Housing Choice Voucher Specialist

Position Summary / Objectives

Description

The Housing Choice Voucher Program Specialist performs clerical and technical work of routine difficulty involving processing the required forms and documentation necessary to execute a Housing Assistance Program Contract between Housing Choice Voucher Program participants, landlords, and Hancock Metropolitan Housing Authority (HMHA). Routinely interacts with participants and landlords of diverse backgrounds.

Examples of Duties

The position duties and responsibilities listed below describe the general nature and scope of work. Other responsibilities, duties, and skills may be required and assigned as needed. These essential functions require presence in the workplace on a regular basis, and regular attendance must be maintained.

• Conduct interviews with clients to obtain information required to determine eligibility for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, establish the client's portion of rent, and complete internal forms processing in a timely manner.
• Processes amendments to the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract between HMHA and the landlord to reflect changes in family composition or income and during recertifications in a timely manner.
• Executes HAP Contracts with property landlords after receiving approved Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspection reports within established time parameters.
• Maintains client's file integrity in accordance with HMHA privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.
• Translates program procedures to participants to ensure proper explanation of participant's responsibilities.
• Investigates "unreported income" by reviewing participant's files and analyzing past fluctuations in income and expenses.
• Terminates participants in the system; closes out files, reviews files for possible termination; makes decisions based on policies and procedures to continue with termination; closes out portability files when the client is absorbed, processes portability billing and runs reports (i.e., EIV Reports, etc.) to ensure proper processing of terminations.
• Reviews accepted forms and participant information, including employment and earnings, for completeness and accuracy and corrects information if necessary.
• Responds timely to inquiries from owners, clients, and the general public by providing general information about the HCV Program, and resolves client concerns regarding housing assistance and HAP for clients and owners in a timely manner.
• Researches information received through the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system and/or other third-party sources to determine program fraud and program abuse and prepares documentation for fraud investigations.
• Maintains a working knowledge of policies and procedures established by HMHA and the U.S. Department of Urban Housing and Development (HUD) and applies the rules and regulations to daily tasks.
• Other duties as assigned.

Behavioral Competencies:

This position requires the incumbent to exhibit the following behavioral skills:

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; and persists despite obstacles and opposition

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors, and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; and recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys an understanding of, the comments and questions of others; and listens effectively. Demonstrates the ability to develop audiovisual presentations to both internal and external audiences.

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and does their fair share of work.

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed; attends, supports, and participates in all team building exercises and events

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• High School Degree

Preferred Requirements:

• Knowledge of housing programs.

Technical Skills:

To perform this job successfully, the employee should have:

• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and the general public.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Knowledge of client service principles and practices and interviewing skills and techniques.
• Understanding of basic reading and writing skills and mathematics.
• Skill in assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands with excellent problem-solving and organizational skills while meeting established deadlines.
• Intermediate working knowledge of computer software, including Microsoft Office, specifically MS Excel and Outlook, with the ability to learn new software applications.
• Skill in reading, interpreting, and applying HUD rules and regulations and HMHA policies and procedures.
• Ability to work independently and in a team and apply leadership, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Skill in analyzing problems and determining appropriate courses of action.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to always project a professional image.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position. Daily movements include sitting, standing, operating computers and other office equipment, moving about the office, and attending meetings. The employee must be able to communicate via email and verbally via telephone.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 5-10 pounds.
• Visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity are necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic office equipment.
• Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting, and kneeling to perform the essential functions.
• Working conditions primarily inside an office environment.

Office environment
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
High level of interaction with external/internal clients.

ADA STATEMENT

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Hancock Metropolitan Housing Authority will make reasonable accommodation to the known disability of a qualified applicant or employee to enable people with disabilities to enjoy equal employment opportunities if it would not impose an "undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business.

ETHICS

HMHA is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards as a public agency. Applicants selected for employment are expected to perform work responsibilities with the highest degree of integrity, professionalism, and honesty to merit the respect of our co-workers, clients, partners, vendors, and the general public. Applicants selected for employment are also expected to serve the public with dedication, concern, courtesy, and responsiveness.

DISCLAIMER

The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

This position specification is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this position specification at any time without notice.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 33 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person