Housing Specialist

Advastar, Inc. | Recruiting & Staffing; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with Roth option

Employee Assistance Program

Life/AD&D insurance

PTO

Personal days

Holidays

Pet insurance

Job summary

Advastar, Inc. recruits for a national housing consulting firm seeking a Housing Specialist for onsite Chicago office. The role centers on determining eligibility, calculating rent and payments, processing recertifications, and mediating between tenants, landlords, and the housing authority.

It offers a stable, client-facing environment with a weekly walk-in day and a clear path to more responsibility. The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma or GED, 1+ year in customer service, and

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in a client-facing customer service role.
• 1+ year of experience in government eligibility determination or a rental/lease-up field.
• 1+ year of experience in an HCV program is preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish or another commonly used language is strongly preferred.
• Able to pass a background check and drug screen.

Responsibilities

• Determine and document program eligibility, income, and rent calculations.
• Process annual and interim recertifications on schedule.
• Manage move and portability paperwork to ensure smooth transitions.
• Serve as a front-line contact for a high volume of in-person visitors.
• Mediate issues between tenants, landlords, and the housing authority.
• Maintain accurate records and document quality-control findings.

Skills

Client-facing

HCV program knowledge

Bilingual (Spanish)

Microsoft Office

Background check readiness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

A national housing consulting firm that manages Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program operations on behalf of public housing authorities is hiring a Housing Specialist for its onsite Chicago office. This is a client-facing role at the center of how families and property owners interact with a federally funded rental assistance program: determining eligibility, calculating rent and assistance payments, processing recertifications, and resolving issues between tenants, landlords, and the housing authority. The office runs a high-volume, in-person walk-in day each week alongside a full slate of scheduled appointments, so the role rewards someone who stays calm, organized, and solution-focused under steady public contact. This seat offers direct exposure to federal housing policy in practice, a structured 90-day onboarding plan, and a clear path to more responsibility for someone who performs.

• Anticipated $45,000-$50,000 per year, based on experience level and credentials
• Benefits include: Health, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with Roth option, Employee Assistance Program, employer-paid life/AD&D insurance
• PTO, paid personal days, paid holidays, and pet insurance
• Full-time, Monday-Friday, onsite schedule (8:30 AM-5:00 PM); this is an in-office role with no hybrid or remote component

Overview

• Determine and document program eligibility, household income, and rent calculations for applicants and current participants
• Process annual and interim recertifications on schedule and keep participant files audit-ready
• Manage move and portability paperwork so transitions between units or jurisdictions happen without unnecessary disruption
• Serve as a front-line point of contact for a high volume of in-person visitors, including a dedicated weekly walk-in day
• Mediate issues between tenants, property owners, and the housing authority, aiming for fair, well-documented outcomes
• Maintain accurate records and correct quality-control findings on your own work

Preferred Skills and Experience

• High school diploma or GED, required
• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program credential, preferred
• 1 or more years of experience in a client-facing customer service role, required
• 1 or more years of experience in government eligibility determination or a similar rental/lease-up field, required
• 1 or more years of experience specifically within an HCV program, preferred
• Strongly Preferred — bilingual in Spanish or another commonly used language
• Comfortable in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, SharePoint) and able to pick up new case-management software quickly
• Able to pass a background check and drug screen

Keywords: Housing Choice Voucher, HCV, Section 8, public housing, affordable housing, HUD, eligibility specialist, occupancy specialist, certification specialist, recertification, rent calculation, tenant relations, landlord relations, case management, income verification, portability, PHA, housing authority, customer service, government programs, compliance, records management, mediation, Chicago