Housing Coordinator-Rapid Rehousing

VOA Illinois; Elgin (IL); Hybrid; USD 27,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Dental Vision

403(b) with employer match

Generous PTO

Early wage access via Payactiv

PSLF eligible employer

Life Insurance

FSA/HSA

Job summary

VOA Illinois is seeking a Housing Coordinator to help Veterans access and maintain stable housing. The role focuses on housing navigation, landlord engagement, inspections, and collaboration with community partners to expand safe, affordable housing opportunities for Veterans.

Using a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach, you will coordinate with internal teams and landlords to prevent Veteran homelessness and support long-term housing stability.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of experience working with low-income or homeless populations in supportive housing services or related fields.
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation during work hours.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools.
• Strong English reading, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, customer service, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse staff, residents, and partners.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with service providers and partners to prevent and end Veteran homelessness.
• Provide housing navigation, assessments, referrals, and placement support.
• Conduct housing inspections and ensure safety/compliance standards.
• Recruit, engage, and retain landlords to expand housing opportunities for Veterans.
• Respond promptly to participant, landlord, and partner inquiries to ensure timely housing placements.
• Maintain documentation in HUD-VASH, VA systems, Teams, and Microsoft Office.

Skills

English proficiency

Communication

Organization

Customer service

Multitasking

Education

High School Diploma

Equivalent education

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Location:

Chicago, IL 60605

Pay:

$19.30 - $26.64 Hourly ($40,144 - $55,411 annually)

Schedule:

Full Time, Non-Exempt (40 hours/week)

About Us:

Volunteers of America Illinois is a national, faith-based nonprofit founded over 125 years ago. VOA Illinois delivers strength-based, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive programs across the state.

We are a certified Great Place to Work and proudly promote from within — over 50% of our workforce has advanced into new roles within the organization. We continue to innovate and evolve based on the needs of the communities we serve.

Program Overview:

VOA Illinois' Rapid Rehousing Program provides short-term rental assistance and services. The goals are to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self-sufficiency, and stay housed. It is offered without preconditions such as employment, income, absence of criminal record or sobriety, and the resources and services provided are typically tailored to the needs of the participant.

We provide:

• Housing navigation and placement assistance to help Veterans locate safe, affordable housing
• Personalized service plans developed in collaboration with Veteran Services staff
• Connections to community resources including healthcare, employment services, and financial assistance
• Landlord engagement and housing advocacy to expand housing opportunities for Veterans
• Housing stability support including case management, referrals, and ongoing service coordination
• Outreach and partnerships with community organizations and local Veteran service providers
• Education and guidance on tenant rights, housing resources, and long-term housing stability

Our goal is to help Veterans achieve safe and stable housing, strengthen self-sufficiency, and successfully overcome housing instability so they can thrive in their communities.

Position Summary:

The Housing Coordinator plays a critical role in helping Veterans access and maintain stable housing. This position focuses on housing navigation, landlord engagement, housing inspections, and coordination with community partners to expand safe and affordable housing opportunities for Veterans. Using a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach, the Housing Coordinator collaborates with internal teams, community partners, and landlords to prevent and end Veteran homelessness while supporting Veterans in securing and maintaining permanent housing.

Work Environment & Schedule:

• Full-time, in-office position averaging 40 hours per week
• Eligible for at least one remote workday per week after Initial Training Period
• Travel throughout assigned service areas and surrounding counties
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Physical demands include sedentary work, computer use, and frequent communication with clients, colleagues, and partners involved in client support.
• Must be able to travel within the community, transport clients when necessary, and assist clients in and out of vehicles

What You'll Do:

• Coordinate with service providers, community partners, and stakeholders to prevent and end Veteran homelessness
• Provide housing navigation services including participant assessments, housing referrals, and placement support
• Conduct housing inspections and ensure properties meet required safety and compliance standards
• Serve as a resource on fair housing laws, affordable housing regulations, and tenant/landlord rights
• Recruit, engage, and retain landlords through outreach and relationship-building to expand housing opportunities for Veterans
• Respond promptly to participant, landlord, and partner inquiries to ensure timely housing placements
• Maintain accurate documentation in program databases and systems including HUD-VASH, VA systems, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Office
• Collaborate with the Program Manager and team members to develop strategies that support long-term housing stability for Veterans
• Support program performance goals and ensure compliance with HUD, VA, and other housing program regulations
• Facilitate and participate in housing-related outreach events such as landlord seminars and housing resource fairs
• Research housing and demographic trends to support program planning and development
• Serve as a liaison with legal service providers for housing disputes, eviction prevention, and fair housing concerns
• Represent the program at community meetings, coalitions, and local partnerships
• Support organizational collaboration, continuous improvement, and the mission of VOA Illinois
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor
• Exhibit cultural competence while serving clients of diverse backgrounds and commit to expanding knowledge and understanding of different communities and people groups.

Qualifications

Required:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• At least 2 years of experience working with low-income or homeless populations in supportive housing services, property management, or a related field
• Valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation during work hours
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Strong English reading, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational, customer service, and multitasking skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse staff, residents, and partners

Preferred:

• Familiarity with subsidized or market-rate rental housing in the Chicagoland area
• Experience working with community resources, housing providers, or service organizations that support housing stability

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical Dental, Vision
• 403(b) with employer match
• Generous Paid-Time Off
• On-Demand Pay: Early wage access through Payactiv
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Referral program

VOA Illinois provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state, federal or local law.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities upon request.