Housing Program Specialist I

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Processes new and transfers applicant/participant moves;
• Conducts interim recertifications based on tenant’s own report of changes in income, family composition, and deductible expenses;
• Authorizes voucher size changes as required based on DCHA occupancy standards and verified household composition information collected during scheduled and interim recertifications;
• Consults with tenants, landlords, and officials to resolve situations and determine applicable measures to be taken;
• Provides assistance on routine matters related to the Housing Choice Voucher Program (i.e. rent calculations and grievance procedures);
• Performs third party verifications in accordance with local regulations and United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements for third party verification
• Interviews applicant and participant families as required to complete lease-ups and interim/scheduled recertifications;
• Prepares correspondence, technical and status reports, etc. as needed to keep management informed of the progress of assigned activities;
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Process and approve/reject lease-up packages in accordance with HCVP policies and procedures;
• Acts as initial point of contact for resolution to all community, owner, or participant concerns or complaints for caseload assigned;
• Refers clients to social service agencies as needed;
• Enters and retrieves data or information from computer system;
• Processes recertification packets; examines income, family composition, and other relevant documentation to determine the extent of necessary changes, the need to obtain additional information and the continued eligibility of participant families;
• Counsels tenants as to policies and procedures relative to continued occupancy of a housing unit within the Housing Choice Voucher Program;
• Reviews landlord rental increase requests; determines impact; re-calculates rental rates and prepares necessary documentation;
• Processes HAP abatements and recommends participants for termination related to information found as part of the recertification process. Assures accuracy in amount of adjustments; ensures that affected parties are notified accordingly;
• Determines when there have been HAP overpayments to landlords and applies related retro-active rent charges;
• Processes limited range of recertifications and lease-ups for federally funded and regulated programs;
• Arranges for inspections to ensure that units comply with housing quality standards as determined necessary during the recertification, lease-up and tenant complaint processes;

Job Requirements

Education and/or Experience

Associate’s degree; and at least three (3) years experience in a customer service or administrative capacity is required. Bachelor’s degree and at least two (2) years of previous housing authority experience is preferred. Other combinations of education and/or experience which meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) conducts pre-employment screening on specified positions, which may include but is not limited to a criminal background check, drug and alcohol testing, verification of academic credentials, licenses, and certifications, and/or verification of work history.

This position has been designated by the department to require a drug and alcohol screening and background check. Finalist(s) for this position will be subject to drug and alcohol testing and will be required to consent to a pre-employment background check as a condition of employment.