Housing Specialist I/II

About the role

The County of Riverside's Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS), Housing Authority Division, is seeking to fill multiple vacancies for a Housing Specialist I/II located throughout Riverside, CA. Incumbents will perform a variety of duties involved in providing housing assistance to low-income individuals under the Section 8 and related assisted housing programs. This may include traveling to do property inspections and provide in-person support and outreach. Duties involve calculating income, answering questions, and providing information to the public. The role requires standing or being on your feet for extended periods as part of delivering these services and engaging with clients.

Responsibilities

• Perform a variety of duties involved in the determination of applicants' eligibility and participants' continued eligibility for assisted housing programs utilizing established timelines, agency policies and federal regulations.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Conduct initial, annual and special inspections of housing assistance units or residences for various assistance programs in HWS; ensure assisted units comply with HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) requirements for decent, safe and sanitary housing conditions; advise and assist property owners and tenants of unit maintenance needs identified from inspections or complaints; conduct follow up inspections of completed work and repairs.
• Prepare and execute contracts between the Housing Authority and property owners; negotiate rent with property owners; calculate participants' rent; initiate the collection of delinquent overpayments from participants or property owners.
• Prepare reports on inspections and related matters.
• Assist in the development and implementation of resident programs.

Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of one year housing or other state or federal program eligibility or social work experience is preferred; OR one year of work experience in general construction or trade work, including but not limited to, carpentry, HVAC, electrical.
• Training: Equivalent to the completion of twelfth grade supplemented by additional course work in social science or a related field. (Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree may substitute for program eligibility experience.)
• Knowledge of: Basic interviewing skills and techniques; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment; principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation; safety and health standards; general construction or building inspection; principles and procedures of record keeping; basic mathematics.
• Ability to: Learn Section 8 and related assisted housing programs and HQS; learn weatherization programs and energy efficiency principles and measures; policies and procedures; learn, interpret and apply pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; learn to perform housing inspections; determine needed repairs and estimate cost of repairs; operate a computer terminal and standard office machines; perform accurate mathematical calculations; gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including Housing Authority staff, program participants, and the general public.

Qualifications

• Two years full time work experience equivalent to Housing Specialist I duties and responsibilities; OR two years of full-time work experience in Section 8 and related assisted housing programs; OR two years of full-time work experience in general construction or trade work, including but not limited to, carpentry, HVAC, electrical.
• Knowledge of: Section 8 and related assisted housing programs, policies and procedures or regulations; HUD HQS; pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; operations, services and activities in providing housing assistance to low-income persons under the Section 8 and related assisted housing programs; general construction or building inspection; energy efficiency measures.
• Ability to: Perform housing inspections, determine needed repairs and estimate cost of repairs; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action necessary to resolve complaints; identify and respond to program participants and public issues and concerns; work effectively with people from a variety of social, economic and racial backgrounds; work independently in the absence of supervisor.

Skills

• Basic interviewing skills and techniques.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Safety and health standards.
• General construction or building inspection.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Basic mathematics.

Benefits

This role may require occasional evening, weekend, or overtime work. The level at which the position will be filled is at the discretion of the department.

Pay

• Housing Specialist I: $24.2615 - $33.5793
• Housing Specialist II: $27.5351 - $36.9231

Schedule

This role may require occasional evening, weekend, or overtime work. The level at which the position will be filled is at the discretion of the department.