PROGRAM SPECIALIST - RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

POSTING DATE: OCTOBER 29, 2024

POSTING END DATE: NOVEMBER 8, 2024

JOB SUMMARY

Coordinates activities of the City of Peekskill’s  Section 8 Rental Assistance Program, which includes the screening and selecting of eligible program participants, providing assistance with landlord negotiations, and issuance of Housing Assistance checks. Supervision is not a responsibility of this position. Does related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Manage a caseload and conduct annual re-certifications for clients, including any interim re-certifications and any new admissions of clients on the Section 8 program.
• Maintain reports on any income discrepancies for clients, inspection failures for units, rent increase requests from landlords, conduct HUD rent reasonableness test to determine if units are affordable for clients, and prepare information for informal hearings to be given to the Section 8 Director.
• Meet with clients on an annual basis to determine eligibility of subsidy benefits based on income, deductions, allowances, and family composition;
• Conduct annual re-examinations and interim re-examinations of Section 8  voucher eligibility;
• Process moves for clients intending to move into a new Section 8 unit;
• Obtain third party verifications of clients’ information in accordance with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program requirements;
• Conduct briefing appointments for new admissions on the Section 8 program;
• Maintain waiting list files for possible new Section 8 clients on the waiting list;
• Calculate and collect payments for unreported income by participating Section 8 clients and attend informal hearings, as required;
• Respond to inquiries, phone calls, correspondence, emails in a timely manner;
• Maintain Section 8 housing reports and statistics;
• Resolve concerns between clients and landlords;
• Perform any other related duties as assigned by Director –Section 8 Rental Assistance Program including maintaining a list of clients that have new jobs that was not previously reported to the Section 8 program, filing correspondence Section 8 Director provides incumbent, scheduling of appointments, keeping track of inspections, processing more annual re-certifications or interims for clients assigned by Section 8 Director.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND ATTRIBUTES

Good knowledge of publicly assisted housing programs, eligibility standards and types of assistance available; good

knowledge of arithmetic, business English and composition; good knowledge of rental market within the municipality serviced; good administrative and office management skills; skill in interviewing and meeting the public; ability to get along well with others; ability to effectively use computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database software; good judgment; physical condition commensurate with the duties of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (As adopted by the Westchester County Human Resources Department)

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and either: (a) graduation from a recognized college or university with a Bachelor's Degree and one (1) year of office experience where the

primary function was the evaluation or examination of client needs, or (b) five (5) years of office experience, including or supplemented by one (1) year of office experience where the primary function was the evaluation or examination of client needs, or (c) a satisfactory equivalent of the foregoing training and experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger or grasp, reach with hands and arms.  The employee is frequently required to talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.

The physical requirements of this position also require the ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or regularly to move objects. 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not subject to substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

EMPLOYER’S DISCLAIMER:

• All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee holding this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties as required by the applicable Department Head/supervisor and/or City Manager.

• This job description is intended for the internal use by the City of Peekskill and does not replace the job specification that has been adopted by the Westchester County Human Resources Department.

• This job description does not create a contract of employment, express or implied.