Housing Specialist III

Bremerton Housing Authority•Bremerton, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Housing Specialists are responsible for responding to inquiries, developing, and maintaining reports on their production and performance. Maintains close, recurring contact with tenants and landlords while processing the Housing Choice Voucher Program and various other programs to eligible low-income individuals and families. Primary functions of this position are to calculate financial information and changes in income and make rent adjustments, review documents, and obtain proper verifications to determine program eligibility.

Requirements

High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED): Required
2 plus years of experience in customer service or social services including working with individuals under stress.
2 plus years of experience in office work with substantial writing and intermediate to advanced business math skills and tasks.
Experienced user of Microsoft Office programs, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, ten-key machines and fax machines.
Housing Choice Voucher Specialist Certificate or be able to acquire it within one year of employment.
Must be able to handle high-volume, fast-paced work with tremendous attention to detail in the midst of multi-tasking, being organized, and meeting multiple deadlines.
Must have the ability to obtain within the first four months in the position in-depth working knowledge and the ability to administer housing programs, policies, and procedures in accordance with HUD and federal, state, and local laws.
Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.
Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
Assertiveness - Ability to act in a self-confident manner to facilitate completion of a work assignment or to defend a position or idea.
Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the customers’ needs while following company procedures.
Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace.
Initiative - Ability to make decisions or take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal.
Interpersonal - Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.
Mathematics - Accurately perform basic computations and approach practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques.
Motivation - Ability to inspire oneself and others to reach a goal and/or perform to the best of their ability.
Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.
Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.
Tactful - Ability to avoid being offensive when communicating with others, maintain diplomatic relations or good customer services, and show consideration for others with diverse backgrounds.
Technical Aptitude – HUD Affordable Housing Programs - Technical aptitude: Ability to comprehend complex technical knowledge and terminology of HUD affordable housing programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, Public Housing and Low-Income Tax Credit, and accurately follow applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
Working Under Pressure - Ability to complete assigned tasks under stressful situations.
Vision (Near)
Sense of Sound - listening to instructions and customer comments

Nice To Haves

Associate degree (two-year college or technical school) Preferred, Field of Study: Business, Public Administration, Accounting, or related field.
Strongly prefer experience in affordable housing or property management.

Responsibilities

Process annual re-certifications including determining participant compliance, review annual applications, request any missing information, reconcile information in YARDI system, and show calculations of financial information.
Process interim certifications for change in circumstances including receiving notification from tenant, verifying documentation, re-calculating adjusted monthly income, calculate the correct tenant rent and HAP payment, notify all parties of rent change, and input data into various systems within deadlines.
Act as liaison between landlords, tenants, and the community by responding to inquiries and complaints, explaining federal housing programs to both parties, and recognizing participant needs and referring them to resources in times of adversity.
Review files to ensure accuracy (i.e., utility assignment matches) and contact the landlord and participant to have a new lease and HAP contract signed when discrepancies are corrected.
Research any requests for rent increases. Coordinate with inspectors and provide collected information needed. Calculate and reconcile with utilities and other amenities. Write and send out letters explaining what was implemented.
Process inspection documentation for submission into the computer systems; ensure inspection data is correct and aligns with all other information in the participant records; scan documents and post onto a document imaging software.
Follow up and discuss any case violations such as unreported income, unauthorized occupants, drug activity, violent criminal activity, etc., in a timely manner. Contact tenants to discuss circumstances, update individuals on lease, notify landlord of any changes, and re-calculate income. Check change of circumstances through government resources and follow up with tenants to verify information. Determine if money is owed to BHA or if fraud needs to be reported.
Prepare termination packet for the F Drive in preparation of the determination to terminate. Process program participation terminations by writing and sending out letters with an explanation of the termination and instructions for next steps. Adhere to program deadlines and protocols and follow-up to ensure all steps have been completed.
Manage a caseload that consists of several different types of housing programs and subsidy sources. Maintain thorough knowledge and application of federal, state, and local policies, procedures, and regulations. Interpret and implement BHA policies and procedures in accordance with HUD rules and regulations.
Issue HCV (tenant-based vouchers), project-based vouchers, and all other, including reviewing file for accuracy and/or eligibility, coordinate portability moves with continued assistance, calculate rent, and prepare addendums to HAP contract, determining affordability, procedures for request for tenancy approval (RFTA), and the unit inspection process.
Process HAP contracts, receive requests for tenancy approval (RFTA) from inspectors, set up unit in Yardi, add family info to unit in system, calculate rent, and write letters with rent information.
Responsible for the project-based voucher Tenancy Addendum. Receive and review applicant files, calculate participant rent and prepare the Tenancy Addendum. Track and process vacancy payment claims, communicate the obligations & rights of participants and prepare change letters indicating change to the Contract Rent/Resident Portion/HAP Payment. Provide Tenancy Addendum and Change letters to Property Management as required to allow timely processing and implementation.
Update and maintain accurate information in YARDI and other program databases.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical Insurance-BHA pays 95% for employee only or 90% for family
Vision Insurance-BHA pays 95% for employee only or 90% for family
Dental Insurance – 100% Covered by BHA
Life and AD&D Insurance
Washington State Retirement (PERS)
Washington State Deferred Compensation
Paid Time Off (PTO) Accrual of 150 hours in first year
Washington State Paid Sick Leave – 1 hour for every thirty hours worked (approx. 69 hours per year)
14 Paid Holidays per year
Longevity Pay
Employee Assistance Program
Tuition Reimbursement Opportunities