Housing Counselor

Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City•Kansas City, MO

12d•Onsite

About The Position

This full-time position supports the mission of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City by providing direct counseling to clients seeking assistance in all areas of home buying and homeownership. The role involves supporting families through the Housing Counseling Program to improve their chances of homeownership, either through Habitat or a traditional mortgage loan. This includes working with prospective homeowners to strengthen their financial literacy through education programs covering credit, financial planning, asset building, budgeting, and saving for a down payment. The position also requires follow-up to track family outcomes, documenting data in the Mpact Pro client management system, and adhering to HUD Housing Counseling program requirements and policies. Additionally, the role contributes to strategic planning for the Financial Literacy Model and engages in off-site programs to promote homeownership opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience
Minimum of three years relevant work experience including but not limited to: mortgage/lending/real estate/case management
Experience in working with low to moderate income families within a financial literacy program
Organization & Prioritization: Ability to meet deadlines, use time efficiently, and prioritize
Teamwork: Ability to work independently and work as an effective team member
Communication: Good communication and presentation skills with the ability to write professional documents and speak to groups of various sizes
Flexibility/Adaptability: Ability to work under pressure to handle frequent change, delays, and/or unexpected events
Interpersonal Skills: Good interpersonal skills with an ability to work with a variety of people and occasionally handle difficult situations and conflicts with finesse
Technical Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom and/or teams. Ability to quickly gain proficiency with Mpact Pro client management database software
Pass HUD Housing Counseling exam within the first 60 days of employment
Complete Neighborworks Housing Counseling Trainings as assigned
Complete yearly Qualified Loan Originator training. Maintain required certifications and industry knowledge through research, workshops, training, and required compliance
Willingness to maintain the flexible work schedule necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this position, including evenings and weekends as needed.
Integrity, organization, attention to detail, ability to maintain confidentiality.
Support and endorse the Habitat for Humanity mission.
Speak and hear in order to communicate with others
Work at a desk or computer for extended periods of time
Move around the office, event, or construction sites
Apply physical dexterity, able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds
Must be able to independently operate a motor vehicle
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to meet clients at other locations as needed

Responsibilities

Support families through the Housing Counseling Program to improve their chances of homeownership through Habitat, or a traditional mortgage loan.
Work directly and indirectly with prospective homeowners to strengthen their financial literacy through education programs. Includes: maintaining and preserving good credit, financial planning, asset building, creating budgets, and how to save for down payment.
Follow-up efforts to track outcomes for each Family and documenting all data into Mpact Pro client management system.
Follow HUD Housing Counseling program requirements and policies.
Contribute to the strategic planning process, which includes engaging staff and other stakeholders in defining desired outcomes for the Financial Literacy Model and implementing a system to measure outcomes.
Engage in off-site programs that promote and enhance homeownership opportunities in the community.
Coordinate community outreach effort to include internal and external stakeholders.
Attend community and neighborhood meetings that focus on building community, financial literacy, and homeownership.
Actively recruit, train, support and empower unengaged residents and community representatives to enthusiastically participate, develop strategies and address root causes of poverty housing.
Become familiar with and assist in further implementing outcome measurements research & evaluation tactics; assist in generating and presenting qualitative/quantitative reports utilizing provided data and statistics.
Help to develop and coordinate strategies and programs designed to build and strengthen resident involvement. Promote activities and services; create sustainability through various forms of media.
In collaboration with the leadership staff, speak on behalf of Habitat KC for its advocacy agenda items.
Work with Kansas Habitat SSO to support state-wide advocacy priorities.
Forge partnerships with organizations along the housing continuum so that all may work together to advocate for affordable, fair, and just local housing policy.
Work closely with families selected into the Habitat for Humanity Homeownership program to ensure all education requirements are met.
Conduct one on one financial counseling with applicants.
Develop and conduct homeowner education classes for group size of over 50+ people.
Ensure program data is accurate and available for timely cross-departmental reporting.
Other duties as assigned.