Housing Monitoring Specialist

HOUSING MONITORING SPECIALIST, Economic Development, City of Worcester

The City of Worcester is seeking qualified applicants for a Housing Monitoring Specialist for the Division of Housing Development within the Executive Office of Economic Development. Under the general supervision of the Director of Housing Development, the Housing Monitoring Specialist is responsible for the monitoring of the affordable housing restrictions enacted through various housing-related programs including the Worcester Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), Inclusionary Zoning, American Recue Plan Act (ARPA), and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds.

This position will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the funding restrictions are in compliance with various state and federal regulations. In addition, the position will be responsible for ensuring proposed residential projects meet inclusionary zoning compliance prior to the issuance of building permits and certificates of occupancy. Additional duties include overseeing loan confirmations, audit requests and coordinating resale/recapture provisions with state housing agencies.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

• Manage annual monitoring requirements for HUD HOME projects, HUD ESG programs, HUD HOPWA programs, and HUD Lead Program.
• Manage restriction compliance and releases for HUD CDBG program.
• Manage annual monitoring of the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) restrictions.
• Manage proposed residential projects compliance with the City’s Inclusionary Zoning policy.
• Serve as the primary contact for monitoring inquiries regarding City-funded housing programs.
• Determine and certify income eligibility of tenants and applicants for affordable housing programs.
• Educate and orient new owners and tenants of City-funded properties on compliance and monitoring obligations regarding rental and home ownership restrictions and other requirements.
• Track and monitor projects for compliance with occupancy, rent, and income restrictions for Inclusionary Zoning and other affordable housing programs, including CDBG, HOME, ARPA, and AHTF.
• Serve as primary contact for affordable housing restriction requests including requests for restriction releases, subordinations, and payoff requests.
• Maintain communication with and provide support to agencies, organizations, vendors conducting relevant business with the department, contractors, etc.
• Conduct onsite monitoring to review documentation and conduct housing quality surveys.
• Coordinate with the City’s Law Department on restriction releases and subordination requests.
• Attend training seminars and meetings to maintain required licenses and certifications as well as stay abreast of latest practices and techniques associated with the administration of federal and other housing development grants.
• Monitor Housing Development Division projects to ensure compliance with grant and loan restrictions including owner‑occupancy requirements, affordable rental restrictions, affordable resale restrictions, housing quality standards, income eligibility requirements, and other assignments.
• Record new mortgages, mortgage discharges, and restrictive covenants at the Registry of Deeds; maintaining loan files, project monitoring files, project compliance tracking spreadsheets and database(s) and coordinating loan payoffs and discharges of completed mortgages and restrictions.
• Initiate enforcement procedures against property owners and tenants as necessary, and for the timely resolution of non‑compliance events.

• Knowledge of and or experience with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Continuum of Care, the Community Preservation Act, and other programs geared toward maintaining and expanding affordable housing opportunities.
• Knowledge of policies, practices and procedures of the department and office operations including laws and regulations that are pertinent to position functions.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and city program compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of…