Housing Retention Counselor
2 days ago
Beacon
Job Description WHO IS CHI? Community Housing Innovations (CHI) is a not-for-profit housing and human services organization that aims to support social and economic independence. Our vision is to end generational poverty and foster upward mobility by ensuring that all families and individuals live in quality housing, have a home of their own, and a job to support them. We believe quality, affordable housing is the foundation for prosperity, personal fulfillment, and success. WHAT DOES CHI OFFER? CHI employs a team of hard-working, compassionate people who want to give back to others in their community. We are proud to offer: • Generous Paid time off, • Personal and Sick Days, • Health insurance and health reimbursement account, • Dental and vision plans, • Flexible spending account, • AFLAC supplemental insurance, • Dependent Care Spending Account, • Commuter Transit and Parking Account, • Working Advantage- Employee Perks, • 401(k) retirement plan, • Life insurance, • Employee Assistance Program The Housing Retention Counselor provides counseling, education, and services to clients at risk of foreclosure or eviction in order to prevent homelessness. The counselor will also be responsible for outreach efforts, including representing CHI at industry events and professional organizations, building relationships, and publicizing the agency’s services to attract new clients. Additionally, this position involves compliance reporting and data management in accordance with New York State and HUD requirements. Job-Related Duties – Essential Functions These duties are critical for the successful performance of the role. Eviction Prevention: • Manage the intake of eviction prevention applications, organizing files, and maintaining a waitlist., • Review applications to assess the eligibility of applicants for CHI’s eviction prevention assistance., • Conduct thorough eligibility and affordability analysis, including credit report review, income documentation, monthly household budget review, verification of employment, and other relevant documentation., • Perform outreach within the community to promote eviction prevention programs., • Track client interactions and maintain weekly reports using Excel., • Follow up with clients to confirm whether grant funding was awarded and assist with troubleshooting as needed., • Participate in bi-weekly consortium meetings to review the progress of the program., • Stay informed about community resources and other eviction prevention programs., • Schedule and facilitate workshops focused on financial literacy topics, such as credit management and budgeting., • Become a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor within the first six months of employment., • Complete required Eviction Prevention Certification Training. Foreclosure Prevention: • Manage the intake of foreclosure prevention applications, organizing files, and maintaining a waitlist., • Provide counseling to clients, reviewing financial and legal documents to educate them on their options related to homeownership, mortgage status, foreclosure, and home sales., • Assist clients in navigating deed in lieu of foreclosure processes, short sales, and other foreclosure resolutions., • Regularly attend foreclosure court sessions, offering assistance to both new clients and existing clients attending foreclosure conferences., • Work with lenders or servicers to secure mortgage modifications and collaborate with law firms involved in foreclosure proceedings., • Facilitate community outreach initiatives focused on foreclosure prevention., • Organize and lead Financial Literacy Presentations., • Track deadlines for applications, final reports, and other important dates, maintaining an up-to-date spreadsheet., • Collaborate with participating lenders and ensure timely submission of necessary reports., • Ensure compliance with HOPP yearly bi-monthly data reports, interim reports, and final reports for the foreclosure prevention program., • Maintain an updated record of workshops, outreach events, and training sessions held throughout the year., • Assist in keeping the website up to date and identify marketing opportunities for the program., • Complete Foreclosure Prevention & Homeownership Certification Training., • Availability during evenings and weekends is required., • Ability to travel offsite approximately 30% of the time is required., • Personal transportation is required for travel within the designated market area. Travel expenses will be reimbursed. Section 2: Job-Related Duties – All Staff • Attendance and Punctuality: Maintain regular and punctual attendance., • Attitude and Courtesy: Demonstrates respect and courtesy to others, cooperates with team members, and values the opinions and concerns of clients, staff, and the general public., • Communication: Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication, both internally and externally., • Confidentiality: Consistently maintains the confidentiality of client and agency information., • Creativity and Innovation: Proposes new ideas and seeks better methods to improve processes., • Decision-making Skills: Demonstrates sound judgment, gathers relevant information, and takes appropriate action when solving problems., • Flexibility: Willing to accept new tasks and adapt to changes in work schedules and assignments to meet the needs of the agency., • Fiscal Responsibility: Uses agency resources efficiently, minimizes waste, and seeks cost-effective solutions., • Job Knowledge: Demonstrates a solid understanding of the principles, methods, and processes necessary to perform the role effectively., • Performance: Meets productivity standards, performs tasks in a timely manner, and produces high-quality work., • Professional Development: Demonstrates a desire for career growth and seeks to improve skills relevant to the role., • Response to Supervision and Training: Actively listens to feedback and incorporates suggestions for improvement into daily work., • Reliability in Reporting: Submits reports accurately and on time, as required by funding agencies or CHI., • Safety Practices: Observes safe working conditions and practices and reports any unsafe conditions., • Teamwork: Contributes positively to group efforts, assisting colleagues as necessary. Salary: $27.88 an hour - $58,000 annually FLSA: Non-exempt. Eligible for overtime. Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm Location: Fishkill, NY ENTRY LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Education: Three years of housing counseling, banking and/or financial services experience will be considered in lieu of a degree. Bachelor’s degree with one year banking experience preferred. Special Knowledge and Skills: • Ability to read, analyze and interpret financial reports & common legal documents, • Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or members of the business community, • Ability to calculate figures such as income, interest, commissions and percentages, • Ability to work with minimal supervision in fast-paced, multi-task and multi-cultural work environment, • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions, • Must have strong verbal, typing and writing skills as well as legible handwriting, • Must have advanced experience with Microsoft Office software, be able to use e-mail and navigate the internet as well as web-based databases Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEOE) Community Housing Innovations, Inc. (CHI) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. This commitment applies to recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, compensation, training, assignments, benefits, employee activities, termination, access to facilities, and programs, and all other terms and conditions of employment as well as general treatment during employment. Company DescriptionCommunity Housing Innovations (CHI), founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization that serves Westchester, Long Island, Hudson Valley, and New York City. CHI’s mission is to provide housing and human services that support social and economic independence. CHI operates emergency shelters, transitional and supportive housing, permanent housing, homeownership, foreclosure prevention counseling, eviction prevention services, financial literacy and CHI realty, an independent brokerage that works to place homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. CHI believes quality, affordable housing provides a firm foundation for a prosperous life. CHI’s vision is to end generational poverty and foster upward mobility by ensuring that all families and individuals live in quality housing, have a home of their own and a job to support them.Community Housing Innovations (CHI), founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization that serves Westchester, Long Island, Hudson Valley, and New York City. CHI’s mission is to provide housing and human services that support social and economic independence. CHI operates emergency shelters, transitional and supportive housing, permanent housing, homeownership, foreclosure prevention counseling, eviction prevention services, financial literacy and CHI realty, an independent brokerage that works to place homeless individuals and families into permanent housing.\r\n\r\nCHI believes quality, affordable housing provides a firm foundation for a prosperous life.\r\n\r\nCHI’s vision is to end generational poverty and foster upward mobility by ensuring that all families and individuals live in quality housing, have a home of their own and a job to support them.