Community Housing Facilitator

The Community Housing Facilitator engages rural communities, stakeholders, and individuals in the COME HOME housing model through comprehensive community assessment and planning, Healthy Homes Assessment, education, and technical assistance to help rural and persistent poverty communities and families create and access sustainable opportunity through healthy, safe, and affordable housing.

Education / Certification Requirements

• A minimum of 2 years of general employment experience is required.
• Must meet one of the following requirements:

a) A bachelor’s degree in political science, psychology or sociology, social work, public administration, or related field and 1-year of relevant experience in grant funded housing programs or housing development.

b) A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in grant funded housing programs or housing development with documented experience in community organizing, community assessments, strategic planning, LIHTC projects, housing counseling, or homebuyer education

• HUD Housing Counseling or USDA 502 Loan Packager Certification preferred

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for delivery of COME HOME community housing services in multiple rural and persistent poverty communities within assigned service area
• Provide technical assistance in municipal housing assessments, strategic planning, housing preservation, and housing development for community leaders, stakeholders, volunteers, and participants of CU’s COME HOME Housing initiatives
• Complete comprehensive community housing plans for rural communities and municipalities. Plans will include the following elements
• Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment
• Will include a minimum of two community engagement events, community perception survey, two focus groups, data assessments, and public presentation survey, and public presentation of the needs assessment report in each community enrolled in COME HOME
• Strategic Housing Guide
• Will include a strategic plan for housing preservation and development activities, outputs and outcomes framework, and an implementation plan
• Resource Development Guide
• Monitor and document community progress toward housing goals established in Strategic Housing Guides for documentation, grant reporting, and technical assistance purposes
• Develop and support a Community Housing Taskforce in each community engaged in the COME HOME process through monthly meetings, technical assistance, and assistance with resource applications and planning for housing initiatives
• Assist low-income, rural families through completion of the following
• Healthy Homes Housing Assessments designed by the HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes for enrolled households
• Individual Preservation Plans for enrolled households
• Packaging of USDA 502 and 504 Direct Loan Applications
• One-on-one housing counseling
• Pre- and post-purchase homebuyer group education events
• Referral to housing assistance and financing resources
• Monitor and document individuals’, families’, and households’ progress toward housing goals established in Housing Assessments, Individual Preservation Plans, and housing counseling action plans for documentation, grant reporting, educational and referral purposes
• Collaborate with communities, community partners, and across CU programs to develop a portfolio of resources in each community enrolled in the COME HOME program with the purpose of reaching strategic housing goals and supporting housing preservation and development
• Market CU CDFI and Housing products and other CU programs and departments through community engagement events, one-on-one meetings with community members, leadership, and stakeholders, and distribution of marketing materials
• Assist applicants to CU CDFI and Housing products and other housing resources with the completion and submission of applications
• Travel within a multi-county region and occasionally between states to meet with clients and provide necessary housing education, counseling, assessment and planning onsite.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners through one on one and community engagement events.
• Have knowledge of and follow the most recent Fair Marketing and Fair Housing requirements and guidelines as described by the US Fair Housing Act and the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) at all times to ensure CU meets the highest standards of fair housing in all housing initiatives and services.
• Carry out additional duties as assigned

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Effectively communicate in both written and verbal formats.
• Deliver results in an environment with high degree of self-directed time management and project management.
• Understand applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, particularly those related to housing development and fair housing.
• Proficiency with Microsoft programs and email.
• Employee must be able to work in close contact with small and large groups
• Must be able to pass USDA 502 Loan Packager Exam within 12 months from hire date
• Must be able to pass HUD Housing Counselor Certification exam within 12 months of initiation of training
• Must have a valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle for travel to project communities.
• Must be authorized to work in the USA.

Requires working both indoors and outdoors; walking frequently, driving a vehicle daily, getting in and out of a car frequently; visiting multiple locations daily in all types of weather and conditions.