Housing Specialist - Mainstream/HCV

HOM•Phoenix, AZ

12d

About The Position

HOM, Inc. is a national leader in housing assistance programs and works to end homelessness in Arizona through housing. The Housing Specialist operates the entirety of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Mainstream program, managing up to 194 participants through the full course of their participation. This includes wait-list selection, initial eligibility determinations, admission and move-in, interim and annual certifications, unit transfers, and program termination. The role also supports HUD utilization analysis and reporting through PIC and VMS systems. This is a non-exempt position. The Housing Specialist works with participants, landlords, property owners, supportive services, and internal colleagues to administer vouchers and housing assistance accurately and in accordance with program rules, regulations, and the Administrative Plan. The role requires extensive documentation and data entry, confidentiality when handling sensitive information, and consistent engagement with homeless and/or disabled populations. HOM describes its work as grounded in Housing First principles.

Requirements

At least five years of experience in the assisted housing industry, property management, homeless services, project management, or a similar setting.
Housing Specialist or Occupancy Specialist certification, or ability to obtain it within the first year of employment; the posting also specifies Section 8 or Public Housing Occupancy industry certification, or ability to obtain it within one year of hire.
High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications, including SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Planner, Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Strong organizational skills and aptitude for project management and multitasking across concurrent projects.
Knowledge of the Arizona Residential Landlord & Tenant Act.
Ability to work closely and consistently with homeless and/or disabled populations.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work well with a wide range of personalities.
Ownership of work processes and outcomes.
Ability to think strategically and tactically to accomplish goals.
Ability to manage change while working as part of a team.
Problem-solving ability and adaptability to unexpected challenges.
Adhere to HOM Security and Privacy Policies when accessing or using sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI).
Demonstrate the four focus areas of HOM Inc.’s Competency Model: Emotional Intelligence, Expertise, Ethics, and Excellence.
Current Arizona driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
Understanding of and commitment to Housing First principles in ending homelessness.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree and/or bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

Maintain, document, and update the HCV Mainstream program wait list.
Monitor and coordinate with CPO on program utilization to keep programs fully leased up.
Enter program data into the HUD VMS system.
Select households from the wait list in compliance with allocation and Administrative Plan requirements, rules, and regulations.
Coordinate, schedule, prepare, and conduct orientations for new participants.
Obtain and evaluate written verification of participant income, assets, expenses, and eligibility factors in accordance with program guidelines, regulations, and practices.
Issue and manage vouchers, including extensions and terminations.
Assist applicants and participants with dwelling-unit searches using Padmission.
Process tenancy-approval requests and determine unit gross-rent eligibility.
Review rent reasonableness.
Calculate tenant rent and rental assistance payments.
Negotiate contract rent and lease terms.
Coordinate initial Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections.
Prepare housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts.
Conduct interim and annual recertifications.
Coordinate and process participant unit transfers.
Advocate for program participants in the community and work closely with program-specific supportive services.
Process participant program terminations when necessary.
Create and maintain participant files with accurate and timely documentation.
Perform extensive data entry in housing software for participants, dwelling units, landlords, and other housing-program information.
Access participant data while adhering to confidentiality requirements across computer databases, including HUD EIV, Arizona Department of Economic Security AZTECS and GUIDE, and tenant-screening websites.
Assist with and implement PIC reporting through the software provider to HUD.
Perform duties as needed or assigned.