Housing Specialist

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless • Denver, CO

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for families, children, and individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being, and stability of those it serves. We believe all people have the right to adequate housing and health care. We work to remove the barriers that restrict access to these rights. Society benefits when adequate housing and healthcare are available to everyone. We create lasting solutions to homelessness by: Honoring the inherent dignity of those we serve, affirming their capabilities, and fostering their hope that a better life is possible; Building strong, caring, and trauma-informed communities through the integration of housing, health care, and supportive services; Advocating for social and racial equity, inclusion, and diversity and challenging the status quo in partnership with our workforce members and those we serve; Achieving excellence through continuous quality assurance, innovation, and professional development; Using resources judiciously and effectively. The Housing Specialist is responsible for collaboratively addressing the housing stability needs of program participants and ensuring housing program integrity. This will include working with other CCH staff members and outside agencies to ensure (1) ongoing housing stability of program participants (2) HUD housing program compliance that includes the management of housing files and databases.

Requirements

• Reliable transportation required.
• Valid Driver’s License Required.
• Must be able to pass criminal background and automobile insurance carrier’s Motor Vehicle Record background investigations.
• Sound critical thinking and decision-making skills to ensure HUD regulations are being followed while also being sensitive to the needs of participant households and their landlords.
• Consistently superb customer service skills that would include effective interpersonal communication and active listening skills that demonstrates a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Knowledge of homeless issues and demonstrated sensitivity to and a desire to work with underserved and marginalized populations.
• Given the inter-connectedness of homeless housing programs, this position will require a high degree of cooperation and collaboration with other CCH staff, landlords, and outside agencies that come into contact with the program participants.
• Must have strong writing and computer skills including; (1) writing business letters (2) data entry into various databases (3) utilizing Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 applications.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills, especially in sometimes chaotic environments. This would include being able to prioritize, schedule and coordinate multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Must be able to engage in direct supervision with manager on a weekly or as-needed basis to ensure that CCH, department, and program activities are accomplished accurately and efficiently.
• Must be able to work independently on a high volume of work without direct daily supervision.
• Able to prioritize job functions based on current needs of CCH and/or overall department needs.

Nice To Haves

• HUD housing program administration experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in social service-related field preferred. Experience may be substituted for education.
• Experience working with people who are experiencing homelessness or who have come from homelessness preferred.
• Bilingual candidates preferred.

Responsibilities

• Researches, monitors, and properly interprets HUD rules and regulations for various housing programs. These programs may include HOME TBRA, Permanent Supportive Housing, Emergency Solutions Grant, Housing Choice Voucher, State Housing Voucher and others.
• Conducts housing orientations, Housing Quality Standards inspections, lease-ups, tenant conferences, annual re certifications, interim re certifications and calculates repayment agreements for housing programs maintaining a case load will be 100 - 150 households.
• Outreaches and engages program participants on an as needed basis. This may include meeting with program participants in the office, on the streets, in the shelters, at places of employment, or in their rental units to ensure housing program activities are completed.
• Identifies and collaboratively resolves conflicts with and between landlords, program participants, case managers. This will include rent and lease negotiations per CCH procedures.
• Collaborates with case managers, other CCH staff, and outside agencies as necessary, to ensure housing stability for the household.
• Coordinates with the CCH Accounting department and/or the Division of Housing to ensure that paperwork is completed in an accurate and timely manner; including the monthly housing assistance accounting report.
• Demonstrates competency in and maintains housing databases. This may include data entry into multiple systems; HMIS, FileMaker, Elite, and others.
• Actively participates in appropriate team meetings and meets regularly with manager for one-on-one supervision.
• Conducts household rent calculations in accordance with funder and HUD regulations. This will include documenting (1) income verification (2) payment standards/FMRs (3) utility allowances (4) contract rents (5) total tenant payments (6) housing assistance payments and (7) final tenant rent.
• Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness and builds workforce diversity; and that fosters cooperation and teamwork.

Benefits

• Health Insurance - HMO or PPO
• Dental plans, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance
• Company paid basic life and AD&D insurance coverage, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) retirement savings matching
• Extensive paid time-off, including holidays, sick leave, and vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree