Property Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : Property Advocate

Location : Chicago, IL

Reports To : Property Advocacy Manager

Status : Full-time/Exempt

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Facing Forward to End Homelessness (Facing Forward) offers home, help, and hope to people experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Facing Forward utilizes a Housing First model which provides permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless individuals, families, and veterans. Under this model, we first ensure that clients have a safe stable home and then we empower them as they lead a forward-facing life. By providing permanent housing and a full array of services, including case management, healthcare, referrals for substance abuse treatment, mental health issues, education, and job training, we give individuals experiencing homelessness in Chicago and their children the tools they need to reclaim their lives.

VISION

Facing Forward is committed to empowering all individuals to envision a brighter future. We are always striving to ensure our approach is reflective of the unique paths which have led people to Facing Forward. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where each member of Facing Forward is empowered to be themselves, share ideas, and contribute to the mission and vision of the organization. We believe that we are stronger together. We want to serve as a foundation, and work in partnership with clients, staff, vendors, and community partners. In unity, we can work to prevent and end homelessness for our clients; to partner and guide them on their journey toward stability, health, and self-sufficiency.

Position Summary:

Ability to build and maintain relationships with private landlords and property management companies, travel to different sites and locations as required, work with a diverse population of formerly homeless individuals/families impacted and to work cooperatively as part of a team. At the discretion of The Property Advocacy Manager they may assign individual property advocates to oversee specified functions of the team.

Essential Job Functions:

Housing Location (60% of time)

• Assists clients with identifying and accessing housing accessible to their needs and aligned with program requirements.
• Assist with all aspects of a tenant move-in to identified housing.
• Collaborate with Case Managers to resolve tenancy issues and provide tenant/landlord education and mediation as needed.
• Conducts and completes inspections onany unit as required bytheprogramincluding proper filing of paperwork.
• Obtains documentation from property owners to verify ownership.
• Completes all certification paperwork and corresponding documentation for client files.
• Supports clients in viewing units, including providing transportation in personal vehicle and/or arranging for transportation to viewings.
• Conducts client education on Chicago Tenant Rights and increasing tenant skills.
• Assist in the resolution of any work orders to ensure habitability of program units and record documentation from property owners to verify that remediation activities have been completed.
• Negotiate rent increase requests from landlords; making sure units are not over Fair Market Rate (FMR).
• Complete Rent Reasonableness documentation for scattered site client files.

Landlord/Tenant Mediation and Relationship Building (20%)

• Assists with lease renewals including inspections, lease renewal documentation and lease review.
• Works with Case Managers to assist with client and landlord issues to prevent eviction including assisting with payment plans.
• Cultivate landlord relationships by tracking and reporting current and former landlords.
• Provide Landlord and Tenant housing resources.
• Facilitate Landlord appreciation programs and events as needed.
• Assist in the coordination of scattered site tenant workshops and landlord meetings.

Program Administration (20% of the time):

• Documents all client contacts and services in Property Tracker, HMIS case notes and services according to Facing Forward data entry policy.
• Updates all housing and leasing documentation in AppFolio and paper file.
• Utilizes various office systems (Outlook, Teams, etc.) to maintain regular communication with program team members.
• Completes documentation of client interactions and services in HMIS, Property tracking spreadsheet, and AppFolio as needed.
• Complete landlord information sheets and updates landlord information.
• Monitor rental payments for tenants to ensure accurate recordkeeping.
• Complete quarterly rental payment arrearage reports and letters for tenants.
• Review tenant files to ensure data is accurate and complete.

Other Responsibilities

• Uses email and other technologies to communicate with staff and others and to efficiently complete work assignments.
• Protects the organization’s value by keeping information confidential.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational and training opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks, participating in professional organizations.
• Attendance at staff and team meetings as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned; including but not limited to cleaning of office space and common areas, sorting donations, additional reporting, and data entry responsibilities, and facilitating special events.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Salary range is $48,000 - $54,264.54 depending in experience and skills.
• Please see the attached document for full benefit information

SCHEDULE

• This position is a hybrid position, alternating remote work, field work, and office days. Free street parking.
• 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday, evening and weekend work as needed.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in from an accredited college or university OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience: Three years’ experience in affordable housing, supportive housing, or other social service setting.

Skills and Abilities: Knowledgeable of Chicago rental market and familiar with Chicago Landlord-Tenant Ordinance; proficient in use and knowledge of Microsoft Office and general office equipment; strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively persons who may be ill, disabled, emotionally upset and/or hostile; ability to show empathy; non-judgmental; ability to make independent judgments; and, ability to manage multiple tasks; fluency in Spanish preferred.

License:

Driver’s license and vehicle required

Equal Opportunity Employer

Facing Forward to End Homelessness is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage

applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Employment decisions are made without regard to race,

color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry,

citizenship or work authorization status, age, disability, marital or family status, military or veteran status,

or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, Illinois, or Chicago law.

Reasonable accommodations are available during the application and hiring process. Applicants who

require an accommodation may contact View email address on us.fitly.work

Physical Requirements

Sitting for extended periods is required. Intermittent physical activity, including standing, walking, and bending. Normal manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication is required. Reasonable accommodation will enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.