (as needed basis).
- Assist with annual purge of the waiting list.
- Assist site staff with hard to lease units.
- Train/Assist with monthly training for site staff.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Minimum qualifications:
- High School diploma.
- At least two (2) years of college level course work in Business Math, Social Work, Community Relations or Communication or equivalent experience.
- At least two (2) years experience in social work or related field, which requires contact with the public, or similar work involving evaluation of personal income and other assets.
- Advanced typing/data entry skills and familiarity with the keyboard and calculators.
- Excellent customer services and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to stay organized and the ability to work in a fast paced environment.
- Must enjoy working with numbers and be proficient in advanced mathematical concepts.
- Knowledge of HUD regulations and advanced business math.
- Incumbent must obtain their housing specialist certification within one (1) year of employment
- Proficient knowledge of word processing applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, and Groupwise).
Preferred qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree with related course work.