Housing Specialist - Bronx

Housing Specialist

Compensation Range: $55,000 - $70,000 yearly commensurate with experience.

Benefits: We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and textbooks.

Overview: The Housing Specialist locates and secures affordable scatter site apartments that meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and HUD's Rent Reasonableness Standards.

Responsibilities:

Primary:

• Locates and secures quality affordable, independent or supportive permanent housing for program clients by viewing available market rate apartments throughout New York City and completing 2010e supportive housing applications.
• Corresponds with HASA personnel to expedite apartment approval and the issuing of ongoing rental subsidies.

Secondary:

• Performs semi-annual housing inspections using HQS document
• Provide documentation that proves that all apartments we rent have rental amounts that are at or are lower than HUD's Fair Market Rent standards and passes HUD's "Rent Reasonableness" requirements.
• Complete annual Environmental Reviews for the program

Other functions that may be needed with this position include:

• Collects necessary documents from real estate brokers, building management personnel, and landlords and completes required Housing Works paperwork to request first month's rent, security deposit, and real estate broker's checks.
• Develops and cultivates housing leads and resources with real estate brokers, private landlords, and management companies.
• Escorts program clients to view apartments.
• Participates in client case conferences to discuss housing options and needs.
• Assists program clients to locate and secure independent housing.
• Enthusiastically takes part in advocacy and direct actions to end the twin crises of homelessness and HIV/AIDS.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• At least three years of work experience as a Housing Specialist for a non-profit organization.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Ability to work with the street homeless and formerly unhoused populations.

The following additional competencies are viewed as important to success in this position:

• Dependable and flexible.
• Able to maintain a high level of client confidentiality.
• Good communication skills both verbally and written, including the ability to communicate with all levels of management.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Work, and Excel.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Self-motivated and self-directed with the ability to assert oneself.

Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works' New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union ("RWDSU"). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a "CBA") between Housing Works and the RWDSU.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.