Housing Program Assistant I

County of Riverside; California; Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Riverside's Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS) Housing Authority Division seeks a Housing Program Assistant I for the Indio office. The role balances office and field duties, handling inquiries, customer service, data entry, and coordinating inspections.

The position involves move-in inspections to ensure compliance with HUD standards, documentation of deficiencies, and collaboration with applicants and housing staff.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Experience with clerical tasks and data entry.
• Knowledge of housing programs and public service procedures.
• Ability to type 35 WPM and maintain records.

Responsibilities

• Provide clerical support including typing, filing, data entry, and basic bookkeeping.
• Answer telephone calls; screen and direct inquiries to Housing Authority staff.
• Explain Housing Authority policies and mail information to applicants.
• Receive and input waiting list registrations; manage changes in the database.
• Run background checks for applicants as needed.
• Handle office mail, faxes, and document distribution.

Skills

Clerical duties

Data entry

Customer service

Property inspections

Move-in inspections

Typing 35 WPM

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

About The Position

The County of Riverside’s Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS), Housing Authority Division is in search of a Housing Program Assistant I to join our team at the Indio office. This position may require driving throughout Riverside County, from Calimesa to Blythe.

As a Housing Program Assistant I, you'll have a dynamic role split between office and field work. In the office, you will handle clerical tasks such as answering inquiries, providing customer service related to housing matters, dispatching housing eligibility questionnaire packets, submitting service requests, performing data entry, coordinating mail distribution, handling postage, and generating reports. In the field, your primary duty will involve conducting move-in inspections to ensure compliance with minimum housing standards and documenting instances where properties fail to meet inspection criteria.

We are seeking candidates with experience in property inspection, familiarity with conducting inspections for non-profit developers, knowledge of maintenance and construction practices, proficiency in clerical duties, basic computer skills, experience in property management, or experience in a government agency.

Bilingual in Spanish is preferred but not required for this position.

Meet the Team!

The Housing and Workforce Solutions Department (HWS) is comprised of 6 Divisions: Community Action Agency, Continuum of Care, Riverside County Housing Authority, Grants & Community Development, Workforce Development, and HWS Administration. The mission of HWS is to enhance the economic position of the county and its residents, improve the quality of life, encourage business growth, build a positive business climate, develop a trained workforce, improve existing communities, offer a variety of housing opportunities, and maintain the environment.

The Housing Authority of the County of Riverside is responsible for administering the county’s federally funded Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), which includes both tenant-based vouchers and project-based vouchers, Moderate Rehabilitation Program, and Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Program, and is also the housing successor to the former Redevelopment Agencies for the County of Riverside and City of Coachella. The purpose of these programs is to combat homelessness, provide decent and safe housing, expand the supply of affordable housing, increase homeownership opportunities for low-moderate income households and to oversee the wind down of the Former Redevelopment Agencies for the County of Riverside and City of Coachella.

Examples Of Essential Duties

• Provide a variety of clerical support including typing, filing, basic bookkeeping, recordkeeping, public reception and data entry.
• Answer incoming telephone calls; assist, screen, direct or take telephone messages for Housing Authority staff.
• Explain Housing Authority policies and procedures to clients and public; mail information to interested people regarding the public housing program.
• Receive waiting list registrations; input registrations and changes to registrations in database.
• Run credit reports and criminal background checks for applicants and participants.
• Receive, sort and distribute office mail, faxes and/or other incoming documents.
• Send, receive and screen applications to determine if they meet preferences for assistance; do withdrawals and returns to waiting list; schedule appointments for Housing Specialists.
• Conduct annual and special inspections for assisted units for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and related assisted housing programs; ensure assisted units comply with HUD requirements for decent, safe, and sanitary housing conditions; conduct follow-up inspections of completed work and repairs.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED).

Experience: Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge of: English language usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; modern office methods, procedures, and computer equipment; filing and record keeping systems, telephone and office etiquette including techniques used in public contact; basic mathematical principles.

Ability to: Learn and understand the organization and operations of the Housing authority and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities; learn, interpret and apply Housing Authority policies, procedures, and rules; type 35 WPM; establish and maintain records and files; make simple mathematical computations; understand and carry out oral and written directions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including Housing Authority staff and the general public.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

For questions regarding this recruitment

Contact Joshua Roberts at [e-mail] with any questions regarding this recruitment.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations

The County of Riverside offers a variety of alternative work schedules, dependent upon department operations and needs. Certain assignments may involve overtime, standby/on-call shifts, and/or travel; however, scheduling, shift assignments, overtime work, standby/on-call duty, and travel obligations are subject to management approval, operational needs, and/or may be modified or discontinued at any time. Applicants should contact the assigned recruiter for additional information regarding the schedule, overtime and standby/on-call expectations, and travel obligations.

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-Employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-Employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving “At Will,” are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume.