HOUSING COUNSELOR, Housing

Housing Counselor

The Housing Counselor will be responsible for assisting with the daily functions of the Housing including determining continued eligibility and assistance levels to clients receiving the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher subsidy. Maintain and manage assigned caseload, ensuring compliance with HUD regulations, statutory requirements, policies and procedures, and performance rating system. Assist clients in obtaining decent, safe and sanitary housing and maintain working relationship with participants, property owners and community agencies. Conduct effective interviews and calculate and determine reasonable rents, utility reimbursements and subsidy payments.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

GRANT FUNDED POSITION

This posting may close at any time once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Tarrant County employees enjoy superior health, retirement, and insurance benefits & 13 County Holidays

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Interviews Section 8 participants to determine continued eligibility for housing assistance and portability
• Facilitates the verification process for collecting information relevant to program eligibility including, but not limited to, employment, welfare and social security benefits, background checks, and asset verification
• Accurately maintains participant data in computer tracking system
• Maintains and manages participant records and files
• Conducts client and owner briefings, providing information related to program participation, unit eligibility, program requirements, and HUD regulations and fair housing standards
• Calculates rent for housing subsidy, utility reimbursement and repayment agreements
• Initiates and maintains Housing Assistance Payment contracts
• Initiates the termination process for non-compliance with program guidelines, prepares file summary and case analysis for informal hearings
• Researches, investigates and resolves (when possible) client and property owner complaints
• Prepares computer generated performance and program reports
• Coordinates and follows-up appropriately with Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections
• Analyzes rent reasonableness assessments
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Excellent customer service and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to stay organized and know how to prioritize the workload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Competency with computers and Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
• Advanced analytical skills.

Minimum Requirements

• High School or GED with four (4) full-time years' work experience in social services, case management, housing programs, community outreach, or other human-services settings.
• Associate's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, or another closely related human-services field, and two (2) full-time years of work experience in social services, case management, housing programs, community outreach, or other human-services settings.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, or another closely related human-services field may substitute for required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Must have a valid driver's license.

Preferred Requirements:

• No desired preferences.

Important Notice:

To be considered for this position, your application must be complete and clearly demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications. Please ensure that all sections of the application are fully completed, including Education (specifying the type of degree, field of study, and graduation status), Experience, and Certifications/Licenses. Resumes alone will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will result in disqualification, as eligibility for minimum qualifications cannot be confirmed without full documentation. If selected for hire, you will be required to provide proof of educational attainment during the onboarding process.

Tarrant County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudication in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

Physical Demands and Work Environment & Other Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to sit, walk, climb, stoop, lift, push, and pull. Incumbent is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, wet and/or humid conditions and extreme temperatures. Possibility of working with unpredictable and potentially violent clients. Exposure to communicable and contagious diseases possible.