Housing Counselor

POSITION TITLE: Housing Counselor HC STATUS: Exempt, FT GRADE: 3

DEPT/PROGRAM NAME: Financial Inclusion SALARY: $50k/yr

REPORTS TO: Director, Financial Inclusion

SUPERVISES: N/A

SUMMARY: The Housing Counselor is responsible for conducting homebuyer education and financial education workshops, housing counseling (includes pre-purchase, rental, and default foreclosure) and credit counseling services, including administrative responsibilities such as intake, tracking data input, monthly reporting and participation in community outreach. It is preferred that the Housing Counseling be HUD certified at the time of application or no later 90 days of hire.

COLLABORATES WITH: The Housing Counselor HC manages relationships with the Financial Inclusion and overall Economic Empowerment staff, YWCA program members and other YWCA staff members; and community representatives.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primary Responsibilities: The Housing Counselor is responsible for providing housing counseling and education to prospective first-time homebuyers, existing homeowners, and homeowners in distress. The Housing Counselor will focus on helping clients build financial capacity through credit counseling which includes financial capacity building for pre-purchase, post- purchase, and foreclosure prevention. Provide client assessments that enable the client to make informed decisions regarding their housing choices.

Member Contact: Educate clients and prospective clients about the available Financial Inclusion services, Economic Empowerment Services, and greater YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Services. Assist members with completion of required forms and assessments. Conduct member screening to evaluate need for immediate support and to facilitate referral and linkage to appropriate community services. Use appropriate judgment in upward communication regarding client or member concerns.

Administrative Duties: Record all communications, and update log after each meeting or interaction with client/ lender for both (hard and electronic) file utilizing require client management system mPact Pro. Conduct follow-ups via phone and/or email to determine whether or not the client is following their financial goal plan. The interaction with the client should always be in a professional, responsive, helpful and positive manner. Ensure all client files are securely stored and locked with all required documents and forms. Collect Closing Disclosure statements once a client fulfills homeownership. Prepare reports for management as required.

Office Management: Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following areas:

Responsible for day-to-day client scheduling and delivery of homeownership counseling and education in credit counseling, financial capacity building, pre-purchase, delinquency and foreclosure prevention counseling.

Conduct financial analysis and affordability assessment based on information and documents provided by the client.

Create an Action Plan that supports and builds clients financial capacity.

Perform on-going case management to provide service and problem-solving assistance.

Assist management with facilitating homebuyers education, and post-purchase workshops.

Participate in group education workshops at least once a month in accordance with U.S. HUD

standards. (Note: Sessions held on evenings and weekends)

• Represent Agency at events, seminars, and networking functions as needed.

Record all communications, and update log after each meeting or interaction with client/ lender for both (hard and electronic) file utilizing required client management system mPact Pro.

Conduct follow-ups via phone and/or email to determine whether the client is following their financial goal plan. The interaction with the client should always be in a professional, responsive, helpful and positive manner.

Ensure all client files are securely stored and locked with all required documents and forms.

Collect Closing Disclosure statements once a client fulfills homeownership.

Prepare reports for management as required.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Participate in staff meetings, and training as scheduled.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED: Other duties outside of the responsibilities of the position may be assigned, whether for a project, special needs task or other assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated skills, strong knowledge and experience in the following areas:

Working experience with any aspect of the homeownership and post-purchase process: mortgage lending, realtor service, closing of mortgage loan, loan processing, and loan modification.

Must hold a HUD Certified Housing Counselor certificate or become certified within 90 days of employment.

Case management.

Computer proficiency with email software, Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook, client management databases, and uploading and downloading of documents.

Proficiency with spreadsheets and internet search applications are necessary.

Ability and willingness to learn new software and computer systems.

Public speaking and communication skills (written and verbal).

Ability to manage multiple tasks in a high-volume work environment.

Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.

Attention to detail with excellent internal and external customer service skills.

Experience and/or certification as a Housing Counselor, loan processor, or financial educator is a plus.

Minimum Associate Degree from accredited college, BA preferred.

** Bilingual Spanish speaking is preferable but not required**

The position requires a proactive self-starter and skills that include: a demonstrated ability to work independently; to handle multiple assignments and tasks; and to apply and comply with various policies and procedures. Good telephone etiquette and ability to communicate in a courteous and professional manner are necessary for the role. An intermediate level of skills with MS Office and Outlook are required, skills with database management. A general knowledge of community resources is desirable.

Discretion is required for handling of documents and for member concerns. Demonstrated respect and appreciation for working in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural work environment must be evident. The Housing Counselor must be able to work effectively with members who may show stress and impatience.

Professional Training Required: Must be complaint to be able to offer both pre-purchase and foreclosure counseling.

*Note: A bilingual Housing Counselor who works with a foreign language speaking community must demonstrate cultural competency with that community and fluency in both English and the communitys language (oral and written).

EDUCATION REQUIRED: Minimum Associate's Degree from accredited college, BA preferred.

CERTIFICATION(s) REQUIRED: HUD Housing Counseling Certification; if not secured upon hiring, candidate must agree to receive certification no later than within the first 90 days of employment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: N/A.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment includes remote working two days per week. While in the office, the noise level is usually moderate. Movement requirements include walking, stooping or kneeling. There may be a need to reach, lift or move objects, such as packages, supplies and computers. Normal (or corrected) vision range; ability to see color and to distinguish letters, numbers and symbols are necessary to the work, which may require close viewing. Occasionally may need to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Communication needs include seeing, hearing and speaking. While working remotely and/or in the office, there will be periods of sitting, holding a telephone and using computers. Reasonable accommodations will be made for an incumbent to meet the essential responsibilities of the position.

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. This position may require work on some evenings and weekends. Schedule can vary depending on the needs of the agency.