Housing Retention Counselor

Job Title: Housing Retention Counselor (HRC)

Location: White Plains, NY

Salary: $51,000 - $54,000, annually

Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) is a nonprofit organization located in White Plains, New York whose mission is to promote fair, affordable and accessible housing for all individuals in the lower Hudson Valley region. WRO employs a variety of tools to advance this objective including arming families with the knowledge on how to maintain their housing needs.

Job Summary: A housing counselor assists individuals and families in navigating various housing-related matters, including first-time homeownership, rental and eviction prevention assistance, utility shut-off prevention, foreclosure prevention, and financial literacy. They provide support, education, and resources to help clients achieve and maintain stable housing situations.

Responsibilities:

1. Client Consultation: Meet with clients to assess their housing needs, understand their financial situation, and identify potential challenges or barriers to stable housing.

2. Education and Counseling: Provide information and guidance on topics such as budgeting, credit improvement, rental rights, mortgage options, and foreclosure prevention through one-on-one counseling sessions or group workshops.

3. Housing Mediation & Advocacy: Advocate on behalf of clients to landlords, lenders, government agencies, and other relevant entities to negotiate favorable terms, resolve disputes, or secure housing assistance.

4. Financial Analysis: Analyze clients' financial documents, including income statements, tax returns, and credit reports, to assess their eligibility for housing programs, loans, or other forms of assistance.

5. Resource Referral: Connect clients with community resources, government programs, nonprofit organizations, and other support services that can help them address their housing needs and achieve their goals.

6. Documentation Assistance: Assist clients with completing housing applications, rental agreements, loan modification paperwork, and other necessary documents accurately and in a timely manner.

7. Prevention and Intervention: Develop strategies to prevent homelessness, eviction, or foreclosure by identifying early warning signs, exploring alternative housing options, and implementing crisis intervention measures when necessary.

8. Continuing Education: Stay informed about housing laws, regulations, industry trends, and available resources through ongoing training, professional development, and networking activities.

9. Co-Located Services: The HRC may be assigned to work out of co-located space in White Plains, Yonkers, Mt. Vernon and/or Peekskill. The HRC will also meet with clients as needed in WRO’s main office in White Plains or in other community settings (e.g. accompanying clients to meet with landlords to provide translation and advocacy services).

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, finance, or a related field preferred.

2. Certification or licensure in housing counseling (e.g., HUD Housing Counselor Certification).

3. Knowledge of fair housing laws, mortgage lending practices, rental regulations, community resources and other relevant housing-related policies preferred.

4. Strong communication, interpersonal, and advocacy skills.

5. Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and demonstrate cultural competence.

6. Proficiency in using computer software and databases for record-keeping and reporting purposes.

7. Experience in counseling, case management, or related fields preferred.

8. Commitment to upholding ethical standards and maintaining client confidentiality.

9. Bilingual spoken and written skills, particularly Spanish is preferred.

How to Apply: If you are passionate about helping individuals and families find stable housing solutions and have the necessary skills and experience for this role, we invite you to apply.

Please send your resume and a cover letter explaining your qualifications and interest in the Housing Retention Counselor position to payroll@wroinc.org.

Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating an environment that welcomes and supports individuals from all backgrounds.