HCV Housing Specialist Position Available In Lee, Florida

HCV Housing Specialist Housing Authority Of The City Of Fort Myers Florida Fort Myers, FL Job Details Estimated:

$40.9K•$51K a year 16 hours ago Qualifications Bilingual Spanish Writing skills Financial report writing English Mid-level Microsoft Office Driver’s License Bachelor’s degree Section 8 Interviewing Computer skills Associate’s degree Grammar Experience 2 years Communication skills Full Job Description Housing Specialist•Housing Choice Voucher Department Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Housing Specialist performs his/her duties and responsibilities under the direction of the Director and or Manager of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Individual hired is assigned a caseload and works with considerable independence in carrying out the essential functions of the position. The essential functions include determining eligibility for program participation under the Housing Choice Voucher Programs; provides information and material to participants regarding their eligibility status and the necessary procedures to be followed; and performs clerical and administrative related duties, processes annual and interim recertifications of family income and continued eligibility.

PERFORMANCE AREA

#1 Determines initial and continued eligibility for potential housing program participation under the Voucher Program and processes documentation to substantiate eligibility following U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines to provide low-income families and individuals affordable housing of their choice. Compiles and maintains applicant files consisting of initial applications and supplemental data accumulated through verification procedures. Responsible for interviewing applicants, collecting required data, and completing applications for continuing eligibility housing assistance. Verifies information received from applicants such as income, assets, and allowances, to include social services, welfare (TANF/SNAP), childcare and medical expenses to determine continued eligibility for housing assistance or to make interim adjustments due to changes in financial circumstances of participants. Obtains criminal background from participants and applicants to ensure housing assistance is not provided to certain criminal offenders. Investigates reported changes in income, expenses, and participant status to determine if fraudulent information has been reported. Compute’s subsidy payments and/or total tenant payments (TTP) in accordance to established HUD formulas and information derived from income data obtained in interviews/investigations. Generates contracts, interim changes, re-certifications, form letters, and other client information and/or correspondence. Enters client data into the computer software program to document changes in participant status. Assists in the compilation and reporting of data for HUD and other reports. Researches and interprets HUD regulations. Explains policies, procedures and disseminates other rental assistance information to landlords, tenants, and applicants. Other related duties as required including assignments and departmental requests.

PERFORMANCE AREA

#2 Provides information and material to participants regarding their waiting list status, eligibility status and the necessary procedures to be followed in accordance with Voucher program rules and procedures to provide or deny low-income families and individuals affordable housing. Maintains the waiting list. Determines eligibility when applicant is eligible for one of the housing choice voucher programs. Creates, distributes, and tracks portability documentation to/from other Housing Authorities. Distributes informational packages to applicants (if applicable). Explains the family’s requirements of the Voucher program to applicants. Provides applicants with the landlord packet of information (if applicable). Other related duties as required including assignments and departmental requests.

PERFORMANCE AREA

#3 Organizes and conducts family briefings for all certified program applicants in the Voucher Program using various forms and documents, following departmental guidelines, and HUD regulations and guidelines to interpret and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to applicants and to assist in their search for affordable housing. Schedules eligible applicants for the Program briefing session. Schedule and Conduct re-certification appointments and interviews. (includes letter generation/ mail out) Distributes packages of information to certified participants relative to the Housing Choice Voucher program. Issues vouchers authorizing clients to rent based on Housing Subsidy Standards. Counsels’ applicants regarding the size unit, utility allowances, and rent amount allowable under HUD guidelines. Reviews the Voucher Program to new applicants and answers questions in the group or individual setting. Provides applicants with a landlord packet and a list of apartment and housing listing within the County. Other related duties as required including assignments and departmental requests.

PERFORMANCE AREA

#4 Performs clerical and administrative related duties using the computer, calculator, copier, telephone, fax, and printer. Follows the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and HACFM guidelines, policies, and procedures to ensure the overall objectives of the department and agency are met. Prepares new files for HCV participants relocating from one unit to another unit. As requested, assist in the preparation and analysis of the

SEMAP, RIM

Review responses, and corrective action plans. Refers program participants to services offered by other community-based organizations. Coordinates with landlords and participants to facilitate occupancy and resolve landlord tenant issues. Covers front desk in the absence of the front desk attendant. Purge’s participant files to maintain current data and import/convert data to merge files. Process and document participant files concerning possible terminations from the HCV program. Attend and participate in informal hearings. Consults with other housing districts regarding billing and case progress of portables residing in and out of the HACFM housing jurisdiction. Consults with landlords regarding repeated violations of the dwelling lease agreement and Voucher program. Perform Quality Control Functions (if applicable). Determine and process income summaries for repayment agreements. Other related duties as required including assignments and departmental requests.

COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: ETHICS•Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others, works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.

PROBLEM SOLVING

•Works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

•Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to request for service and assistance; meets commitments.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

•Focuses on solving conflict, not blame; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remain open to others’ ideas and tries new things.

ORAL COMMUNICATION

•Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions, demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

•Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

TEAMWORK

•Gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of the team above own interest; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

•Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

JUDGEMENT

•Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.

PROFESSIONALISM

•Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.

ADAPTABILTIY

•Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

ATTENDANCE/PUNCTUALITY

•Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meeting and appointments on time.

DEPENDABILITY

•Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keep commitments; commits to long hours of work if and when necessary, to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

INITIATIVE

•Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offer help when needed.

DIVERSITY

•Ability to interact effectively with a variety of individuals and groups from varying educational, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds to include being sensitive to the feelings, needs and points of view of others and recognizing opportunities to improve customer relations as needed to provide and gather information, gain the cooperation of others, and accomplish work objectives. Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of case management techniques to include maintaining separate, detailed records for each program recipient as needed to provide individualized consultation and assistance to program recipients. Knowledge of community resources available to low-income families, elderly individuals, and persons having disabilities as needed to refer program participants to services performed by other community-based organizations. Knowledge of Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Voucher Program regulations and procedures to include program eligibility requirements and assistance calculations as needed to provide housing assistance. Knowledge of the principles and procedures of financial records keeping and reporting as needed to maintain and balance program recipient assistance amounts. Skill in interviewing and counseling to include how to establish a rapport with clients, maintaining control of the situation, asking probing questions, analyzing the information provided and motivating clients as needed to investigate and verify information given by program recipients. Skill in oral communication to include the use of proficient English grammar, clarity, explaining complex concepts on the level of the listener, listening as needed to explain housing assistance procedures or request needed information. Skill in reading at a level to comprehend HUD rules and regulations regarding the Housing Choice Voucher program and other forms and documents. Skilled in the grammatically correct use of the English language both orally and in writing. Skill at using office tools and equipment including the use of computer software and systems. Knowledge of Microsoft Office basic programs. Ability to counsel program participants to include providing support and guidance as needed to meet their goals of the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Ability to interpret and explain affordable housing assistance program laws, rules, and regulations as needed to provide information to program applicants, participants, and landlords. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information of a sensitive or confidential nature to include income status and police record as needed to ensure that the duties and obligation are met regarding program participation. Ability to maintain program records and files as needed to ensure participant information is filed in a clear, concise, and accurate manner. Ability to mediate disputes and achieve resolutions to complex relationship problems and resolve questions concerning tenant/landlord obligations. Ability to use an office computer to include keyboard layout, function keys, how to access and use business software as needed to create, save, retrieve, information, records, and report housing assistance information. Ability to operate various office machines, such as telephone, facsimile machine, calculator, and typewriter as needed to communicate with clients, supervisor, other agencies, and to maintain records. Ability to perform simple mathematical calculations with accuracy as needed to calculate and/or prorate applicant net income, rent, and utility allowances. Ability to provide direction, consultation and coordination as needed to ensure the compliance of federal and state housing assistance laws, rules, and regulations. Ability to recognize when information has been misunderstood as needed to identify the misunderstood information and provide clarity. Ability to work independently to include weighing the consequences of actions of decisions, responding to emergencies, scheduling, and prioritizing work, motivating oneself, managing time effectively, prioritizing tasks and determining when tasks require the intervention of others while managing several housing assistance cases simultaneously and meeting deadlines.

EDUCATION / FORMAL TRAINING / EXPERIENCE

Associate degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred. Two years’ experience in a professional environment interpreting and applying regulatory requirements and determining program eligibility. Housing Choice Voucher experience preferred. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Housing Specialist Certification preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be able to lift, carry, and push articles weighing up to 25 pounds. Must be able to climb two or more flights of stairs. Must be physically able to stand, walk, sit, speak, hear and see to perform the duties of this position.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidate must have certification or able to obtain certification within 90 days of hire. Candidate must have an insurable driving record for the last three (3) years and maintain such valid driver’s license and insurable driving record while employed by the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers. Applicant must be bondable and insurable by the insurance carrier of the HACFM.