Retention Specialist

Description

Are you interested in a job that helps your community and makes a difference in people’s lives every day? Consider joining Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT to continue BHA's success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of low‑income families and individuals.

Burlington Housing Authority is looking for a full time (40 hours per week) Housing Retention Specialist in our Housing Retention and Services (HRS) department.

The Housing Retention Specialist provides assistance to residents who have barriers to maintaining housing and/or subsidy. The Housing Retention Specialist works with residents in Chittenden County for the most part and will occasionally provide support to neighboring regions.

The Housing Retention Specialist works collaboratively with community service agencies and providers in addition to Section 8, Property Management and Inspection Staff and reports to the Director of Housing Retention and Services.

• Proactively responds to referrals from a variety of sources to assess need for housing retention services and level of intervention necessary to stabilize housing and/or subsidy
• Coordinates services which are beyond scope of Housing Retention Team and makes appropriate referrals to best support the household
• Identifies financial resources when finances are the sole or partial reason for the potential loss of housing
• Conducts mediation with Landlord/Property Manager and/or neighbors to settle disputes when necessary
• Provides alternative housing search assistance for households which must relocate
• Provides direct retention services which may include housekeeping assistance, hoarding assessment and reduction, accompanying member(s) of household to appointments, providing/coordinating transportation when needed, coordinating services to relocate household
• Works with BHA Inspection Staff to proactively address housekeeping and hoarding situations including assessment, development and follow-through of treatment plan and facilitates communication to Landlord/Property Manager
• Collects and maintains required data and case notes in centralized database
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Housing Retention and Services

• Bachelor’s degree with three to five years of experience.
• Must have experience with diverse and vulnerable populations.
• Effective verbal and written communication and knowledge of the social services network.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and internet navigation preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills required.

Occasionally:

• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in varied environments including tight and confined spaces
• Remaining in stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
• Adjusting or moving objects up to 20 pounds in all directions
• Operating motor vehicles

Constantly:

• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned

Occasionally:

• Outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind

Occasionally:

• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply.

Multilingualism is a plus! Our robust benefit package includes premium medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short and long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer and critical illness insurance. We provide a generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year.

In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays.

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer