ELIGIBILITY SPECIALIST- METROPOLITAN HOUSING ACCESS PROGRAM (MHAP)

Housing Counseling Services, Inc. seeks an energetic self-starter to conduct eligibility determination activities and provide support and referral services to households seeking housing services in the D.C. Metropolitan region.

HCS is a direct service agency and requires all EMPLOYEES to be available for in-person office work 5 (five) days a week. NO REMOTE WORK.

Applicant must be authorized to work in the United States.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Complete applications and eligibility determinations for HIV/AIDS consumers and/or households applying to HCS for financial and/or household assistance
• Apply federal, state, and local regulation towards determining eligibility for housing and support services programs;
• Determine household’s eligibility for programs based on established program regulations and policies;
• Communicate with applicants/program participants regarding the status of their application via written and oral communication;
• Assist applicants develop housing plans towards preventing future housing emergencies/financial crises;
• Advocate on the behalf of households with landlords, social service agencies, etc.;
• Respond to emergency needs of clients along in collaboration with program social worker and case manager;
• Refer households to appropriate services to address their various needs such as food, utility assistance, clothing, medical care, etc.;
• Conduct outreach to educate residents, community, organizations, and stakeholders about HCS programs and services;
• Maintain accurate written and computer based files;
• Provide accurate and complete monthly reports;
• Perform other HCS tasks as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least four years of specialized professional experience and/or education related to eligibility determination, case management, housing education/counseling, or other related fields;
• Spanish speaker is a plus;
• Ability to understand, interpret, and explain federal, local, and state laws and regulations.
• Experience working with special needs populations;
• Ability to work in a faced paced environment;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to respond to multiple emergency needs with patience and diligence;
• Must demonstrate the ability to communicate with variety of professionals including case managers, real estate, medical, and attorneys as well as with low and moderate income families from a variety of cultures;
• Ability to translate technical information into layman’s terms;
• Must demonstrate an ability to work with minimum supervision;
• Must be versatile in order to handle a wide variety of duties;
• Sensitive to the needs within the community and to individual clients;
• Knowledge of housing law or capacity to learn;
• Strong computer skills.

Housing Counseling Services, Inc. Current Benefits

Sick and Annual Leave - both initially accrue at 4.5 hours per pay period (annual leave accrual increases after some time at HCS)

Birthday Holiday - (taken on the day of your birthday OR must be used within 30 days of your birthday)

Lincoln Alliance 403(b) tax-deferred plan - 4% employer contribution to the plan after 6 months of service;

UNUM - Long-Term Disability and Life & AD&D Insurance Policies (no cost to the employee)

Paid Holidays (following DC government holiday schedule)

UNUM Voluntary Benefits - vision, term life insurance, short-term disability, critical illness, group accident and hospital indemnity these benefits are paid 100% by the employee.

HCS INSURANCE OFFERINGS: HCS is offering and making contributions towards the employee’s health coverage ONLY. Employees may include eligible family members on the health plans, but will be responsible to cover the full cost of these family members’ insurance coverages

HCS CONTRIBUTION FOR HEALTH INSURANCE: HCS selected a Reference Health Plan – Blue Choice HMO Referral Bronze Plan - $8,900 Deductible, this plan requires a referral to see a specialist and offers “In-Network Coverage Only”, that is the basis for the HCS contribution towards health insurance coverage for each employee. HCS will pay 100% of the employee’s coverage for this Reference Plan, and this same dollar amount may be applied to any BCBS plan you select on the DC Health Exchange. As the cost of coverage is different for every employee (as it is based on age), the HCS contribution remains the same whether you select individual or family coverage. HCS cannot contribute to the cost of employee health insurance that is not part of the HCS account through the DC Health Exchange.

HCS CONTRIBUTION FOR DENTAL

HCS offers dental and vision coverage (vision is voluntary), through Blue Cross/Blue Shield, HCS will contribute 100% of employee’s individual coverage ONLY for the BCBS dental plan. If you choose not to use our health insurance, you may apply the full amount of the HCS health insurance contribution towards family coverage for dental insurance only.

Bilingual Preferred - Spanish Speaker