Housing Specialist

Purpose

The Housing Specialist is responsible for the administration of Mental Health Partners’ housing subsidy program as well as supporting the Boulder County Pathways to Housing Stability (BCPHS) grant program’s efforts to connect with landlords and find housing for homeless clients. The housing subsidy program includes the Housing Choice Voucher program, Shelter Plus Care, and the State of Colorado Voucher program.

Job Summary

Responsible for the management and day to day operations of the HUD Housing Choice voucher, PSH/Bonus voucher program, State of Colorado housing voucher programs, and other voucher programs from the State Department of Housing, for Mental Health Partners. Responsible for engaging with Boulder and Broomfield County landlords and property managers to increase ease of access for voucher clients and to support relationships with these partners.

Essential Functions

• Maintains high occupancy levels for HUD and Sate of Colorado housing voucher programs.
• Position is responsible for outreaching and maintaining relationships with landlords in the Boulder and Broomfield County Community
• Tracks re-exam due dates, completes the annual re-exam process by having client sign paperwork, obtaining verifications following State Division of Housing (DOH) verification hierarchy, and sending appropriate paperwork to the landlord.
• Completes required actions in Elite (DOH’s computer system) before due dates which includes performing complex calculations of medical expenses, assets, and all sources of income for client certifications.
• Keeps track of due dates for inspections; schedules and performs housing quality inspections to ensure adherence to federal standards; completes inspection forms and enters into Elite.
• Tracks rental payments, ensures proper payment by housing authority, and reports changes to clients, landlords and MHP accounting department.
• Administers program exits due to evictions, violations or death.
• Manages housing voucher wait list for the Housing Choice Voucher program, Shelter plus care, and State housing voucher programs to maintain accuracy and prioritize as applicable. Enters Housing Choice voucher applicants on waitlist into Elite.
• Provides education to clients about inspection requirements, paperwork requirements, lease compliance, and other housing issues.
• Completes a tenant conference and required documentation when a tenant has broken housing subsidy rules or violated lease.
• As appropriate, communicates housing difficulties to therapist/case manager and collaborates with them on crisis concerns, housing violations, and lease violations to assist client in maintaining housing subsidy.
• Compiles grant information as needed for reporting requirements. Assists with HMIS date collection and data entry for homeless grants.
• Ensures completed paperwork (including, but not limited to, annual paperwork, inspection records, etc.) is filed in a timely manner and that all required paperwork is complete and accurate and in compliance with per HUD, DOH and SAMSHA regulations.
• Documents and charts notes and event entry in MHP electronic medical record.
• Collaborates, intervenes and/or problem-solves with clients, probation officers, landlords or other community vendors to increase the success of clients maintaining housing.
• Coordinates with State Division of Housing, Office of Behavioral Health, Boulder Housing Partners, Longmont housing authority, Boulder county housing authority, and Boulder county housing and human services.
• Attends team meetings to staff cases, update colleagues on pertinent information and new developments in HUD regulations.
• Serves as primary case manager for MHP clients that are designated as “housing only”.
• Attends conferences and trainings necessary to stay current with DOH and HUD regulations, paperwork, and processes.
• Provides education and information to community groups, governmental groups and agencies specific to the interaction between mental health and residential issues.
• Participates in open hours and other forums and educational opportunities to assist clients with housing resources and housing needs.
• Meets defined individual and department goals, activity metrics and Key Performance Indicators
• Promotes, supports and demonstrates MHP’s mission, vision and values through both behavior and job performance and adheres to policies, procedures, Compliance Plan and Standards of Conduct on a day to day basis
• Effectively interacts and communicates with other MHP staff/clients/customers/partners/etc.
• Regular and consistent attendance is required to perform other essential functions of the job
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent prioritization and organization skills; detail-oriented
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able convey complex information in a clear, concise fashion
• Ability to communicate effectively about Housing and Mental Health issues
• Some knowledge of the Housing Voucher Programs, Shelter Plus Care and State Housing Voucher programs; includes knowledge of rules and regulations of the HUD and the State Division of Housing
• Self-motivated and able to work well independently as well as with others
• Excellent customer service skills
• Able to mediate difficult situations (i.e. between client and landlord)
• Strong knowledge of community resources in the Boulder and Broomfield county areas
• Current CO driver’s license and safe driving record
• Computer skills including use of electronic health record and MS Office products and the ability to learn new tools as needed
• Bicultural/Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
  
  

Education/Experience/License/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Prior experience with and understanding of housing and homeless programs, preferred
• Experience working with mentally ill population in a residential or community mental health setting preferred
• Experience with HUD, voucher management, Property management, or housing related work preferred.
• Must be at least 21 and have a current Colorado drivers license and a safe driving record.
  
  

This posting will close on 7/17/2024