HOUSING STABILITY COUNSELOR
24 days ago
Eatontown
Job Description JOB TITLE: Housing Stability Counselor RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Program Officer FLSA STATUS: Exempt This document is intended to describe the general duties required for this position. It is not intended to serve as an exhaustive list of duties, skills and responsibilities. About the Affordable Housing Alliance: Founded in 1991 to address the overwhelming need for affordable housing in Monmouth County, the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA) has grown from a small $25,000 grant into a multi million dollar annual operation and powerhouse non-profit. In our decades of service, we've developed over 600 affordable housing units with a strong pipeline fueling future growth. Our passionate team of difference-makers guides residents through every step of the housing journey - from homelessness prevention and rental assistance, to homebuyer education and foreclosure counseling. At the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA), we believe that safe, decent and affordable housing is a fundamental human right. Everyone deserves to feel secure, comfortable and supported in the place they call home. As a catalyst for change in our community, the AHA strives to uphold this right by providing comprehensive housing services and solutions for all who need it most. Our Core Values • Integrity- We demonstrate honesty and unwavering ethical conduct in all of our actions. At the AHA, we build trust through transparency and hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards., • Hope - We meet each person where they are in their unique journey with genuine understanding. By offering tangible assistance, we nurture hope and empower individuals to build their path forward., • Adaptability- We embrace change as an opportunity to innovate and grow stronger. At the AHA, we respond dynamically to evolving community needs, turning challenges into possibilities for those we serve. The cross-trained Housing Counselor provides one-on-one homebuyer, reverse mortgage, mortgage default/delinquency counseling, and disaster recovery counseling. The Housing Counselor, well-educated in the fields of housing and finances, shall guide each client through the process to achieve their housing goals which would be to acquire or preserve their housing stability. They are responsible for helping clients analyze and mitigate risks that could jeopardize their housing. They shall interact with a variety of industry professionals to assist their clients such as lenders, State entities, attorneys, and other non-profit organizations. They shall be required at times to participate in coordinating and presenting at agency-sponsored education workshops and outreach events. The duty of the housing counselor is to ensure each client is educated in their rights, options and resources, and to encourage long-term sustainability and financial empowerment. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/DUTIES: • Provide counseling and analysis to clients regarding their financial position, including creation of crisis budgets and/or realistic household budgets, and provide information regarding available loan products, down payment assistance, reverse mortgage alternatives, loan modification workout options with their respective lender(s), and construction assistance for repairs., • Educate clients to develop a true understanding of the home purchase process and eligibility requirements. Assist client with becoming mortgage ready based on lender requirements by developing client action plans to improve credit scores, increasing savings and develop realistic and sustainable budgets. Provide appropriate resources referrals to clients to assist them with attain their goals outlined in their action plan., • Educate senior clients to have a clear understanding of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) which is the only reverse mortgage that is insured by the United States Federal Government (HUD and FHA). Review their financial position, household budget, and reasons for considering the HECM loan. Educate clients on the up-front and ongoing costs of the HECM loan and their obligations so that they and their heirs can make an educated decision. Connect them with alternative resources so they may decide between all their options., • Educate clients on the foreclosure process and timelines, hierarchy of workout options as it relates to their particular hardship status, loan modification terminology, and loan modification terms being offered by the lender/servicer(s). Assist clients with completing and returning loan modification packages back to lender/servicers is needed. Ensure a copy of signed loan modification agreement and in each client file. If appropriate refer clients to local service providers for additional assistance if needed. Review loss mitigation options offered and ensure client understands the terms. Provide insight to potential risks. If housing is unaffordable, counsel client to transition to a more sustainable housing option., • Obtain required documents and ensure that they all have been properly signed by client(s) such as lender/servicer authorizations, privacy policy, client action plans and all other agency required documents needed for client files. Assist borrowers with preparing and assembling the information and documents required by lender/servicer or other assistance program(s) for evaluation of workout options. Submit completed workout request packages to servicers using electronic mode required by lender/servicer., • Promptly complete all data entry across all agency databases, maintain detailed case notes, keep file organized from open to close, close files in a timely manner and retain copy of client files via scanning into agency client databases., • Conduct timely follow-up with both the lender/servicers and clients as needed to ensure packages have been received by the lender/service and requests for deficiencies and additional documentation is communicated to the client, inquiring about case statuses, and escalating client case as needed per lender/servicer protocol., • Learn to input data into any additional databases as required by funders. Maintain accurate records and comply with all reporting procedures as required by various grant funders. Provide client pipeline reports as requested, running and correcting system errors in on a monthly basis or as requested by supervisory staff., • Develop an advanced knowledge of:, • All loss mitigation options/programs, tools and guidelines for clients offered by lender/servicers, NJHMFA, FHA, FannieMae and FreddieMac, etc., • Homebuyer loans and down payment assistance programs offered by lender partners, NJHMFA, FHA and county agency., • Reverse mortgage (HECM) program options, tools and guidelines for seniors offered by participating lenders within the industry, FannieMae, FHA, etc., • Disaster recovery financial assistance and the construction process for home reconstruction and rehabilitation., • Attending staff meetings, agency in-service and participating in required certification trainings as requested by supervisor., • Demonstrate flexibility by undertaking varied assignments based on organizational needs and executive direction QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION • Bachelors’ degree in finance, human services, social work, education or related field preferred. Years of experience may be substituted for years of education., • Bi-lingual in English and Spanish is preferred., • Minimum of 2 years relevant work experience in mortgage lending/processing, real estate sales, disaster recovery, financial education, housing or credit counseling preferred, • Required to pass HUD Housing Counselor Certification Exam within 90 days of hire, • Other Certifications: NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) Certifications in Home Buyer Counseling and Education, Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM); and/or Mortgage Default and Delinquency, or must earn them within 3 to 6 months of start of employment, subject to the availability of courses, • Knowledge of mortgage loan process and programs, • Knowledge foreclosure process for the State of NJ, • Ability to apply credit rebuilding and budget analysis/development skills and tools, • Knowledge of community resources and contact to provide client with viable referral for assistance with addressing additional needs not provided by the agency, • Excellent oral and written communication skills, • Able to work some nights and weekends, • Excellent case management skills, • Working knowledge of client management systems and databases, such as CounselorMax and NetSuite., • Have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity and understand the barriers and opportunities within these experiences, • Are passionate about using their experiences to support others and advocate for change, • Bring a personal understanding of systemic challenges related to economic insecurity