Housing Specialist I/II DOE

Housing Specialist I $19.68 -$23.93 Housing Specialist II $22.46 - $27.30  Salary placement will be based on experience as outlined in the qualifications listed below.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:   First review of applications will be July 8, 2024. Open until filled. 

Yolo County Housing is searching for candidates who believes in making a difference in their community, serving populations in need, and helping to provide the most critical resource someone can have, housing.  We have three positions available.  Two Housing Specialists will be part of our Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) team that partners with landlords and property owners throughout Yolo County to help residents lease rental units utilizing their voucher.  These vouchers support some of our most vulnerable residents and ensure housing becomes a reality for those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. The third housing specialist will be part of the Real Estate Services (RES) team and will serve as a property manager at one of Yolo County Housing's owned public housing providing low-incoming housing.  

DEFINITION

Yolo Housing is seeking a dependable, organized, customer service-oriented individual to fill the position of full-time Housing Specialist I/II assigned to our Housing Choice Voucher division.  The successful candidate will perform eligibility and interim certifications for the Housing Choice Voucher in the Yolo County Housing office located in Woodland.  Candidates must have strong organizational and interpersonal skills, be extremely organized, have strong computer skills, be able to multi-task and possess good communication and computer skills.   Previous Section 8 or public housing experience is a plus.

BENEFITS

Employee's receive a cafeteria plan to help pay for health insurance. Under the cafeteria plan, employee's receive a monthly amount to put towards the cost of medical insurance as set forth below:

             Employee only - $785

             Employee plus 1 dependent - $1,382

             Employee plus family - $1,762

             0 coverage - $575

Health insurance is provided through CalPERS. Basic dental insurance is provided by Yolo County Housing at no cost to employees with coverage effective after a six month waiting period. The dental plan covers employee plus family.  Vision coverage is optional and, if employee's wish to have this coverage, the cost is approximately $28.81 per month.  If you choose, you may opt out of the cafeteria plan upon providing written verification of equivalent medical insurance to YCH.  In that event, you will receive payment in the amount of $575.00 per month.    Any amount remaining in the cafeteria plan after payment of medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums or any amount remaining of any opt out payment may be directed to a deferred compensation account or directed to cover employee's share of the CalPERS retirement contribution.

Employee's will accrue vacation at the rate of 6.67 hours per month (80 hours per year) and sick leave at the rate of 8 hours for each month of service. 

YCH currently provides a retirement benefit program to eligible employees through membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).  The CalPERS retirement formula for covered employees is 2% at 62.  YCH pays the employer share of the CalPERS contribution you will be responsible for the employee share of the CalPERS contribution currently at 7.47% of wages. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from the assigned Program Supervisor and/or Housing Program Manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Receive, review and process applications for housing assistance; determine eligibility within established guidelines; conduct credit, criminal and reference checks as required.

Establish and maintain wait lists for housing programs; notify applicants of housing availability.

Coordinate and conduct housing program briefings and/or unit walk through; explain program rules, regulations and requirements to applicants; issue vouchers or prepares leases for program participants.

Explain housing program requirements, rules and regulations to clients, customers, and/or rental property owners.

Calculate rent payments using established guidelines; reduce or increase rent and rent subsidies; process leases, extensions, contracts and terminations.

Process a variety of actions for housing program applicants, including transfers from other authorities and agencies as appropriate.

Prepare, process, and maintain a variety of notices, claim forms, reports, records, logs and files; schedule appointments and interviews.

Provide referral services to tenants regarding available community resources and available housing; work with other agencies to certify assistance for families.

May provide assistance in tenant and/or landlord dispute resolution.

Submit all purchase orders, invoices, and other required documents to accounts payable in a timely manner.

In accordance with Government Code 3100, perform the duties as disaster services worker as assigned in the event of a declared disaster or state of emergency by the Yolo County Housing Executive Director, Yolo County OES and/or the State of California DHS. 

Perform all duties in a safe and conscientious manner following the YCH Injury Illness and Prevention Guidelines, reporting all injuries within 24 hours to your supervisor or member of the management team; reporting any safety concerns to your supervisor, member of the management team, or member of the YCH safety committee.

Abide by the YCH Risk Control Policy Statement assuring the highest level of safety and well being of residents, tenants, employees, volunteers and visitors, abiding by all applicable laws and regulations which govern the health and safety of all, and employing risk control methods where feasible to prevent and control losses.  Report any observed or reported health, safety, and risk concerns to your supervisor, a member of the management team, or member of the YCH risk control committee.

Perform related duties and responsibilities as required and/or assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Principles of business letter writing and basic report presentations.  Proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and composition of client and agency letters. Office procedures, business mathematics application, computer office equipment and procedures, and statistical recordkeeping methods. Basic interview techniques. Application of filing, indexing and cross-referencing methods. Operation of standard office equipment. Basic HUD and YCH organization rules and regulations, including housing program principals, policies, and procedures. Pertinent Federal, State, and local codes, laws, and regulations. Principles and procedures of record keeping, reporting, and filing systems. Methods, practices, and implementation of managing caseloads. Methods, procedures, and practices of public sector entities and organizations. Principles and practices of asset management and voucher processes. Principles, practices and regulations of California property management. Operations, services, and activities of a building and grounds maintenance program. Team management and leadership principles.

Ability to:

Interpret government regulations, interact with and provide services to the general public. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Operate a personal computer using various applications and related programs, including standard, as well as proprietary software. Deal diplomatically and sensitively with clients, other agency representatives, and the general public. Respond to requests and inquiries from tenants and the public. Maintain confidentiality. Follow policy and adhere to procedures. Explain Federal, State, and local codes, laws, and regulations. Drive from site to site.

Experience and Training Guidelines

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

High School Diploma or GED and;

Associates Degree plus one year clerical experience in a governmental or public agency setting or;

Bachelor’s Degree is desirable; or;

Three (3) years of full-time, increasingly responsible experience in a position involved in the provision of community or housing services programs or work in a property management environment; and;

Possess a valid Public Housing or obtain such certification within six months of appointment of the classification; and the knowledge of  

Methods and techniques of conducting interviews, application processes, reviewing and interpreting rules and regulations, presenting information verbally and/or in writing, and performing mathematical calculations.

Training:

1-3 Years clerical experience in a public housing authority, public agency or governmental setting. Associates degree (experience can be substituted for education). 

Physical Demands:

Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time in both indoor office and external housing environment.  Have the hand strength and manual dexterity to operate keyboard equipment.  Must be able to stretch, bend, and lift up to 25 pounds and climb stairs.  Reasonable accommodations for physical requirements will be considered and made on a case-by-case basis.  Requests for reasonable accommodations can be made to your supervisor or the General Director. 

Special Requirements:

Must have access to an automobile or other means of transportation, when and if required to travel on YCH business.

Must possess current automobile insurance in accordance with California law and, a valid California driver’s license, including a driving record acceptable to the YCH insurance company.

Must be insurable by YCH insurance carriers.

Be available for emergency call-back to assigned facilities as a disaster service worker.

Provide required proof of legal right to work in the United States.

Public employees under Government Code 3100-3109 are required to perform duties as disaster service workers in the event of a natural, man-made, or war-caused emergency.  To prepare for this service, employees in this classification code are required to complete, at a minimum, NIMS 100 Certification within their first year of employment.

 Yolo County Housing is an equal opportunity employer.