Housing Programs Analyst

Housing Programs Analyst

The City of Santa Ana is looking for individuals who are results-oriented, possess great attitude, demonstrate creativity and innovation, work efficiently, show a record of success and have a passion for public service. Having highly talented employees provides the best service to our community.

Performs a range of professional and technical duties in support of affordable housing projects and programs of the Community Development Agency, including facilitating the development of new affordable housing opportunities, assisting in administering affordable housing programs, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations, or assisting in the administration and enforcement of the City's Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance.

This journey level classification in the Housing Administration series. Incumbents provide specialized staff assistance in analyzing, evaluating, developing, and monitoring compliance with housing programs and regulations for the expansion, improvement, and preservation of housing in the City. The Housing Programs Analyst classification is distinguished from the next higher Housing Programs Coordinator classification in that the latter classification has a higher level and more complex responsibilities, higher decision-making authority, higher accountability, and supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Functions Include But Are Not Limited To

• Assists in the implementation, administration, and monitoring of housing programs, projects, initiatives, policies, and procedures; coordinates related activities with other City departments and outside parties.
• Conducts research, analyzes data, and prepares written reports for administrative, operational, and policy issues; performs feasibility analysis; and provides findings and recommendations.
• Collects, analyzes, and evaluates housing data to assess division projects, programs, and activities; makes recommendations; and assists in implementing recommendations.
• Monitors housing projects, programs, and activities for compliance with federal, state, and other regulatory agency rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepares periodic project status reports and other written reports and documents for review.
• Assists with the division's budget preparation and control, purchasing activities, records control, and other administrative functions.
• Assists in the marketing of division information; prepares, publishes, reviews, updates, and maintains division content, including handouts, printed brochures, information for digital media, and webpages; and plans, prepares, and conducts presentations and workshops to educate and engage the public, boards and commissions, and community groups.
• Works closely with supervisors, management, the City Attorney's Office, the Planning and Building Agency, and outside parties regarding housing programs, projects, and activities, regulatory compliance issues, and other sensitive matters.
• Attends, assists with, and serves as a City staff liaison to department board and commission meetings.
• Responds to inquiries and information requests from the public, tenants and landlords, officials, staff, and outside parties by phone, e-mail, or in-person; provides counseling, assistance, and supportive services on issues related to housing programs, projects, and activities; and may provide multilingual assistance.
• Assists with requests for proposals and contracts; participates in developer and vendor selection processes; and helps administer and track approved contracts and affordable housing loan agreements.
• Assists in the documentation of department internal operating processes and procedures.
• Provides administrative support to supervisory and management staff.
• May supervise support staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Depending on assignment, additional essential functions include:

If assigned to the Housing Division:

• Collects, analyzes, and evaluates housing data to assess local housing needs.
• Assists in the development of Housing Division strategies, plans, reports, and other documents related to the Housing Element, Annual Plan, and Consolidated Plan for compliance with federal, state, and related entities.
• Assists in the administration of the federally-funded HOME Investment Partnership Program, City of Santa Ana Inclusionary Housing Fund, Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Fund, Project-Based Voucher Program, and any other source of funding for affordable housing projects and programs.
• Identifies and seeks housing related funding through grants from federal, state, local, and private sources.
• Monitors for compliance with agreements and regulations associated with housing projects and programs.
• Prepares comprehensive housing reports, including demographic reports, long-range plans, and other related reports for review.

If assigned to the Rent Stabilization Division:

• Assists in the administration of division projects, programs, and functions in compliance with the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance ("Ordinance").
• Performs research and analyses related to the Rent Stabilization Program.
• Assists in operating and maintaining the rental registry, including providing documentation, notices, and information to landlords and tenants, and collecting, processing, and receiving rental registry fees; maintains rental unit data.
• Provides tenants and landlords with individualized counseling and supportive services on issues related to the Ordinance and associated laws; conducts site visits to apartment complexes and mobile-home communities.
• Reviews notices of tenant eviction and termination to ensure compliance with the Ordinance.
• Assists in the investigation, coordination, and implementation of enforcement actions; responds to and requests advice on Ordinance legal matters; and coordinates with the Code Enforcement Division on matters related to rental housing habitability and inspection of units and citations.
• Assists in coordinating fair return, capital improvement, and tenant petitions; assists petitioners with incomplete petitions; reviews petitions for completeness; and processes complete petitions.
• Schedules and coordinates mediation and administrative hearings; coordinates with parties involved, including contracted hearing officer and mediation services, in an effort to resolve tenant and landlord conflicts; provides related follow-up.
• Assists landlords with the process to withdraw rent stabilized units from the rental market; assists and coordinates with tenants regarding relocation assistance; and monitors the rehabilitation status of withdrawn properties.
• Participates in outreach and may participate in multilingual engagement activities for vulnerable communities in an effort to prevent displacement.

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience implementing and administering housing programs. High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification, supplemented by college level coursework in public administration, social work, political science, urban planning, or a related field. Minimum qualifications may be met via an equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions. Experience and education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of: Pertinent federal, state, and local public sector laws, and regulations, including state and federally-funded municipal housing programs, redevelopment, inclusionary housing, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, and the City's Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, Integrated Disbursement and Information System, Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting, and Real Estate Assessment Center databases; principles and practices of public administration; housing program administration; urban planning principles; public and private funding sources; grant application techniques; principles and practices of data collection, business letter writing, and report preparation; proper English usage, grammar, and punctuation; customer service techniques; recordkeeping practices and procedures; research methods and techniques; budgeting processes and controls; mathematical calculations and statistics; conflict management and resolution; time management; and personnel procedures.
• Skill in: The use of a personal computer and business software applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and housing program software; the operation of modern office equipment.
• Ability to: Understand, interpret, and apply Citywide and departmental codes, policies, and procedures, and applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations; perform financial feasibility analyses; assemble, organize, analyze, interpret, and draw sound conclusions from information; develop and present recommendations on findings; make effective oral presentations; communicate ideas effectively, orally and in writing; write clear and comprehensive reports, correspondence, procedures, and other written materials; follow written and oral directions; perform mathematical calculations accurately; participate in budget preparation and administration; coordinate and monitor project status; manage and complete work assignments timely; maintain records and information; use tact and diplomacy when solving problems in the workplace and when dealing with sensitive issues; maintain confidentiality; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees, landlords, tenants, the public, and those contacted in the scope of work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession and retention of a valid California Class "C" Driver's License is a condition of continued employment in this job classification.
• Must be willing and able to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Bilingual ability in English and Spanish, and/or