DOLA - Homeless Program Specialist Community & Economic Development III

Description of Job

The Division of Housing (DOH) partners with local communities to create housing opportunities for Coloradans who face the greatest challenges to accessing affordable, safe, and secure homes. DOH supports projects ranging from homelessness prevention to home ownership. Our work includes:

• Increasing and preserving Colorado's inventory of affordable housing.
• Managing rental assistance vouchers.
• Creating and supporting collaborative approaches to end homelessness.
• Regulating the construction and installation of factory-built structures.

Under the mission of DOLA, the Homeless Programs Specialist will assist with contract management, contract monitoring, and program oversight for the Homelessness Resolution Program as well as other homeless services. This position will manage contracts focused on housing and homelessness, develop program guidelines, policies, and materials for new programs or programs, including those related to housing recovery and homeless services best practices, to ensure that the law is being met and the program is implemented fairly, consistently, and efficiently.

This position advises and guides multiple grantees and service providers on various technical issues relating to homeless programs for special populations (veterans, youth, families, persons with disabilities, justice‑involved, and/or chronically homeless).

• Contract Management and Monitoring
  • Manage contracts, oversee budgets, review and submit pay requests, develop contract amendments or option letters, and monitor contract performance.
  • Conduct ongoing monitoring of grantees and contracts. Use risk‑based decision‑making to determine the amount and type of monitoring to be conducted.
• Program Development
  • Develop program guidelines, policies, and materials for new programs.
  • Encourage best practices in housing recovery and homeless services to ensure the law is being met with consistency and efficiency.
  • Communicate guidelines and policies to grantees, contractors, and applicants through regular meetings, written communication, FAQs, and website updates.
  • Use feedback to create or adjust policy guidance on program implementation.
  • Develop guidance and implement processes to ensure accuracy, data quality, and no duplication of benefits across programs.
• Technical Assistance
  • Guide grantees and service providers on technical issues relating to homeless programs for special populations (veterans, youth, families, persons with disabilities, justice‑involved and/or chronically homeless).
• Quality Control Monitoring
  • Travel to conduct on‑site administrative visits, ensuring housing and shelters meet health and safety inspections to detect possible violations of local habitability code, HUD housing quality standards (HQS).
  • Test files and data tracking, trauma‑informed care, sanitary conditions, and building components.
  • Write monitoring compliance letters based on findings.
• Other duties as needed.
• Travel Requirements
  • Occasional statewide travel, using a state vehicle, is required for this position to perform on‑site monitoring.

• Six (6) years of professional experience working directly with individuals experiencing homelessness or with low‑income housing programs.
• Or, a combination of related education in business, social work, behavioral health, nonprofit management, public policy, political science, housing and human rights, business administration, public administration, nonprofit administration, or a closely related field AND experience as described above equal to six (6) years.

• State of Colorado professional experience in housing programs.
• Experience providing technical assistance related to grants.
• Experience working with grant‑funded housing or homelessness programs and ensuring compliance with state or federal requirements.
• Experience with development, implementation, and evaluations of Federal and State housing programs, standards and implementation in accordance with best practices, particularly Emergency Housing programs focused on housing people from homelessness.
• Experience with interpretation and creation of policies, procedures, guidelines, and documentation.
• Experien…