Housing Eligibility Specialist

The Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) serves the housing and community development needs of the twenty-six towns of Franklin County, Massachusetts. We work with residents to successfully access a wide variety of housing resources. We also work with the municipalities of Franklin County to apply for and administer grant funding for various infrastructure and community development projects.

Position Overview: The Housing Eligibility Specialist works directly with tenants and landlords participating in the subsidized rental housing programs administered by the Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). Duties include but are not limited to processing initial applications, gathering documentation for the participant’s annual recertification, reconciling program participants repayment agreements, and processing annual recertifications for HRA’s private entities. 

Job Class: Full-Time (37.5 hours per week); Non-exempt 

Supervision Received: The Housing Eligibility Specialist works directly under the supervision of the Director of Leased Housing. 

Supervision Given: None 

Salary: $20 - $21 per hour

Principal Duties:

1. Conduct tenant intake and outreach, including but not limited to answering inquiries, explaining the program(s), and waiting list, and assisting people in completing applications when necessary.
2. Process initial Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher applications, including CORI and SORI, and determine final eligibility when applicants reach the top of the waitlist. 
3. Send income, medical, and financial verifications to institutes/ providers. 
4. Process Annual Recertifications for HRA’s private entities in compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations and policies.
5. Become and remain familiar with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to state and federally funded rental assistance programs administered by HRA.
6. Reconcile program participant’s repayment agreement accounts and send out delinquency notices.
7. Carry out all other duties as assigned. 

General Responsibilities:

1. HRA is a public agency operating for the benefit of all citizens. Personnel shall conduct themselves in a manner respectful of all clients and shall adhere to HRA's mission and goals. Personnel shall act in such a way as to create a positive image of the Agency. 
2. Personnel will act in a professional manner while relating to HRA staff, clients and business contacts seeking to resolve differences or complaints through appropriate agency procedures. 
3. All personnel are responsible for adherence to HRA personnel policies, including the prevention of conflict of interest, misuse of funds, or abuse of trust and are responsible for reporting known misconduct to an Executive officer. 
4. All personnel shall respect the legal and moral rights and privacy of confidential information due to all clients and are responsible for upholding HRA's affirmative action policies. 

Minimum Qualifications:

1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Valid driver’s license and/or access to reliable transportation. 
3. Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite of programs, with particular attention to Word and Excel, and the ability to learn new computer programs with ease. 

Additional Qualifications:

1. Certification in Low Income Housing Tax Credit program by the Spectrum Companies (can be completed at HRA’s expense within twelve months of hire). 
2. Spanish or other bilingual skills a plus. 
3. Demonstrated people skills. Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with tenants, tenant organizations, service providers, vendors, local and state officials, funders, and colleagues.
4. Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
5. Demonstrated computer skills, particularly in the Microsoft Office suite; experience working in databases preferred.
6. Demonstrated strong quantitative skills. Ability to calculate rents based on income and prepare and monitor simple financial reports. 
7. Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to maintain filing systems and records required by different programs. 
8. Demonstrated judgment and ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients. 
9. Demonstrated ability to read and understand local, state, and federal laws and regulations.