Housing Program Assistant I

County of Riverside; Indio (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Riverside’s Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS) is seeking a Housing Program Assistant I to support the Housing Authority Division in Indio. The role blends office clerical work with field inspections, including move-in verifications and documentation to ensure HUD standards are met.

The incumbent will handle inquiries, process applications, coordinate mail and reports, and assist with data entry and scheduling.

Qualifications

• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED).
• Experience in clerical tasks and public-facing roles is preferred.
• Ability to type 35 WPM and manage basic data entry
• Familiarity with housing programs and eligibility processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Handle clerical tasks, answering inquiries, and providing customer service on housing matters.
• Dispatch housing eligibility questionnaires, submit service requests, and generate reports.
• Perform data entry, coordinate mail distribution, handling postage, and maintain filing systems.
• In the field, conduct move-in inspections to ensure compliance with HUD requirements and document findings.

Skills

Clerical duties

Data entry

Customer service

Phone etiquette

Spanish preferred

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

MS Office

Database systems

Job description

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

• 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.

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.

For questions regarding this recruitment

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