Resident Services Housing Specialist I

Housing Opportunities Commission; Silver Spring (MD); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) seeks an administrative professional to process annual recertifications for the McKinney PSH and Rent Supplement programs, liaising with landlords and county service providers. The role emphasizes strong organization, time management, and customer service, with a hybrid schedule and remote day once six months of probation are completed.

You will work within the Housing Services Team to ensure timely HAP payments and compliant program

Qualifications

• At least two years of experience in a customer service/housing environment.
• Associate degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Recertification processing for PSH and Rent Supplement programs.
• Review amendments to Housing Assistance Payments contracts with landlords.
• Prepare client files for audits and reports mandated by funding sources.
• Review lease approvals and negotiate rents with landlords.

Skills

Customer service

Housing environment

Communication

Patience

Interviewing and counseling

Computer skills

Excel

Education

Associate’s degree

Tools

Google Suites

Excel

Job description

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) was established in 1974 to better respond to the County’s need for affordable housing. HOC is authorized to acquire, own, lease, and operate housing; to provide for the construction or renovation of housing; obtain financial assistance from any public or private source to assist its housing activities; and arrange for social services, resident services, and daycare.

HOC’s Resident Services Department strives to enhance the lives of HOC customers by coordinating and implementing a vast array of high-quality programs, services, and resources. Through collaborative partnerships with Montgomery County, the federal government, and various community-based organizations, Resident Services is able to offer comprehensive service coordination, impactful resident programs, and robust supportive housing services to individuals and families who reside in HOC owned-managed properties or receive HOC housing subsidies, as well as applicants on HOC’s waitlist.

Job Description

This is an administrative position responsible for processing annual recertification’s and interim certifications for the McKinney Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Program and annual recertification’s for the Rent Supplement Program (RSP). Both programs provide a monthly subsidy to Montgomery County Landlords. Candidate will liaison with local landlords and various County service providers. Serves as team member of the Housing Services Team and works cooperatively in meeting the unit’s goals. This position requires a high level of organizational skills, time management and patience.

Candidate may be meeting with customers to assist with comprehension and completion of program annual paperwork. This is a one-year term position. Work requires knowledge in the principles and practices a variety of subsidized housing programs (i.e. Housing Choice Voucher, Permanent Supportive Housing and Rent Supplement). Guidelines are normally provided through HUD, grant regulations, HOC's policies/procedures and methods used for similar programs. Individual effectiveness impacts directly upon the adequacy of services being provided to individuals and proper administration of the grants. Work would entail troubleshooting a variety of problems (i.e. program compliance, auditability, timely landlord HAP payments where conventional methods may not be sufficient requiring creative problem solving.

Contacts are employees within and outside the organization which includes individuals such as landlords, property owners, and social service agencies. The employee uses highly developed communication skills in presenting ideas and technical information. Work is primarily performed in the office setting and involves regular meetings with the Montgomery County CoC, HOC and program staff. Candidate will be exposed to program participants often in a behavioral health crisis.

Note: This is a hybrid position. Employees are eligible to work remotely one day per week once the six month probation period has been successfully completed.

Examples Of Duties

• Recertification’s
• Review paperwork to obtain information required to establish client's portion of rent and landlord Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) in a timely manner.
• Processes amendments to the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract, between HOC MCK PSH/RSP and the landlord, to reflect changes in family composition or income and during recertification’s in a timely manner.
• Prepare client files for successful audits.
• Prepare reports mandated by funding source.
• Review requests for lease approvals and negotiate rents with landlords.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least two years of experience in a customer service/housing environment.
• Property management, marketing and training experience desirable.

Education

• Associate’s degree in a related area. Note: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Interviewing and counseling skills.
• Patience.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of or the ability to acquire knowledge of subsidized housing program guidelines and Federal, State and local landlord/tenant laws.
• Good math skills.
• Foreign language ability desirable.
• Ability to use computer software (Google Suites, Excel).

Grade 17 - Min: $54,953/ Mid: $71,794 / Max: $88,635 | Salary determined by departmental budget - Offer commensurate with experience .

HOC is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reassignment, citizenship, immigration status, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law. HOC promotes a drug-free workplace.

HOC conducts criminal background checks, employment reference checks, and where applicable, reviews driving records in determining suitability for employment. Selected applicants will be required to submit to pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Employment is contingent upon drug and alcohol test results.