Housing Specialist

Dakota County Community Development Agency; Eagan (MN); Hybrid; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dakota County Community Development Agency is seeking a full-time Housing Specialist to join the Housing Assistance team. This role supports the administration of federal rental assistance programs, ensuring compliance with regulations, conducting interviews, and providing vital support to clients. A Bachelor's degree and specific certifications in housing are required, along with strong problem-solving and communication skills. The position offers flexibility with a hybrid work option post-probation.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or four years of related experience (housing assistance or social work).
• Ability to obtain Housing Specialist Certification within the first year.

Responsibilities

• Process client files in accordance with program rules and regulations.
• Conduct new applicant interviews and determine eligibility.
• Serve as a primary agency contact for program participants and property owners.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Time management

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Housing Specialist Certification

Housing Quality Standards Certification

Job description

The Dakota County Community Development Agency is seeking a full-time Housing Specialist. Housing Specialists are part of the Housing Assistance team at the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA), a local and national recognized leader in affordable housing.

Recruitment Type:This position is open until Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
Hiring Range:$27.02 - $33.78 per hour (Depending on Qualifications)
Benefit Package:Medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement, paid holidays, and paid time off.
Work Hours & Location:Monday - Friday flexible schedule (start time between 7:00 - 9:00 a.m.) with the ability to work up to two days remote upon completion of probation.

The Housing Assistance team administers local, state and federally funded rental assistance programs. The largest program is the federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program that serves over 2,800 households. The Dakota County CDA has consistently been recognized as a High Performer in the administration of the HCV Program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing Specialists act as a primary contact for clients and property owners to provide program information and apply applicable regulations and procedures to deliver rent assistance to eligible individuals and families.

The Dakota County CDA is a leader in affordable housing and community development programs. The agency owns and manages over 2,900 units of affordable housing located throughout the county and additionally administers the fourth largest Housing Choice Voucher (rent assistance) program in the state. There are six departments at the CDA; Administration, Community & Economic Development, Finance, Housing Assistance, Housing Development and Property Management. The CDA employs 146 staff who oversee local, state, and federal programs serving Dakota County. For more information about the CDA, visitwww.dakotacda.org

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions

• We assign you a score based on your qualifications

• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration

• We conduct background and reference checks before hiring

Process client files in accordance with all applicable program rules and regulations.

• Conduct all new applicant, re-examination, and portability interviews and briefings to evaluate each client's initial or continued eligibility.
• Ensure applicants, selected from the waiting list for program admission, meet the selection criteria.
• Ensure rent reasonableness; determine and document that rent to property owners are reasonable based on current rents for comparable unassisted units.
• Determination of adjusted income, including properly obtaining verification of adjusted income; properly attributing the utility allowance
• Ensure the determination of adjusted income results in an accurate tenant rent calculation, resulting in accurate Housing Assistance Payments (HAP).
• Ensure accurate Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) payments within the provided systems (i.e. holding, releasing, and recouping payments, as needed).
• Request and provide information relating to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections.
• Ensuring that in cases where Housing Quality Standards (HQS) deficiencies were not corrected within the required timeframe that the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) payment is abated.
• Conduct file audits for accuracy and completeness and to ensure no audit findings.

Serve as a primary agency contact with program participants and owners of rental units.

• Provide program information as necessary to applicants, program participants and property owners.
• Educate program participants about the use of other human service agencies and encourage use of these agencies for the enhancement of their living situations.
• Assist participants in location of suitable housing by referring them to vacancy postings and other information resources.

Review and authorize cases involving interim rent changes, lease/program violations, terminations, and transfers.

• Assess the need for interim rent changes and process according to applicable policies.
• Document and report all suspected fraud to the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, after consultation and review with supervisor.
• Compose informal hearing presentations and act as representative at the hearings/reviews involving program disputes.

Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects as assigned including but not limited to:

• Provide back-up support to other Housing Specialists.
• Manage assigned workload with the provided tools and resources.
• Coordinate with Dakota County, its vendors, and the VA on programs where referrals are provided by these entities.
• Prepare monthly status reports and requisitions for Minnesota Housing Finance Agency programs.
• Prepare portability packets for out-going participants. Conduct group briefings.
• Maintain good working relationships with personnel from the county, housing authorities, and human service agencies.
• Participate in the agency, department, and project committee meetings.

Perform housing inspection duties.

• Conduct housing inspections for Housing Assistance Department Programs; in the case of the Housing Specialist/Inspector position, carry a Housing Inspection caseload of up to 50% of the time.

Act as a positive representative of the CDA.

• Promote a positive image of the CDA to clients.
• Develop and maintain a good working relationship with CDA employees, vendors and contractors working with the CDA.
• Answer calls and emails within 24 business hours.
• Handle calls or meetings with irate parties in a professional manner to diffuse the issue/conflict.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related field or four years of related education and experience (e.g., housing assistance or social work).
• Housing Specialist Certification, or the ability to obtain Housing Specialist Certification within the first year of employment.
• Housing Quality Standards Certification, or the ability to obtain Housing Quality Standards Certification within the first year of employment.

Knowledge of:

• Minnesota Government Data Practices Act
• Tenant/landlord laws
• Basic mathematics
• Problem-solving techniques

Ability to:

• Accept responsibility, work independently, and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
• Work with a varied client base including special populations/clients with special needs and communication barriers.
• Handle difficult situations in a professional manner, when dealing with the public.
• Make decisions which have financial and/or legal consequences and which involve technical complexity.
• Process and maintain large volumes of detailed information.
• Work under pressure and with interruptions.
• Be flexible.
• Respect privacy and confidentiality of clients.
• Manage and resolve conflict; ability to negotiate.
• Make decisions.
• Interpret and apply regulations.
• Interpret legal documents.
• Disseminate, discuss, and discern information (oral and written).
• Operate computer software programs.

Dakota County Community Development Agency is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, local human rights commission activity or any other basis protected by law.

Dakota County Community Development Agency accommodates qualified persons with disabilities in various aspects of employment, including the application process. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact Human Resources at 651-675-4431.

Applicant Data Practices Advisory

According to Minn. Stat. § 13.04, Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) must advise you of the following.

Purpose and intended use of the data:

The CDA collects this information for recruitment purposes. Your data will be used to screen and select applicants for employment. In the event you are selected for hire, your data will be used to perform a criminal background check through a trusted third party agency, which may include the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Consultant, CDA and/or officials involved in the hiring process will have access to the data provided. Data may be shared upon court order or provided to the state or legislative auditor, upon request.

Whether you may refuse or are legally required to supply this data:

Application for employment as well as supplying any data in application for employment is voluntary.

Consequences arising from supplying or refusing to supply this data:

We take pride in hiring the best candidates, but we can’t do this without a complete application. Filling out the application is voluntary, and the more complete the application, the better your chances of conveying to the CDA you are the best candidate for the job. Except for explicitly optional requested information, refusal to provide a complete application may result in disqualification from consideration for a position.