Housing Specialist (Leasing)

Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority is seeking a detail-oriented Housing Specialist to interview residents and applicants, verify income and family composition, and determine eligibility for HCV/Section 8 programs. The role requires accuracy, confidentiality, and strong math skills.

You will process certifications, calculate subsidies and rents, manage changes in CMHA’s software, and maintain client records.

Qualifications

• Verify income and family composition to determine eligibility for HCV/Section 8.
• Proficient with HUD regulations and housing programs.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident information.
• Strong basic math and calculation skills.
• Experience with contracts, policies and procedures.
• Excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Interview residents and applicants to determine eligibility for HCV/Section 8.
• Timely complete all required certifications in accordance with policies and federal regulations.
• Process reported changes of families using CMHA software.
• Calculate monthly payments for housing assistance, rents, and utilities.
• Provide client assistance at walk-in sessions.
• Prepare correspondence and reports using Microsoft Office and CMHA systems.
• Input data and generate reports from CMHA systems.

Skills

PC-based software

Customer service

Confidentiality

Numerical aptitude

Communication skills

Fast-paced work

Education

Two years college in Business Math / Social Work / Communications

Housing Specialist certification within 12 months

Tools

CMHA software system

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Interview residents and applicants to obtain and verify all income and family composition to establish initial and continued eligibility of applicants and participants for HCV/Section 8 Programs.
• Timely complete all required certifications timely, in accordance to agency policies, procedures and federal regulations.
• Process reported changes of applicant and participating families utilizing CMHA’s software system.
• Calculate monthly payments for housing assistance payment, tenant rent to owner and utilities.
• Perform walk in duty to provide assistance to clients.
• Generate appointments, terminations, addendum notifications and various correspondence, forms and letters from CMHA’s software system for participants, owners, applicants and others in accordance with program rules.
• Develop positive professional relationships with applicants, participants and property owners for delivery of service in accordance with CMHA’s established Gold Performance Standards.
• Follow up with the client and landlord to gather necessary forms and/or status of units.
• Assist with and conduct briefing sessions. Performs a re-briefing if the client does not understand and/or needs clarity concerning the HCV/Section 8 programs.
• Update client records, answer questions, estimate the subsidy, tenant rent to owner and utilities for applicants and participants in accordance with program rules, regulations and CMHA’s established SOPs.
• Process RTAs and list units for inspection.
• Answer and timely respond to email, phone, verbal, electronic and written communications from both internal and external clients.
• Prepare a variety of correspondence, reports, etc. utilizing primarily Microsoft Office and CMHA’s Agency specific Software system(s).
• Prepare, organize, print and assemble various material used in a variety of agency functions.
• Input information and extrapolate reports from the computer system relative to Housing Choice Voucher Program.
• Review and process information for both owner and participant terminations from the HCV program.
• Provide customer service in accordance to CMHA’s Gold Standards to both internal and external clients, community stakeholders and other agency contacts.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of PC-based software applications (Microsoft Word, Excel and Microsoft Outlook).
• At least two (2) years of college level courses in Business Math, Social Work, Community Relations or Communication or equivalent experience.
• At least two (2) years’ experience in social work or related field, which requires contact with the public, or similar work involving evaluation of personal income and other assets.
• Must be proficient in basic business math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and calculation of fractions and percentages).
• Experience with implementing contracts, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent customer services skills and the ability to work in a fast paced environment.
• Must enjoy working with numbers and have the ability to frequently memorized data.
• Knowledge of HUD regulations and advanced business math.
• The incumbent must possess a housing specialist certification within 12 months of employment with CMHA as a HCV/Section 8 Housing Specialist. Incumbent must also take and pass all additional certification training and certifications offered during the course of employment in this position.

OTHER: The incumbent must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in state of residence, and maintain an insurable driving record under the terms and conditions of the CMHA auto liability policy. The incumbent may have no more than 6 accumulated points in 3 consecutive years.