PROGRAM SPECIALIST - RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

CITY OF PEEKSKILL•Peekskill, NY

4d•$63,274 - $63,274

About The Position

Coordinates activities of the City of Peekskill’s Section 8 Rental Assistance Program, which includes the screening and selecting of eligible program participants, providing assistance with landlord negotiations, and issuance of Housing Assistance checks. Supervision is not a responsibility of this position. Does related duties as required.

Requirements

Good knowledge of publicly assisted housing programs, eligibility standards and types of assistance available; good knowledge of arithmetic, business English and composition; good knowledge of rental market within the municipality serviced; good administrative and office management skills; skill in interviewing and meeting the public; ability to get along well with others; ability to effectively use computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database software; good judgment; physical condition commensurate with the duties of the position.
Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and either: (a) graduation from a recognized college or university with a Bachelor's Degree and one (1) year of office experience where the primary function was the evaluation or examination of client needs, or (b) five (5) years of office experience, including or supplemented by one (1) year of office experience where the primary function was the evaluation or examination of client needs, or (c) a satisfactory equivalent of the foregoing training and experience.

Responsibilities

Manage a caseload and conduct annual re-certifications for clients, including any interim re-certifications and any new admissions of clients on the Section 8 program
Maintain reports on any income discrepancies for clients, inspection failures for units, rent increase requests from landlords, conduct HUD rent reasonableness test to determine if units are affordable for clients, and prepare information for informal hearings to be given to the Section 8 Director
Meet with clients on an annual basis to determine eligibility of subsidy benefits based on income, deductions, allowances, and family composition
Conduct annual re-examinations and interim re-examinations of Section 8 voucher eligibility
Process moves for clients intending to move into a new Section 8 unit
Obtain third party verifications of clients’ information in accordance with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program requirements
Conduct briefing appointments for new admissions on the Section 8 program
Maintain waiting list files for possible new Section 8 clients on the waiting list
Calculate and collect payments for unreported income by participating Section 8 clients and attend informal hearings, as required
Respond to inquiries, phone calls, correspondence, emails in a timely manner
Maintain Section 8 housing reports and statistics
Resolve concerns between clients and landlords
Perform any other related duties as assigned by Director –Section 8 Rental Assistance Program including maintaining a list of clients that have new jobs that was not previously reported to the Section 8 program, filing correspondence Section 8 Director provides incumbent, scheduling of appointments, keeping track of inspections, processing more annual re-certifications or interims for clients assigned by Section 8 Director.