Housing Specialist III

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a program designed for families receiving Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance to help them increase their earned income and reduce their dependency on welfare assistance and rental subsidies.

The FSS Specialist will perform professional work involving identifying social, educational, and training needs of HCV-participating families who seek to gain self-sufficiency. The work involves moderately complex case management and administrative duties. The FSS Specialist will coordinate with community service organizations and agencies to develop programs and resource linkages to address those needs and may provide for effective delivery of services to participating families through proper case management.

Work is performed with considerable independence under minimal supervision of a Rental Housing Coordinator who reviews the work for adherence to established policies and procedures and work process guidelines, and attainment of established individual and unit performance objectives and goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

* Coordinate all FSS program activities for HCV participants to assist in achieving economic independence

* Establish resource linkages and service coordination with human service providers that offer services to assist participating families in improving their quality of life, promote self-sufficiency and upward mobility.

* Ensures services are delivered in a manner which respects the dignity of participating families and seeks to maximize their potential, encouraging self-sufficiency and upward mobility.

* Provide leadership in the development and implementation of employment, educational, recreational and social activities for program participants.

* May counsel participating families to identify needs and establish individual and program service delivery goals.

* Formulate and update an Individual Service Plan with heads of households according to program goals.

* Conduct effective outreach methods to increase participation in the Family Self-Sufficiency program.

* May provide effective case management services to all participating families.

* Maintain and update files and data on families' progress in the program.

* Coordinate and conduct monthly life enhancement skill workshops for all program participants.

* Provide management reports to the Rental Housing Coordinator and management when needed.

* Maintain and monitor accurate records on participants' escrow accounts monthly to ensure correct credits. Process FSS addenda, as required, to update FSS system data, working with the department's finance team to reconcile accounts.

* Produce written reports on outreach methods, activities, resource linkages, annual HUD FSS program progress reports, etc.

* Evaluate program effectiveness based on established program key performance indicators and performance measures and identify areas for program improvement.

* Develop, coordinate, and implement marketing strategies for the program.

* Work with division and department leadership to grow and expand participation in the program. Apply new and amended HUD FSS regulations to FSS operations, as directed.

* Respond to the HUD NOFA for the FSS program and submit the grant to support continued program funding.

* Provide assistance with general grant writing and perform related duties as required.

* Recruit members for the FSS Program Coordinating Committee.

* Represent the department at FSS events (e.g., job fairs, conferences, service provider outreach sessions, FSS regional meetings, etc.). Utilize personal transportation for off-site events and adhere to departmental/City policy regarding mileage reimbursement submissions.

* FSS Certification from an approved training entity must be obtained within 12 months from the start of employment in accordance with HUD and Agency Standards.

The City offers a generous benefits package, which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, holidays and paid leave.