Housing Specialist

JOB SUMMARY:
Housing Specialists must work within the guidelines of federal, state, and local regulations and policies, as well as Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations and Housing policies. They should also be able to exercise judgment and initiative, and work well with other service agencies, landlords, and community advocates.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Perform routine applicant briefings and determine eligibility for certification to participate in a Housing program, including educating clients on all available programs for which they may qualify.
  
• Collects and verifies information from 3rd party sources relevant to program eligibility including, but not limited to employment, welfare and social security, criminal background checks, and asset verification.
  
• Maintain tenant files, input data into computer and gather statistical data in accordance with federal regulations.
  
• Conducts applicant / participant briefings providing information related to program requirements, HUD regulations, fair housing, subsidy standards and administrative policies and procedures and consequences for violations of program participant obligations.
  
• Calculates income and allowable deductions to determine participant share of rent and amount of housing subsidy.
  
• Prepares and maintains housing assistance payment contracts and other contractual documents, maintains client files.
  
• Initiates termination of housing assistance for non-compliance with program guidelines, prepares file summary and case analysis for informal hearing.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Investigate allegations of reported fraud or program abuse, prepare client files for informal hearings, and calculate amounts of any owner / participant repayment due the Arlington Housing Authority.
  
• Researches, investigates, and resolves client and property owner complaints.
  
• Make formal presentations to small and large groups.
  
• On a nontypical basis, may perform other additional duties not listed in this description that are in alignment with the scope of essential job functions.