Summary: Under supervision of the Director of Housing Services, the Housing Specialist performs a variety of duties in providing assistance to low to moderate-income families in securing affordable housing within HUD regulations and guidelines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Meet high customer service standards, including prompt return of phone calls and handling walk-in clients, according to protocol standards. Cooperate with other agencies in order to evaluate and /or assist in the maintenance of housing choice voucher participations.

Issue vouchers to participants at the point of their admission to the program and before every move to a new unit.

Completes move-ins, transfers, annual re-certifications, interims, lease-up packages, portability packets, terminations, etc.

Develop and maintain relationships with case management, service providers and/or landlords in community. Evaluate the needs of participants for appropriate referral to other service providers.

Answer questions and explain program goals and requirements to assure understanding by landlords and participants

Notifies landlords and tenants of responsibility to conform to Housing Quality Standards.

Meet with program participants to conduct intake briefings. Issue vouchers to participants at the point of their admission to the program and before every move to a new unit.

Counsel participants about how subsidy is calculated, how much rent they can afford to pay based on affordability restrictions, and their obligations under the program.

Determine participant eligibility for portal to other jurisdictions by communicating with other housing authorities about portability process.

Create and review admissions files as needed; review applications submitted by project sponsors; run criminal checks; obtain and review income and disability verifications; determine basic eligibility for the program.

Completes required documentation for move-ins, transfers, annual re-certifications, interims, portability packets and terminations.

Conduct research/investigation necessary to verify income, child support expenses, child-care expenses, medical expenses, all other qualifying factors to complete required Federal forms.

Verify family composition to ensure voucher bedroom size equals occupancy standards. Follow procedure for relocation if indicated.

Calculate rent payment using all verified data to prepare HUD Form 50058.

Processes Ensures all initial and/or changes to family composition and income and updated in the computer system in a timely manner in accordance with HUD regulations.

Verify the file is complete, accurate, and in correct order. Information is recorded clearly and legibly and all given to the Records Manager within an established time frame

Performs other related essential duties as required.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Duties and Responsibilities

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by HUD training and one to two years relevant work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Special Requirements

No special licensure or certification is required.

Physical Requirements

Ability to operate a variety of automated office machines including typewriter, calculator, copier, computer, telephone system, fax machine, etc.

Ability to utilize departmental software including CCS, WordPerfect, Word, Excel, and others

Ability to exert physical effort in sedentary to light work involving routine stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching; tasks require visual perception and discrimination.

Mathematical Ability

Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Ability to comprehend and correctly use a variety of informational documents including billing invoices, contracts, vouchers, re-certification reports, and other reports and records.

Ability to comprehend variety of reference books & manuals including HUD manuals/notices, policy/procedure manuals, agency directives, etc.

Ability to prepare statistical reports, re-certification reports, financial transmittals, claims, utilization reports, memorandum, correspondence, and other job related documents using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style.

Ability to accurately record and deliver information, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality of restricted information.

Ability to use and interpret HUD, basic computer, and some counseling terminology and language

Ability to use independent judgment, common sense, and principles of rational systems in the performance of tasks

Ability to work under moderately stressful conditions, to respond immediately to crisis situations, and to balance priorities within and between offices/departments

Ability to maintain personal composure and tactfully handle difficult situations and interpret questions correctly; ability to behave in a friendly, understanding, helpful, and professional manner with clients/customers, coworkers, supervisors, and the general public.

Ability to advise and interpret the application of policies, procedures and standards to specific situations; ability to explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures and standards.

Ability to communicate effectively with tenants, landlords, applicants, inspectors, outside agencies, other department staff, and the general public verbally and in writing

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work effectively in an office environment

Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

The Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Anne Arundel County Housing Authority will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.