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Class Title: Housing Choice Voucher Specialist

Position Title: Housing Choice Voucher Specialist

Accountable To: Assistant Section 8 Programs Manager

Department: Section 8

Band: B

Grade: 2

Subgrade: 4

Come join one of the nation’s highest ranked housing agencies. Be a part of an innovative and creative team of individuals committed to serving the community by providing affordable, quality housing.

The St. Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) has been serving the community for over 45 years. St. Paul PHA is an independent agency that owns and operates affordable rental housing for low-income families and individuals throughout the City, with subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PHA provides approximately 4,273 affordable rental units in hi-rise buildings, townhomes, and scattered site single family and duplex homes. The PHA administers 5,242 Housing Choice Vouchers, paying over 45 million annually in federal rent subsidies to private owners who rent units to eligible families and individuals with very low incomes.

Mission Statement:

The PHA helps families and individuals with low incomes achieve greater stability and self-reliance by providing safe, affordable, quality housing and links to community services.

Employment Benefits:

The PHA offers a generous employee benefits package. The standard package includes paid vacation and sick leave; eleven paid designated holidays and two paid floating holidays; health and dental insurance coverage; and an employer pension contribution equal to 7% of employee's salary (employee contributes 5%). Additional benefits vary by contract or Supervisory and Confidential (S&C) policies.

Class Summary: Incumbents are responsible for determining eligibility or continuing eligibility for Public Housing or Section 8 Program assistance, processing rental applications and calculating rent values.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Housing Choice Voucher Specialist is the first level of a three-level rental series. The Housing Choice Voucher Specialist is distinguished from the Assistant Section 8 Programs Manager by its responsibility for processing rental applications, conducting annual and interim recertification’s of eligibility for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher participants, calculating rent values and tenant payments and its non-supervisory duties.

Position Summary: Incumbents are responsible for: maintaining waiting lists; responding to questions; explaining regulations and procedures to the general public, voucher participants and applicants; interviewing applicants and participants; sending out third party verification forms; determining if applicants meet eligibility requirements; determining if participants continue to meet eligibility requirements; tracking vouchers; calculating rent values and tenant payments; processing a variety of forms and documents; and preparing related correspondence and reports.

Duties:

1. Maximize the utilization of vouchers throughout the Section 8 program by processing all related paperwork for applicants and/or participants for assistance in St. Paul in accordance with HUD regulations and PHA policies.
2. Takes appropriate action for families utilizing the portability feature of the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
3. Process interim reexaminations, including rent increases and tenant-reported changes, in a timely manner.
4. Processes voucher terminations and /or cancellations consistently and in compliance with applicable HUD regulations and established PHA policies.
5. Individualized responsibilities are completed accurately and within the appropriate time frame.
6. Responds promptly, courteously and professionally via phone, e-mail or in writing to participant, landlord, general public or staff inquiries regarding the Section 8 program or established procedures.
7. Must abide by all Board-approved policies, policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment, executive communications, administrative procedures, and safety procedures established by the PHA.
8. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
9. Maximize the utilization of vouchers throughout the Section 8 program by complying with HUD regulations and established PHA policies for program admission. Determines the program eligibility of applicants and/or continued participants through an interview with follow up on verification of income, household composition and criminal history. Conducts mandatory briefings for all eligible adults, informing applicants and participants of the basic rules and regulations of the program. This duty applies for waitlist, special programs; PBV and portability, but performance standards may vary.
10. Processes all files accurately and within a timely manner, according to the separate performance standards for Waitlist, Special Programs, and Portability. This duty applies for waitlist, special programs; PBV and portability, but performance standards may vary.
11. Maintains current and accurate waiting lists/records for all vouchers/units, according to the separate performance standards for Waitlist, Special Programs, and Portability. This duty applies for waitlist, special programs; PBV and portability, but performance standards may vary.
12. Determines continued program eligibility of voucher participants on an annual basis through an interview appointment with follow-up on verification of income and household composition. Processes all related paperwork for participants to continue their assistance in St. Paul in according with HUD regulations and PHA policies. Maximizes PHA operating income through collection efforts and appropriate implementation of HUD regulations regarding balances. Ensures participant awareness of and continued compliance with regulations, rules, and procedures.
13. Determines continued program eligibility of “mover participants” through an interview appointment with follow-up on verification of income and household composition. Processes all related paperwork for participants to continue their assistance in St. Paul in according with HUD regulations and PHA policies. Maximizes PHA operating income through collection efforts and appropriate implementation of HUD regulations regarding balances
14. Processes voucher terminations and /or cancellations consistently and in compliance with applicable HUD regulations and established PHA policies.

Knowledge (position requirements at entry):

Knowledge of:

• Interviewing techniques;
• Basic mathematical principles;
• Customer service techniques;
• Familiarity with laws and regulations pertaining to property management and landlord/tenant relations;
• Eligibility requirements for state and federal program funding.

Skills (position requirements at entry):

Skill in:

• Using computers and related software applications; prefer MS Word and Excel experience
• Maintaining files and records;
• Resolving problems and disputes;
• Prioritizing and handling multiple projects;
• Writing clear and concise memos and reports;
• Performing basic mathematical calculations;
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from high school or GED
• Experience: Combination of 1 year of relevant experience in jobs at the A Band or higher level such as housing, social services, or communications; and/or relevant education

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: BA/BS degree; additional relevant experience in jobs at the A Band or higher level and/or relevant education; demonstrated experience working with ethnically, culturally and economically diverse populations.

Licensing Requirements (position requirements at entry):

• Driver’s License preferred

Physical Requirements

Light Work (Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated light work: [1] when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or [2] when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing or pulling of arm or leg controls; or [3] when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible.) (For complete physical requirements see “Physical Demands Job Analyst” on file.)