Inspector, Housing Choice Voucher Program

Housing Authority of Baltimore City•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

Founded in 1937, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) has kept the promise of public housing alive. It has done so by maintaining and modernizing its buildings and enriching the lives of its residents through innovative social services, recreational and educational programs, and job training initiatives. What makes HABC successful is the dedication of its employees and its history of strong leadership. The primary purpose of this position is to conduct unit inspections for the Housing Authority of Baltimore City’s Housing Choice Voucher Program/Section 8 Program. Duties include assessing Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and code violations, explaining HUD regulations and contract terms, conducting comparability and rent reasonableness studies, and training new employees. Performance of the duties requires some knowledge of building construction techniques, applicable housing, zoning, health, lead paint and fire prevention codes, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and electrical and mechanical requirements. All activities must support the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC” or “Authority”) mission, strategic goals, and objectives.

Requirements

High School Diploma, vocational school or equivalent, and a minimum of 1 year of experience in building construction, building trades, and/or housing inspection work. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.
Possession of a valid Maryland driver's license.
Must be able to be covered under the Authority's vehicle insurance policy.
Must not engage in private real estate business.
Availability to work some evenings and weekends as needed.
Successful completion of a prescreening investigation, including verification of employment history and education credentials.
A 6-month probationary period applies to this full-time permanent position.

Responsibilities

Conducts housing inspections and assesses Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and housing code violations, to determine responsibility for correcting the violations; terminates contracts and relocates tenants accordingly.
Explains HUD regulations and contract terms to property owners, property managers, contractors, maintenance personnel, and tenants. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with property owners. Mediates tenant-owner conflicts.
Negotiates initial rents for the project-based voucher program. Conducts comparability and rent reasonableness studies. Assesses the value of amenities.
Evaluates and determines cost factors for amounts to be collected by the agency regarding reimbursement for damages. Advises owners on repair approaches and costs.
Gathers evidence and prepares cases to be presented at hearings for terminations and repayment of funds.
Prepares and presents evidence and testimony in district and circuit courts.
Assists in the training of new employees.
Completes inspections to determine the identified location of Lead-Based Paint (LBP) hazards in subsidized housing. Prepares reports and recommends specific lead hazard control measures. Tracks receipt of lab tests and documents results. Communicates findings to relevant parties according to HUD regulations.
Performs other duties as assigned.