Housing Specialist I

Housing Specialist I

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization. This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current/future Housing Specialist I positions within OC Community Resources/OC Housing Authority. The eligible list established may also be used to fill similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Deadline to apply: Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PT). Orange County Housing Authority administers federally funded programs to provide monthly rental assistance to qualified tenants in privately owned rental housing. OCHA is a division within OC Community Resources (OCCR).

The Housing Specialist I is a trainee class in the Housing Specialist series and is considered an entry-level position. There is no permanent status at the Housing Specialist I level. Incumbents are expected to demonstrate progressive proficiency by performing work with increasing independence in order to advance to the Housing Specialist II level after one (1) year of appointment. Incumbents learn to perform a variety of office and/or field duties involved in providing housing assistance to low-income households under the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program (and similar subsidized housing programs). The Orange County Housing Authority is divided into four (4) sections: Occupancy Section, Leasing/Inspection Section, Special Housing Programs, Administration.

The general responsibilities and duties associated with this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Performs initial and ongoing eligibility as it pertains to rental assistance and interprets and applies regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Manages caseloads through ongoing review, tracking, and assessment.
• Collects required documentation from applicants, participants, and landlords.
• Determines rent reasonableness and affordability of rental units and calculates rental assistance payments and repayment arrangements.
• Performs Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections and leasing activity.
• Prepares reports and correspondences for various agencies, landlords, or businesses that seek or report housing information.

The ideal candidate will possess experience related to housing programs as well as working knowledge/experience of interpreting and applying local policy and federal regulations. Bilingual candidates who are fluent in speaking, reading, and writing another language other than English are highly encouraged to apply. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the knowledge and/or experience in the following core competencies:

Technical Expertise

• Demonstrated knowledge of the housing industry.
• Ability to interpret, understand, apply and explain housing laws, regulations, policies, etc.
• Ability to prepare clear, well-written, and technically accurate documents and correspondence.
• Experience in collection, aggregation, calculation, and analysis of data
• Demonstrated knowledge of modern office practices and procedures, including contemporary office technology, computerized record-keeping systems, and basic business mathematics.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software.

Customer Service

• Accurately apply regulations and/or policies and follow procedures to solve challenges.
• Provide the highest quality service to the public by addressing concerns timely, accurately, and professionally.

Analysis & Problem Solving

• Take the initiative to identify and solve problems.
• Compile facts, data, and input prior to making important decisions.
• Act decisively and demonstrate good judgment.

Organization & Planning

• Organize, plan and structure workload(s) in a manner, which maximizes productivity while ensuring excellent quality
• Prioritize workload(s) in accordance with deadlines and Department/County goals/initiatives
• Manage time efficiently

Oral & Written Communication

• Effectively communicate orally and in writing.
• Communicate technical and complex information in a clear and easy to understand manner.
• Compose correspondence for a wide range of audiences.
• Create and conduct informative presentations.

Please click here to view the minimum qualifications for Housing Specialist I. Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process. An online exam consisting of job-related questions will be administered. Candidates who pass this test will be referred to the next step. Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies. The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.