Reviewer, Community Schools Rental Assistance Program; CSRAP

HOUSING INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP:

Housing Initiative Partnership develops innovative affordable housing, revitalizes neighborhoods, and equips people to achieve their housing and financial goals. Our vision is that every person lives in high-quality affordable housing in a thriving community. HIP maintains offices in Hyattsville in Prince George’s County and Germantown in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The Rent Assistance Application Reviewer is a full-time position responsible for reviewing and processing rent and utility assistance applications under HIP’s Community Schools Rental Assistance Program (CSRAP). Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Reviewer assesses applications for completeness and eligibility, verifies documentation, resolves outstanding issues with applicants and housing providers, and prepares cases for quality control review and payment approval.

The position requires strong attention to detail, sound judgment, consistent application of program requirements, and professional communication with applicants, landlords, property managers, utility providers, and other program partners.

• • Application Review:
    Review and evaluate rent and utility assistance applications for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with program eligibility requirements.
• Eligibility Determination:
  Apply program guidelines and funding requirements to determine applicant and expense eligibility and identify cases requiring additional review.
• Document Verification:
  Review and verify leases, rent ledgers, income documentation, utility bills, identification, residency, and other required documentation.
• Landlord & Provider Communication:
  • Communicate with landlords, property managers, and utility providers to verify tenancy, balances, payment information, and obtain missing or corrected documentation.
  • Maintain professional and timely communication to facilitate efficient case resolution.
• Applicant Communication:
  Communicate with applicants to obtain information, resolve discrepancies, and provide application status updates and next steps.
• Assistance Calculation:
  Calculate eligible rent and utility arrears and prepare assistance recommendations in accordance with program requirements and limits.
• Case Documentation & Data Entry:
  Maintain complete, accurate electronic case records and timely data entry of applicant, eligibility, assistance, and case information.
• Quality Control Preparation:
  Ensure cases are complete, accurate, and properly documented before submission for quality control review and payment approval; address corrections as needed.
• Compliance & Reporting:
  Follow HIP and funder requirements, program procedures, and confidentiality standards; maintain accurate data and support monitoring, audits, and reporting.
• Team Coordination:
  Participate in team meetings, trainings, and case discussions to address application issues and promote consistent application of program requirements.
• Other Duties:
  Perform related administrative and program support responsibilities as assigned to support HIP’s housing stabilization programs and services.

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
  • Experience in application review, eligibility determination, financial assistance, housing, human services, benefits, financial services, or a related field preferred.
  • Ability to interpret and consistently apply program policies, eligibility criteria, and documentation requirements.
  • Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to identify discrepancies and manage a high-volume caseload while meeting deadlines.
  • Ability to perform and…