Property Advocate

Facing Forward To End•Chicago, IL

10d•$48,000 - $54,265•Hybrid

About The Position

Facing Forward to End Homelessness (Facing Forward) offers home, help, and hope to people experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Facing Forward utilizes a Housing First model which provides permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless individuals, families, and veterans. Under this model, we first ensure that clients have a safe stable home and then we empower them as they lead a forward-facing life. By providing permanent housing and a full array of services, including case management, healthcare, referrals for substance abuse treatment, mental health issues, education, and job training, we give individuals experiencing homelessness in Chicago and their children the tools they need to reclaim their lives. Facing Forward is committed to empowering all individuals to envision a brighter future. We are always striving to ensure our approach is reflective of the unique paths which have led people to Facing Forward. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where each member of Facing Forward is empowered to be themselves, share ideas, and contribute to the mission and vision of the organization. We believe that we are stronger together. We want to serve as a foundation, and work in partnership with clients, staff, vendors, and community partners. In unity, we can work to prevent and end homelessness for our clients; to partner and guide them on their journey toward stability, health, and self-sufficiency. This position requires the ability to build and maintain relationships with private landlords and property management companies, travel to different sites and locations as required, work with a diverse population of formerly homeless individuals/families impacted and to work cooperatively as part of a team. At the discretion of The Property Advocacy Manager they may assign individual property advocates to oversee specified functions of the team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in from an accredited college or university OR equivalent combination of education and experience
Three years’ experience in affordable housing, supportive housing, or other social service setting.
Knowledgeable of Chicago rental market and familiar with Chicago Landlord-Tenant Ordinance
Proficient in use and knowledge of Microsoft Office and general office equipment
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively persons who may be ill, disabled, emotionally upset and/or hostile
Ability to show empathy
Non-judgmental
Ability to make independent judgments
Ability to manage multiple tasks
Driver’s license and vehicle required

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

Assists clients with identifying and accessing housing accessible to their needs and aligned with program requirements.
Assist with all aspects of a tenant move-in to identified housing.
Collaborate with Case Managers to resolve tenancy issues and provide tenant/landlord education and mediation as needed.
Conducts and completes inspections on any unit as required by the program including proper filing of paperwork.
Obtains documentation from property owners to verify ownership.
Completes all certification paperwork and corresponding documentation for client files.
Supports clients in viewing units, including providing transportation in personal vehicle and/or arranging for transportation to viewings.
Conducts client education on Chicago Tenant Rights and increasing tenant skills.
Assist in the resolution of any work orders to ensure habitability of program units and record documentation from property owners to verify that remediation activities have been completed.
Negotiate rent increase requests from landlords; making sure units are not over Fair Market Rate (FMR).
Complete Rent Reasonableness documentation for scattered site client files.
Assists with lease renewals including inspections, lease renewal documentation and lease review.
Works with Case Managers to assist with client and landlord issues to prevent eviction including assisting with payment plans.
Cultivate landlord relationships by tracking and reporting current and former landlords.
Provide Landlord and Tenant housing resources.
Facilitate Landlord appreciation programs and events as needed.
Assist in the coordination of scattered site tenant workshops and landlord meetings.
Documents all client contacts and services in Property Tracker, HMIS case notes and services according to Facing Forward data entry policy.
Updates all housing and leasing documentation in AppFolio and paper file.
Utilizes various office systems (Outlook, Teams, etc.) to maintain regular communication with program team members.
Completes documentation of client interactions and services in HMIS, Property tracking spreadsheet, and AppFolio as needed.
Complete landlord information sheets and updates landlord information.
Monitor rental payments for tenants to ensure accurate recordkeeping.
Complete quarterly rental payment arrearage reports and letters for tenants.
Review tenant files to ensure data is accurate and complete.
Uses email and other technologies to communicate with staff and others and to efficiently complete work assignments.
Protects the organization’s value by keeping information confidential.
Updates job knowledge by participating in educational and training opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks, participating in professional organizations.
Attendance at staff and team meetings as required.
Performs other duties as assigned; including but not limited to cleaning of office space and common areas, sorting donations, additional reporting, and data entry responsibilities, and facilitating special events.