Housing Specialist - Bronx

HOUSING WORKS INC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Housing Works Inc. in New York City seeks a Housing Specialist to locate and secure affordable housing meeting HQS and HUD standards. You will coordinate with HASA, process rental subsidies, and conduct periodic inspections with attention to rent reasonableness.

The role requires at least three years in nonprofit housing, strong communication, and the ability to work with homeless populations. PTO accrual begins immediately, with tuition and education benefits offered.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• At least three years of housing experience in a nonprofit.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Experience working with street homeless and formerly unhoused populations.

Responsibilities

• Locates and secures quality affordable housing by viewing market rate apartments in New York City.
• Expedites apartment approvals and issues rental subsidies with HASA.
• Conducts semi-annual housing inspections under HQS standards.
• Ensures rentals meet HUD rent reasonableness and HUD Fair Market Rent.
• Collects documents from brokers and landlords to request first month’s rent and deposits.
• Develops housing leads with real estate professionals.
• Escorts clients to view apartments and participates in case conferences.
• Advocates to end homelessness and HIV/AIDS through program involvement.

Skills

Prioritization

Multitasking

Communication skills

Self-motivation

Confidentiality

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $55,000 USD to $70,000 USD

The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

Description

Compensation Range: $55,000 - $70,000 yearly commensurate with experience.

Benefits: We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.

Overview:

The Housing Specialist locates and secures affordable scatter site apartments that meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and HUD's Rent Reasonableness Standards.

Responsibilities:

Primary:

• Locates and secures quality affordable, independent or supportive permanent housing for program clients by viewing available market rate apartments throughout New York City and completing 2010e supportive housing applications.
• Corresponds with HASA personnel to expedite apartment approval and the issuing of ongoing rental subsidies.

Secondary:

• Performs semi-annual housing inspections using HQS document
• Provide documentation that proves that all apartments we rent have rental amounts that are at or are lower than HUD's Fair Market Rent standards and passes HUD's "Rent Reasonableness" requirements.
• Complete annual Environmental Reviews for the program

Other functions that may be needed with this position include:

• Collects necessary documents from real estate brokers, building management personnel, and landlords and completes required Housing Works paperwork to request first month’s rent, security deposit, and real estate broker’s checks.
• Develops and cultivates housing leads and resources with real estate brokers, private landlords, and management companies.
• Escort program clients to view apartments.
• Participate in client case conferences to discuss housing options and needs.
• Assist program clients to locate and secure independent housing.
• Enthusiastically take part in advocacy and direct actions to end the twin crises of homelessness and HIV/AIDS.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• At least three years of work experience as a Housing Specialist for a non-profit organization.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Ability to work with the street homeless and formerly unhoused populations.

The following additional competencies are viewed as important to success in this position:

• Dependable and flexible.
• Able to maintain a high level of client confidentiality.
• Good communication skills both verbally and written, including the ability to communicate with all levels of management.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Work, and Excel.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Self-motivated and self-directed with the ability to assert oneself.

Housing Works was founded in 1990; With a long-term commitment to AIDS advocacy. Housing Works established New York State's first harm reduction-based, OASAS-licensed outpatient drug treatment program. Other services include Health Home care management, behavioral health, and syringe exchange programs. A pioneer in the social entrepreneurship movement, Housing Works operates 10 high-end thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a much-loved Bookstore Cafe in Soho. For more information, visit www.housingworks.org

Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works' New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union ("RWDSU"). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a "CBA") between Housing Works and the RWDSU

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.