Housing Specialist III

Housing Specialist lll

Department: Housing

Job Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Assistant Director of Housing, Housing Lead

Grade/Level: 39

Amount of Travel Required: None

Job Type: Regular

Positions Supervised: None

Work Schedule: Regular business hours

Union: OPEIU represented position

Work Location: On-site

Starting Hourly Rate: $33.43 per hour;
Union position Grade 39, Step 1

Full Hourly Range: $33.43 - $53.77 per hour

Position Close Date: This position will remain open until Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 5:00pm.

Benefit package includes:

• Medical Insurance-BHA pays 95% for employee only or 90% for family
• Vision Insurance-BHA pays 95% for employee only or 90% for family
• Dental Insurance - 100% Covered by BHA
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Washington State Retirement (PERS)
• Washington State Deferred Compensation
• Paid Time Off (PTO) Accrual of 150 hours in first year
• Washington State Paid Sick Leave - 1 hour for every thirty hours worked (approx. 69 hours per year)
• 14 Paid Holidays per year
• Longevity Pay
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Opportunities

POSITION SUMMARY

The Housing Specialists are responsible for responding to inquiries, developing, and maintaining reports on their production and performance. Maintains close, recurring contact with tenants and landlords while processing the Housing Choice Voucher Program and various other programs to eligible low-income individuals and families. Primary functions of this position are to calculate financial information and changes in income and make rent adjustments, review documents, and obtain proper verifications to determine program eligibility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Function Summaries

• Process annual re-certifications including determining participant compliance, review annual applications, request any missing information, reconcile information in YARDI system, and show calculations of financial information.
• Process interim certifications for change in circumstances including receiving notification from tenant, verifying documentation, re-calculating adjusted monthly income, calculate the correct tenant rent and HAP payment, notify all parties of rent change, and input data into various systems within deadlines.
• Act as liaison between landlords, tenants, and the community by responding to inquiries and complaints, explaining federal housing programs to both parties, and recognizing participant needs and referring them to resources in times of adversity.
• Review files to ensure accuracy (i.e., utility assignment matches) and contact the landlord and participant to have a new lease and HAP contract signed when discrepancies are corrected.
• Research any requests for rent increases. Coordinate with inspectors and provide collected information needed. Calculate and reconcile with utilities and other amenities. Write and send out letters explaining what was implemented.
• Process inspection documentation for submission into the computer systems; ensure inspection data is correct and aligns with all other information in the participant records; scan documents and post onto a document imaging software.
• Follow up and discuss any case violations such as unreported income, unauthorized occupants, drug activity, violent criminal activity, etc., in a timely manner. Contact tenants to discuss circumstances, update individuals on lease, notify landlord of any changes, and re-calculate income. Check change of circumstances through government resources and follow up with tenants to verify information. Determine if money is owed to BHA or if fraud needs to be reported.
• Prepare termination packet for the F Drive in preparation of the determination to terminate. Process program participation terminations by writing and sending out letters with an explanation of the termination and instructions for next steps. Adhere to program deadlines and…