Housing Counselor

Westmoreland Community Action • Latrobe, PA

18d • $25 - $27

About The Position

Our Community and Economic Development department is seeking a Housing Counselor to join our team. As Housing Counselor, you will provide comprehensive housing counseling services, with a focus on credit and budget counseling, and pre- and post-closing education. Using your effective communication and presentations skills, you will support potential homebuyers and homeowners through personalized counseling and workshops, ensuring clients are well-prepared for the financial responsibilities of homeownership. You will accomplish this by: Assessing readiness, preparing clients for homeownership, offering guidance on FHA-insured financing, PHFA loan programs, home selection, fair housing rights, predatory lending prevention, budget and credit building, loan comparison, and understanding purchase procedures and closing costs; Educating clients on budgeting, credit and debt management, refinancing options, home equity use, and identifying/avoiding home repair frauds; Assessing client needs to identify appropriate referrals to additional services outside the scope of housing counseling, ensuring holistic support; Maintaining accurate paper and electronic client files in accordance with HUD and PHFA policies and procedures; Using client management software (CAP 60 and RX Office CMS) for tracking, managing, and reporting client goals and outcomes, ensuring compliance with internal and external reporting requirements; Delivering workshops and classes focused on pre-closing procedures, homeownership, credit enhancement and related topics.; Meeting HUD and PHFA certification and recertification requirements: engage in continuous professional development through a combination of on-site and off-site training programs, as well as video and web-based training sessions; Conducting outreach to engage the public, centers of influence and specific target groups, as needed. Westmoreland Community Action is a non-profit organization that works to connect individuals and families to opportunities and resources throughout the community to improve their quality of life and help to reduce poverty in the community. This is accomplished through housing, counseling, support, education, intervention, collaborations, partnerships, information, referrals, and networking.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, finance, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years in housing counseling, case management, or related roles; experience with HUD and PHFA programs highly desirable.
• HUD Housing Counselor certification or ability to obtain certification within six months of employment.
• Effective communication, case management, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in client management software (CAP 60, RX Office CMS).
• Must possess a valid PA driver’s license, $15,000/$30,000 bodily liability auto insurance, and a reasonably clean driving record.
• Must be able to provide or successfully obtain child abuse, state police, fingerprint-based criminal background, and sex offender registry clearances.

Responsibilities

• Assessing readiness, preparing clients for homeownership, offering guidance on FHA-insured financing, PHFA loan programs, home selection, fair housing rights, predatory lending prevention, budget and credit building, loan comparison, and understanding purchase procedures and closing costs
• Educating clients on budgeting, credit and debt management, refinancing options, home equity use, and identifying/avoiding home repair frauds
• Assessing client needs to identify appropriate referrals to additional services outside the scope of housing counseling, ensuring holistic support
• Maintaining accurate paper and electronic client files in accordance with HUD and PHFA policies and procedures
• Using client management software (CAP 60 and RX Office CMS) for tracking, managing, and reporting client goals and outcomes, ensuring compliance with internal and external reporting requirements
• Delivering workshops and classes focused on pre-closing procedures, homeownership, credit enhancement and related topics.
• Meeting HUD and PHFA certification and recertification requirements: engage in continuous professional development through a combination of on-site and off-site training programs, as well as video and web-based training sessions
• Conducting outreach to engage the public, centers of influence and specific target groups, as needed

Benefits

• ICHRA health plans – Using an allowance, choose the best plan for you
• Dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability polices
• 16 paid holidays
• 10 days of vacation in first year of employment
• Sick time
• 8% retirement match after 1 year and 1000 hours of service
• Mileage reimbursement
• Time and a half for holidays worked

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level