Housing Specialist, FSS

Houston Housing Authority•Houston, TX

14d

About The Position

The Housing Specialist performs a wide range of activities supporting Housing Choice Voucher Program operations, including determining and documenting participant eligibility, income, rent, and contractual relationships with property owners. The position manages a caseload and may handle admissions, re-certifications, interim adjustments, rent increases, and participant or landlord concerns. The role requires working independently on complex tasks while following HUD regulations, the Administrative Plan, and Houston Housing Authority policies and procedures. The job description also refers to Senior Housing Specialists when describing program duties and experience expectations. The employee works with applicants, participants, landlords, inspectors, coworkers, and program administrators. Work is principally sedentary and takes place in an adequately cooled, heated, lighted, and ventilated office environment, though interviews may take place in clients’ homes or offsite locations. The role can involve some physical exertion and eyestrain, as well as stress related to public and interpersonal contacts. The employee has no supervisory responsibilities and reports to the Team Leader; assignments and instructions are received from the Assistant Administrator.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Two years of college coursework.
Three years of experience in public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, case management, apartment management, an HCVP Call Center, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and higher education; one year of relevant experience is equivalent to one year of relevant higher education and vice versa.
Achieve a score of at least 80% on the Rent Calculation Certification exam.
Obtain Housing Choice Voucher Program Specialist Certification.
Achieve and maintain at least 80% accuracy on random-sample file reviews for HAP compliance and determination of adjusted income.
Be bondable.
Hold a valid Texas driver’s license or obtain one within the first 30 days of employment.
Be eligible for coverage under Houston Housing Authority fleet auto insurance.
Knowledge of Housing Choice Voucher Program policies and applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations related to low-income housing, as well as Houston Housing Authority policies.
Knowledge of general office practices and procedures, business English, and basic mathematics.
Knowledge of HUD HQS, inspection procedures, and Houston Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate interpersonally and work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and abilities, including participants, landlords, and coworkers.
Ability to complete complex, detailed tasks accurately and on time, and to plan and prioritize duties.
Ability to work independently and use judgment in making recommendations and decisions while following established procedures and written guidelines.
Ability to handle complex interpersonal situations and conflicts between assisted tenants and landlords with skill and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Knowledge of spoken and written Spanish.

Responsibilities

Conduct eligibility interviews with applicants and port-in families, including in clients’ homes or offsite as needed.
Conduct criminal history checks for adult members of applicant families and determine eligibility for waiting-list applicants, special admissions, and port-ins.
Inform ineligible families about informal meeting procedures.
Document family composition, citizenship or eligible immigrant status, and Social Security numbers or required certifications in accordance with HUD requirements.
Determine annual and adjusted income, obtain Enterprise Income Verification or third-party verifications, and calculate Total Tenant Payment in accordance with HUD rules.
Determine appropriate Voucher size, issue Vouchers, and brief Voucher-holders, including emphasizing housing opportunities outside areas of minority and low-income concentration.
Establish complete and accurate participant files with required documents and verifications.
Receive and review tenancy approval requests, HAP contracts, tenancy addenda, inspection reports, rent-reasonableness determinations, and leases; check required signatures and internal consistency; and authorize HAP payments to owners as appropriate.
Enter correct information and forward accurate, timely Form 50058 submissions to the Assistant Administrator for submission to HUD.
Request and coordinate annual and special inspections with Inspectors.
Schedule and conduct annual re-certification interviews, ensuring required rent-increase notices are provided at least 30 days before the anniversary date and that the process is completed by that date.
Reassess family unit and Voucher size as appropriate and issue a new Voucher when needed.
Conduct full annual re-certifications when families move later than 120 days after their most recent annual re-certification, where program guidelines and the Administrative Plan require it, and update the anniversary date.
Process interim adjustments when participants report changes in income or family circumstances, documenting information using EIV when available or other permitted documentation.
Determine requests to add family members for reasons other than the birth, adoption, or court-awarded custody of children, in accordance with the Administrative Plan.
Receive owner rent-increase requests and forward them for rent-reasonableness determinations and budget review; notify owners and Finance when increases are approved.
Ensure utility allowances used to determine tenant rent are accurate and reflect unit size and type and tenant-paid utilities.
Process assigned client files within prescribed timeframes.
Work cooperatively with the Voucher Administration group, adjusting workload as needed, and assist with additional caseloads when required.
Investigate and resolve participant and landlord complaints professionally and with minimal supervisor involvement.
Communicate courteously and professionally with applicants, participants, landlords, owners, and coworkers; answer questions about rent, damage claims, inspections, leases, contracts, regulations, and agency policies and procedures.
Return participant and landlord calls within one workday and place mailed, faxed, or emailed information in the appropriate participant file within two workdays.
Participate in revising departmental policies and procedures.
Submit monthly performance reports as required and perform other duties as assigned.