Housing Retention Counselor (HRC)

Position Purpose:
Provide assistance to the Program Coordinator in the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of the Eviction Prevention program.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Financial Assistance: The WRO General Housing (GH) team will assess clients who have been denied assistance by DSS and/or other referral sources and determine if qualified to receive assistance for eviction and utility arrears, first month???s rent, security deposits and/or moving expenses. The team???s assessment of financial viability will use the processes established as a nationwide standard established for HUD-Certified Housing Counselors. The team will provide financial assistance to those deemed eligible.

Utility Arrears: The GH team will assess clients to determine if they are eligible to receive utility arrears assistance provided that the household has received termination notice and termination will result in eviction or temporary displacement. The team must communicate with the various Funding Source Contacts prior to determining eligibility.

Mediation Services: The HRC and Program Coordinator will mediate between the landlord and tenant to resolve rent arrears in order to maintain tenant housing. The GH team will also work with Section 8 families to restore certificate if voucher has been rescinded.

Budget and Financial Education: The HRC will provide individual and group budget counseling and financial education using the forms and processes defined by HUD as best practices for HUD-Certified Housing Counselors.

Assessment and Referral: The Counselor will assess clients??? needs related to housing retention, develop a written Individual Service Plan (ISP) for each accepted participant, and link them to appropriate benefits, services and resources.

Case Management: The HRC will continue to help participants access new services and benefits to enhance financial self-sufficiency and housing retention for up to one year after providing emergency financial assistance. Part of our team???s focus will be on helping clients become linked effectively with ongoing case management or care coordination.

Co-Located Services: The HRC may be assigned to work out of co-located space in White Plains, Yonkers, Mt. Vernon and/or Peekskill. The HRC will also meet with clients as needed in WRO???s main office in White Plains or in other community settings, e.g. accompanying clients to meet with landlords to provide translation and advocacy services.

CoC Collaboration: The HRC will enter data appropriately into WRO???s HMIS & CMS software and follow all applicable CoC regulated policies.

Reporting & Billing: The HRC will maintain records and receipts for all program expenses and client documents.

Other Duties: The HRC will perform any other lawful and reasonable duties assigned.

Minimum Job Requirements:
Minimum job requirements for this position include a college Bachelor???s degree, at least 3 years of experience in Housing Counseling or a related field, bilingual fluency, both written and spoken, in Spanish and English is preferred, cultural competence to work effectively with our targeted clients, and a working knowledge of public benefits and entitlements. Preference will be given to candidates familiar with our target communities, those with access to a car for work-related travel throughout Westchester County and those currently possessing the HUD Housing Counseling certification or must complete the required online training and receive certification as a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor within the first six months of employment.

Salary:
$45k-$50k annually

How to Apply:
Please email a resume and cover letter, as an attachment, explaining your interest in the position referencing Housing Retention Counselor to:
Human Resources Director
Westchester Residential Opportunities
470 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 410
White Plains, NY 10605
Email:??payroll@wroinc.org