HCV Housing Specialist

Orange County Housing and Community Development is hiring for a Housing Specialist in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Please share this with anyone you know interested in directly assisting Orange County residents to access and maintain stable & affordable housing and who are interested in affordable housing as a career. This position directly provides support to Orange County residents in need of affordable housing to access vouchers, and to current HCV participants to help maintain their housing and participation in the HCV program.

The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Research shows that rental assistance sharply reduces homelessness, poverty, and improves outcomes for children. The program currently serves approximately 520 Orange County residents.

Following are examples of typical work activities and responsibilities. The incumbent may be responsible for performing other related duties and responsibilities as required or assigned. A position may not include all the work examples given, nor does the list include all that may be assigned.

• Interfaces directly with Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program participants and/or property owners to conduct interviews, collect paperwork, conduct termination hearings, process interim changes, respond to inquiries and resolve issues, complaints or problems.
• Explains program requirements, rules, and regulations to new participants, issues vouchers and briefing packets and/or conducts group briefings, and disseminates information regarding lead-based paint and housing discrimination laws.
• Accepts program applications from interested citizens, enters data and updates information for persons currently on the waiting list.
• Receives and/or reviews various records and reports including income verification, vital records, medical expenses, bank statements, and school enrollment verification; issues HCVs to eligible households.
• Processes all participant End of Participation (EOP) and terminations with HCV Program Manager approval.
• Coordinates the annual recertification process, ensuring that all rents are reasonable given HUD program requirements and all requirements are met for compliance; prepared and/or processes mandatory records and reports.
• Coordinates re-certification inspections, consults with the HCV Inspector/ Housing Rehabilitation Specialist regarding inspection results, and mails incomplete re-certification, abatement, or termination letters as needed.
• Collects, reviews and processes data specific to assigned functions within required timelines; calculates tenant rents and housing assistance payments in accordance with established operational procedures.
• Opens, reviews and acts upon all mail received within established timelines.
• Electronically documents tasks completed in the appropriate participant file in the Housing Authority’s computer system, and maintains hard documentation for all in accordance with established file requirements.
• Presents information regarding the HCV Program to human service agencies, civic and community groups, and individual citizens as requested.
• Refers to the HUD – EIV System, HUD manual, administrative plan, policy and procedure manuals, codes, laws and regulations, publications and reference texts.

Please click the link for more info and to apply

This position will also work with the Housing Access Coordinator (County and Town collaborative effort) to retain and recruit landlords participating in the program by accessing Orange County’s landlord Incentive Program. The OCLIP provides a $500 leasing bonus to all landlords signing a new lease with an HCV (or other voucher program) participant. For more info: HCV Landlord Incentive Program

Please please contact me with questions:
Emila Sutton
Housing & Community Development Director
Orange County Government
Hillsborough, NC
esutton@orangecountync.gov | 919-245-2490