Housing Counselor

Housing Counselor
Position Summary
This position will provide housing counseling services to prospective homebuyers, renters, landlords, and current homeowners with support, guidance, and training. The Housing Counselor will engage in one-on-one counseling with clients with economically and culturally diverse backgrounds to understand their situation and provide guidance and resources. This position will prepare and present workshops and classes in areas related to rental housing, homeownership, post-closing, and foreclosure prevention.
Essential Functions:
Homeownership Services
Prepare households for housing supports such as mortgage and grant applications, home retention options, foreclosure prevention, or other subsidies.
Process intake forms and assess client's current financial situation.
Analyze credit reports.
Provide overall financial wellness coaching by assisting families with developing a personal budget, savings plan, and credit counseling.
Make recommendations to improve the client's monthly budget to plan and save.
Create a written action plan for each household.
Advise families of housing options suitable to their needs.
Provide program materials related to the client's particular situation.
Prepare client's file for one-on-one review.
Interpret financial information for the tenant, homeowner, buyers, and lenders.
Maintain confidentiality with client's information pertaining to personal finances.
Refer client for legal services if appropriate.
Work with banks and lenders to develop loss mitigation solutions on behalf of the client.
Work with attorneys, courts, and municipalities to assist with client meetings and settlement conferences.
Manage caseload of clients each month including accurate data entry into client management system for quarterly report.
Maintain knowledge of direct subsidy grant programs such as HOME, AHC, CDBG, FHLB, HCV and Social Services etc.
Prepare reports for grant and program requirements.
Review regulations, interpret program information, and produce demographic and narrative reports.
Develop and deliver formal training to present to program clients and external groups related to the home purchase, financial literacy, successful renting, and homeownership.
Responsible for all relevant program compliance within the Housing Counseling program.
Participate in answering inquiries from the Housing Hotline approximately 1,500 per quarter (Rochester location only).
Landlord/Tenant Services
In addition to the duties under Housing Counselor, the following responsibilities are required in certain locations.
Conduct outreach to landlords with properties in distress affordable to LMI households.
Provide technical assistance to landlords including guidance on available grants and/or loan programs to assist with facilitating improvement of their rental property.
Provide training to landlords with special emphasis on health and safety issues - particularly housekeeping and lead safe practices.
Facilitate and maintain the relationship between the landlord and the agencies participating in the Homeless Services Network.
Work to create an inventory of identified affordable rental housing by providing resources to both landlords and tenants.
Coordinate inspection of rental unites as required by funder.
Deliver training to both landlords and tenants, providing education on all aspects of apartment selection and rights/responsibilities to both tenants and landlords.
Maintain a directory of client's information including workshop attendance, rental requests and payments, and program participation.
Have awareness of the local rental market and affordable housing options.
Other Duties
Represent PathStone at meetings, conferences and other relevant forums concerned with issues affecting the operation of housing counseling programs.
Develop budgets for class trainings.
Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Associates degree or higher preferred.
Certified housing counselor preferred.
HUD Certification required within one year of employment (organization supported).
NCHEC Certification required within one year of employment (organization supported).
Minimum 3 years of experience with specific training in housing management, banking, or case management preferred.
Experience or familiarity with local, state, and federal service programs preferred.
Non-profit experience desired.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of computers including Outlook, basic Excel, Word, Publisher, and PowerPoint required.
Advanced knowledge of rental contracts, property laws, and anti-discrimination laws desired.
Communication skills including bilingual ability strongly desired.
Strong problem-solving skills to find effective solutions for a variety of issues.
Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills to interact with stakeholders.
Strong written and verbal communication skills which demonstrate the ability to interpret, clarify, and advise on program objectives and tasks.
Attention to detail to ensure applications are accurate and client issues and questions are adequately addressed.
Autonomy to make decisions regarding their own work and client related interactions.
Ability to follow prescribed steps/methods/procedures, understanding the need to make alterations based on the situation.
Must demonstrate ability to review and process information to determine what it means, how it fits together and how to respond to it.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Flexible work hours including evenings and weekends.
Indoors in normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes.
Driving may be required for some locations. In these instances, must have reliable transportation.
Ability to walk properties.
Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods.
Must be able to lift 20-25 pounds.
Exposure to diverse communities including low-income neighborhoods.
Transportation Requirement
Position requires automobile, driver's license and insurance.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Last Updated: 3/17/2023
Replaces: N/A