Housing Specialist

Salary : $77,604.80 - $94,536.00 Annually
Location : San Diego
Job Type: Up to 1 year of employment, limited benefits
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 202500038
Department: Homelessness Housing Innovations
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Description
Department: Homelessness Housing Innovations

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• 9/80 Compressed Work Schedule (office closed every other Friday)
• 14 paid holidays
• 457M tax-deferred savings plan
• Social security exempt
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 annually
• Sharp PPO or HMO Plan, Kaiser Permanente HMO Plan,
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible spending account
• Health and wellness perks
• Rewards & Recognition program

To see full benefits package, please visit:

About SDHC:

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) is an award-winning public housing agency in the City of San Diego that provides innovative housing assistance programs for households with low income or experiencing homelessness. The San Diego City Council, in its role as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego, oversees SDHC. SDHC helps pay rent for more than 17,000 households with low income annually; is a leader in collaborative efforts to address homelessness, such as the Community Action Plan on Homelessness for the City of San Diego and creates and preserves affordable rental housing, with more than 23,000 affordable units in service in the City today with SDHC's participation.

About the Department:

The Homelessness & Housing Stability Initiatives (HHSI) Division serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness throughout the City of San Diego using creative strategies and best practice programming. Specifically, the department operates a variety of direct service homeless programs including, but not limited to: Homelessness Prevention, Shelter Diversion, Shallow Subsidies, Rapid Rehousing and Landlord Engagement.

Specific examples include:

• Homelessness Prevention Program
• Homelessness Shelter Diversion Program
• Housing Instability Prevention Program
• Moving Home Rapid Rehousing Program
• Landlord Engagement and Assistance Program

About the Position:

The Housing Specialist role independently performs a variety of complex, highly responsible, and specialized functions associated with the administration of homeless housing and landlord recruitment and retention programs. The work has technical and programmatic aspects, requiring the interpretation and application of policies, procedures, and regulations and involves frequent contact with staff and the public, as well as performing various research functions. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.

Examples of Essential Job Functions

• Conducts comprehensive client intakes and assessments for individuals and families to determine eligibility for homelessness assistance programs, including housing location and placement services, short-term rental assistance, financial support, and other resource needs; reviews data and applies all relevant rules and regulations to ensure accurate determinations; maintains complete, compliant intake files and consistent verbal and written communication with tenants, property owners, referral sources, internal departments, and collaborating agencies.
• Responds to inquiries from clients, property owners, informants, agency representatives, and Commission staff; documents actions taken and communicates with the Executive Team and legal counsel; identifies and returns case files with procedural issues for follow-up; and maintains clear, timely case notes by verifying information, researching discrepancies, and ensuring all documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Provides comprehensive case management to assigned caseload by delivering information and referral assistance to social service agencies and community programs; collaborates with clients to develop strengths-based, solution-focused action plans; conducts in-person, phone, email, and home-visit support to promote housing stabilization and retention; offers budget counseling to address debts and establish payment plans; builds and maintains an effective referral network for ongoing support; and monitors client progress to identify needed resources such as transportation and financial planning to help clients achieve housing stability and other interim goals.
• Conducts technical and procedural training programs for new employees and staff, including training on program regulations, policies, and procedures, forms and document processing, database system, interviewing techniques, prioritization of work, and other procedures and applicable skills.
• Handles client and landlord interactions with courtesy, tact, sensitivity, and in accordance with SDHC confidentiality policies, while providing mediation and advocacy on behalf of clients to develop workable plans to obtain and maintain housing.
• Researches, compiles, analyzes, and organizes information and data from various sources on a variety of specialized topics related to assigned areas; develops management reports and recommendations regarding improvements in procedures, control processes, and employee training programs; checks and tabulates standard mathematical or statistical data.
• Works with service providers in the community as well as internal homeless service programs to assist clients at-risk of and experiencing homelessness in securing housing placement including recruitment and retention efforts to develop landlord partnerships, responding to inquiries, issuing eligible payments to landlords for participation in programs, reviewing and submitting landlord claims for approval including ensuring claims are accurate and include all required verification.
• Conducts and completes certifications in required databases including Yardi, Salesforce and HMIS, and others.
• Reviews rent registers and conducts Rent Reasonableness Valuations; conducts habitability checks and informs property owners of required improvements.
• Answers questions and responds to complaints from clients, landlords, and the public; explains Commission policies and procedures and available courses of action; pulls case records, conducts research regarding problems or concerns, and takes follow-up corrective action as appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Theory, principles and practices of homeless housing interventions, social services, case management, eviction prevention, shelter diversion, and crisis intervention.
• Demographics, social services, housing needs, and other supportive needs of populations served by Commission homeless programs. Sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of population served.
• Ethical and legal obligations regarding confidentiality, and individual/family supportive services programs.
• The community, its resources and dynamics applicable to the delivery of Commission programs in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Understanding of the rental market within the City of San Diego.
• Demonstrated understanding of Housing First, trauma-informed care and motivational interviewing practices
• Conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Knowledge or understanding of tenant's rights and responsibilities as well as "strengths based" case management.
• Research, analytical, and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Principles and practices of data collection and report preparation.
• Detail oriented to complete requirements of files and contract compliance.
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of the assigned programs.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, regulations, and departmental policies, technical processes, and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications, including word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications.
• Principles of business letter writing and record-keeping.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Commission staff.
• Commission administrative regulations, policies, and procedures governing homeless services programs.
• Eligibility, recertification, and case management practices and procedures.
• Conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, regulations, and departmental policies, technical processes, and procedures.
• Research, statistical, analytical, and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Principles and practices of data collection and report preparation.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications, including word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications.
• Principles of business letter writing and record-keeping.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Commission staff.

Ability to:

• Perform specialized housing location work with accuracy, speed, and minimal supervision.
• Establish and set appropriate limits with participants to gain skills and confidence.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive personal information of applicants, current and former clients, and other matters affecting tenant relations.
• Effectively problem solve and maintain composure in high-pressure situations.
• Define issues, collect data, evaluate alternatives, and develop sound conclusions and recommendations in an effective manner.
• Understand the organization and operation of the Commission and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Deal effectively with a culturally and ethnically highly diverse client and customer group.
• Interpret, explain, and ensure compliance with Commission policies and procedures, complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances governing the programs in assigned areas of responsibility
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written material independently or from brief instructions.
• Perform specialized and technical eligibility and case management work with accuracy, speed, and minimal supervision.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Effectively represent the division and the Commission in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Operate modern office equipment, including computer equipment and word-processing, database, spreadsheet, and other software applications programs.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education & Experience:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in planning, social work, business administration, public administration, or a related field preferred, and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in the administration of housing programs.

Licenses and Certifications:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.
Supplemental Information
Physical Demands:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to inspect Commission development sites, including traversing uneven terrain, climbing ladders, stairs, and other temporary or construction access points, to operate a motor vehicle, and to visit various Commission and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas and to conduct inspections may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Environmental Elements:

Employees partly work in the office and partly in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
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