Housing and Finance Specialist

Warren Village Inc. is seeking a skilled Housing and Finance Specialist to join our team. As a key member of our organization, you will play a critical role in delivering our next step housing and financial services programming that promotes securing and maintaining permanent and affordable housing; building skills to support economic stability and growth, including credit repair; and building wealth equity opportunities.

This position requires strength-based assessment and planning with families in transition, utilization of community resources, and interventions with individuals that result in housing stability and improved money management skills, credit repair and work towards financial independence.

Warren Village recognizes that our backgrounds are broad, and our talents are many, from different lived experiences. We value and leverage our differences to encompass and reflect the communities we serve. We align our policies, practices and resources so that people of all races, cultures, identities and socioeconomic status may feel valued and respected.

Housing Services

• Provide housing subject matter expertise including continuums of affordable and permanent housing and eligibility requirements.
• Help participants establish a path forward to future housing by developing an appropriate and realistic plan and search strategy for permanent, affordable housing.
• Coordinate comprehensive housing and financial education, events, and classes to help participants increase knowledge, skill and/or resolve issues related to budgeting and planning, repairing credit or rental histories, and understanding the rules and responsibilities of tenancy.
• Work directly and collaboratively with participants seeking income restricted, market rate or home ownership opportunities. Provide knowledge, education and monitor benchmarks along the way.
• Monitor status of public housing waitlist and voucher program openings; notify participants and assist with application when openings occur.
• Increase on-time rent payments and reduce outstanding rental balances by maintaining resource lists for community rental and deposit assistance programs.
• Accompany participants to housing related appointments, including interviews, appeal hearings, apartment viewings, lease signings and other community resources for advocacy and support.
• Assist with developing and implementing expanded Housing Search services, including maintaining the Warren Village Affordable Housing list.

Partnerships

• Identify, cultivate, and maintain effective relationships with key providers of other community resources and services, coordinating efforts in the areas of housing and financial empowerment as needed to maximize impact.
• Cultivate and support strong working relationships with local housing authorities, housing providers, property managers, financial and rental assistance, and home ownership programs.
• Cultivate and support strong working relationships with community banking and financial institutions, Denver's Office of Financial Empowerment and Protection.

Financial Services

• Assist participants in identifying and addressing current financial opportunities and challenges while providing a holistic perspective on overall financial stability to help participants move towards proactive financial management and long-term success.
• Provide direct services and coordinate education and events to help participants build financial capability, change financial behavior, and achieve financial goals.
• Develop individualized financial stability plans in collaboration with participants, assisting with goal setting, money management, savings, credit building, debt management, utilization of financial services and products, tax preparation, benefit screening, employment services, etc.
• Provide referrals for participants to financial coaching and other community resources and services, as needed, to achieve participants' financial goals.
• Assess and assist participants in establishing and maintaining eligibility for mainstream benefits, including application preparation for Supplementary Security Income based on disability.
• Support opportunities for participants to build wealth equity such as agency-operated Individual Development Accounts, matched college savings programs, and Family Self-Sufficiency rent escrow services.
• In collaboration with the Housing Department, coordinate the Warren Village Rent Reporting program. Serve as agency point of contact for Esusu communications. Ensure monthly data collection for Warren Village Rent Reporting program and ongoing analysis of program outcomes.

Support Services

• Collaborate with the team on move-in services with families on the day of lease signing at the Gilpin program.
• Ensure timely and accurate data collection and entry into data management fulfilling essential documentation and reporting obligations.
• Attend weekly supportive services meetings and other specified meetings/trainings as required.
• Work collaboratively with other Family Services team members to educate participants on understanding and mitigating the benefits Cliff Effect.
• Assist with intern task supervision.

Competencies

• Commitment to the mission, goals and values of Warren Village.
• Strong belief in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; the wisdom of lived experience; and the innate strengths and power of all people.
• Accountability: Demonstrates clear decision-making and problem-solving, commitment to addressing conflicts and errors promptly, successful task prioritization, and ability to meet deadlines with professionalism.
• Collaboration: Builds trust and strong relationships, works effectively with others, and supports collective growth and well-being.
• Empowerment: Embraces continuous learning, adapts strategies, and remains open to innovative ideas and changes, modeling flexibility to meet business needs.
• Excellence: Exhibits strong management, organizational, and leadership skills, communicates effectively, and understands best practices for department.
• Inclusion: Implements inclusive practices to meet the instructional, behavioral, developmental, medical and mental health needs of children and adults.
• Integrity: Acts with honesty, transparency, and initiative.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Ability to work regular evenings and weekend hours.
• Tolerance for stressful situations and ability to handle emotionally charged situations with firm kindness.
• Basic understanding of coaching, motivational interviewing, mentoring practices, and trauma-informed practices.
• Basic knowledge of case management principles, community resources, and expertise in the housing continuum.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (BA) from four-year college or university, in Business, Social Work, Education or Human Services; 4 years of related experience may be substituted for education.
• Minimum of one year of paid employment experience providing affordable housing search and/or financial coaching services with low- and middle-income participants
• Experience in case management, coaching, or resource navigation and direct homeless services and/or housing continuum
• Paid experience working in a nonprofit agency.

Preferred Education and/or Experience

• Master's degree preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish, French, Arabic or Swahili)
• If driving is required, employee must have a valid driver's license and the ability to drive Warren Village vehicles.

Work Environment

The working environment is typically that of an office using a personal computer, adding machine, and other equipment.

Physical Demands

Occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 40 lbs. Primarily a stationary position. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office/facility to access file cabinets, storage spaces, access units and building spaces by utilizing stairs, office machinery, etc. Constantly operates a computer and other productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.