Housing Counselor Aide

EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION - APPLY ONLINE

The Jacksonville Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer/affirmative action employer. It is the policy and the intent of the Jacksonville Housing Authority to provide equality of opportunity in employment for all persons, and in all aspects of its personnel policies, programs, practices, operations, and in all its working conditions and relationships with employees and applicants for employment. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected class status applicable under state or federal law.

POSITION

Job Description

Job Summary 

Serve as the receptionist for Housing Choice Vouchers' Department, assist clients, and take appropriate action in accordance with established procedures and HUD regulations.

 Essential Job Functions

• Enters information into the computer and files documents. 
• Receives information from residents and verifies and processes interim payment changes based on the verified information in accordance with established procedures and regulations. 
• Obtains and verifies family income and membership changes, including obtaining required proof of income, documentation, citizenship verifications, etc. 
• Generates letters, and contract amendments, and may be required to conduct interviews with clients.
• Conducts re-examination reviews regarding program eligibility and takes appropriate action in accordance with established procedures and HUD regulations. 
• Manages Port In clients, conducts voucher briefings, and issues vouchers.
• Answers telephone calls and either answers inquiries personally or transfers calls to the appropriate person(s).
• Greets persons who come to the office and assists them by answering questions, giving application form(s), helping them complete forms, or directing them to others who can assist with the person's concern.
• Receives mail and distributes to appropriate individuals and processes outgoing mail in accordance with established procedure.
• Makes copies of identification and other forms provided for the application file.
• Provide applicants with address change forms, disability forms, criminal background forms, etc.
• Obtains income and other required verification.
• Files applications in accordance with established procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

High school diploma or G.E.D. Certification plus one (1) year of experience in data entry and general clerical work which included using computers and maintaining files, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and employment counseling.
• Knowledge of HUD and organizational regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of business English, spelling, arithmetic, and vocabulary.
• Knowledge of basic office equipment, including computer, fax, telephone, copier, etc.
• Knowledge of commonly used computer software.
• Knowledge of the principles of communication.
• Knowledge of computer operation, hardware, and software.
• Ability to counsel low-income clients regarding employment and goals.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply HUD and organizational rules, policies, procedures, and instructions.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• Ability to instruct individuals on the operation of computers and basic office equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the residents, businesses, and other organizations.
• Ability to interact with clients, businesses, and educational institutions in obtaining and providing information in a polite and efficient manner, both in person and on the telephone.
• Ability to use sound judgment in order to make decisions in accordance with established procedures and guidelines.
• Skilled in analyzing situations in order to identify problems and offer possible solutions.
• Skill in communicating orally with clients, businesses, and other organizations in order to obtain and provide information. 

Core Competencies

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure and persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands monitors, and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; and recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys an understanding of, the comments and questions of others; and listens effectively. Demonstrates a clear understanding of and ability to highlight goals and benefits to residents.

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work and does a fair share of work.

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed; attends, supports, and participates in all team building exercises and events.

Adaptable/Flexible Skills: Ability to work additional hours if required and work with pressing deadlines and is task oriented. Proactively seeks work assignments when current assignments are completed-takes initiative.

Physical Demands

Work is principally sedentary. No special physical demands are required. The work involves normal risks or discomforts associated with an office environment. The work area is usually adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Must be able to sit in an office environment, able to lift up to 15 lbs.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office environment
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• High level of interaction with external/internal clients

Other: Must possess a valid driver's license and be insurable by Jacksonville Housing.

We anticipate hiring at the minimum of the respective pay grade per contractual obligations.

We are an EOE & DFWP. A successful applicant will be required to pass a background check including but not limited to, employment history, criminal record and driving record, and may be subject to a pre-employment drug screening.

Section 3 and Veteran candidates preferred. 

 This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job classification. All incumbents may not perform all the job duties listed, and some incumbents may perform some duties which are not listed, and incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this description.