HOUSING COORDINATOR

DEPARTMENT FUNCTION:

Supportive Housing is an intervention that combines affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services to address the needs of adults and families who have a long-term disability. Services are designed to build independent living and tenancy skills and connect people with community-based health care, treatment, and employment services.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Housing Coordinator is responsible for assisting individuals and families accepted into the agency's permanent supporting housing programs with the move-in process including housing search process and placement into affordable rental properties, securing and coordinating household furnishings. This position will perform ongoing tenant education, collect monthly occupancy fees, handle evictions and the move-out process. This position is also responsible for performing new housing inspections, environmental reviews as necessary, maintaining relationships with private landlords, communicating with landlords on apartment maintenance issues and marketing and securing new landlords and property management companies for the program. The Housing Coordinator will also serve as principal contact with our housing partners regarding administrative matters, maintaining all lease schedules, and the lease renewal process.

• Establishing positive relationships with participants in assessing their housing needs.
• Conduct housing history/background assessments with participants including credit report checks if required by landlords.
• Preparing participants to be active in their own housing search, apply for apartments, and negotiate with potential landlords; accompanying participants and/or transporting participants to apartment viewings as needed.
• Providing participants with listings of potential housing options in alignment with participants' housing needs and geographic preferences.
• Assess housing affordability rate for participants based on their income, HUD guidelines, and participant income potential.
• Explain and review the lease and sublease agreement with the incoming participant(s)/sub-tenant.
• Coordinate the distribution of furniture and House to Home kits for participants.
• Educate participants about their responsibilities as tenants and assist with troubleshooting problems as they arise, including advocacy assistance with landlords when warranted.
• Guide the leasing process between participant and landlord acting as an advocate and on behalf of the participant.
• Complete rent calculation for all clients prior to participant executing the lease.
• Collect monthly occupancy fees (30% of gross income) from participants.
• Conduct follow-up with participants/sub-tenants and landlords after housing placement; assist case management staff in mediating any landlord-sub-tenant issues that may arise.
• Work to prevent eviction of tenants including negotiating moving clients before eviction procedure and oversee the move of tenants who are unable to stay in their current apartment.
• Connect with landlords via neighborhood outreach, internet search, and networking events.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with private landlords and other housing providers to expand Housing Forward's landlord portfolio.
• Advocate with landlords for participants with rental barriers such as prior evictions, and poor credit
• Conduct rent reasonableness assessments and completing environmental reviews on buildings where units are located.
• Conduct apartment inspections and working with landlords to correct any deficiencies.
• Explain and review with potential landlords/property management companies the lease and sublease agreement.
• Coordinate the signing of the lease and sublease agreement and supporting landlords in providing all other necessary paperwork to participate in Housing Forward supportive housing programs.
• Educate landlords about Housing Forward's role in supporting sub-tenants, including rental assistance and supportive services.
• Create and maintain a housing resource database containing available market-rate and affordable housing buildings/programs.
• Operational Responsibilities:
• Work with Housing Navigator to ensure that clients, especially those that ineligible for Housing Forward's supportive housing programs have appropriate resources for referrals. Ensure proper coordination of housing services for Housing Forward clients.
• Maintain accurate participant/tenant files.
• Document and retain copies of all communications with landlords and sub-tenants.
• Work closely with the client's assigned case manager to ensure that housing placement is consistent with overall service plan. Maintain regular professional contacts with both internal and external case managers to stay abreast of any changes in client service plans and to inform case managers of any changes in housing status and or current issues.
• Maintain security deposit and leasing schedule for all supportive housing units; including units manage by our partners. Communicate with appropriate external in a timely manner renewals date of leases and collect documents within the appropriate timeline to ensure a smooth renewals
• Receive monthly rent schedules from housing partners and submit those schedules along with HF schedules to the agency's bookkeeper 5 working days prior to the end of the month.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and case review meetings.
• Participate in meeting with housing partners as indicated.
• Participate in on- and off-site staff trainings, workshops and outreach events as needed.
• Work in a team approach to deliver existing programs and to develop new programs.
• Participate in Housing Forward sponsored events.
• Perform other duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree preferred, in social work, counseling, or related field or at least two year of prior supportive housing related services.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge, Skills and Experience: Demonstrated desire and ability to work with individuals and families that are disabled and homeless providing appropriate support, motivation and compassion in accordance with Housing Forward mission and philosophy of service.
• Ideal candidate will have at least two years of experience working with homeless populations or working with issues of homelessness, affordable housing, and/or housing discrimination.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Desire, creativity, and flexibility to work in a new and fast-growing agency.
• Willingness to work flexible hours as needed and have impeccable attendance.
• Must have a car, valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
• Ability to handle various projects concurrently.
• Must have smartphone to utilize Agency communication and collaboration tools

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms balance, drive, stoop, kneel or crouch.

BENEFITS:

• Health Insurance: PPO, HSA, HMO Plans with premiums ranging from 0% to 10%, per month of premium based on salary.
• Dental 100% of cost paid for employee
• Vision 100% of cost paid for employee
• Life $50,000 life and AD&D paid for employee
• MyStrength, wellness benefit paid for employee
• Generous Paid Time Off 10 paid vacation days annually, years 1-2, after 24 months increases to 15 days 10 paid sick days annually 10 paid holidays annually 3 paid personal days annually
• Retirement Plan with company match of 3%

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.

Housing Forward does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability.

Job descriptions are not intended and should not be construed to be all-inclusive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with a job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties, as necessary. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.