HOUSING SPECIALIST I/II (Finance)

The County of Riverside's Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS), Housing Authority Division, is seeking to fill multiple vacancies for a Housing Specialist I/II in their special programs unit.

The Housing Specialist I/II will be responsible for overseeing the processing of housing programs, providing outreach, and completing administrative functions as needed. They will also be available for housing inspections when required. The incumbent will be tasked with assisting more challenging clients and will submit data from their information system for auditing purposes.

The incumbent will play a key role in case management and in providing housing assistance services to individuals experiencing homelessness and other diverse populations. This highly mobile, field-based position requires frequent travel throughout the county and direct, in-person engagement with clients, often in outdoor or nontraditional environments. Additionally, the incumbent will collaborate with licensed residential care providers who support elderly and disabled adults with serious mental illnesses. Core responsibilities include outreach, client navigation, landlord engagement, interagency coordination, and providing high-level support to the Supervising Development Specialist.

The most competitive incumbent will have knowledge of housing assistance programs, a strong understanding of homeless services systems, and the ability to work independently in fast-paced, field-based settings. Knowledge of administering programs such as Section 8, HSP, VASH, EHV, Mainstream 811, and HOPWA is highly preferred.
All positions require a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL), as responsibilities include transporting residents across Riverside County to access assistance programs and attending outreach fairs and community events.

This position requires availability during nights, weekends, and occasional overtime.

The Housing Specialist II is the journey level classification in the Housing Specialist series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager level position. Incumbents may exercise functional and technical supervision over lower-level staff. Positions are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the Housing Specialist I level or when filled from the outside, require prior work experience directly related to area of assignment.

The Housing Specialist II is distinguished from the Housing Specialist I by the former's ability to perform the full range of assigned duties with only occasional instruction or assistance as unusual or unique situations arise.

Advancement to the next level is obtained by competitive selection through an open recruitment.

Meet the Team!
The Housing Authority Division is responsible for administering the county's federally funded Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), which includes both tenant-based vouchers and project-based vouchers, Moderate Rehabilitation Program, and Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Program, and is also the housing successor to the former Redevelopment Agencies for the County of Riverside and City of Coachella. The purpose of these programs is to combat homelessness, provide decent and safe housing, expand the supply of affordable housing, increase homeownership opportunities for low-moderate income households and to oversee the wind down of the Former Redevelopment Agencies for the County of Riverside and City of Coachella. HOUSING SPECIALIST I : $23.6909-$33.5794 (Hourly)
$49,277-$$69,845 (Annually)

• Perform a variety of duties involved in the determination of applicants' eligibility and participants' continued eligibility for assisted housing programs utilizing established timelines, agency policies and federal regulations.

• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.

• Conduct initial, annual and special inspections for assisted units for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and related housing programs; ensure assisted units comply with HUD requirements for decent, safe and sanitary housing conditions; advise and assist property owners and tenants of unit maintenance needs identified from inspections or complaints; conduct follow up inspections of completed work and repairs.

• Prepare and execute contracts between the Housing Authority and property owners; negotiate rent with property owners; calculate participants' rent; initiate the collection of delinquent overpayments from participants or property owners.

• Prepare reports on inspections and related matters.

• Assist in the development and implementation of resident programs.

• Duties assigned may be either in caseload management or initial eligibility determination.

HOUSING SPECIALIST lI : $26.8741-$36.9229 (Hourly)
$55,898-$76,800 (Annually)
• Conduct specialized, technical field inspections or assessment for various assistance programs available to County residents through the HWS Department; ensure proper condition of units including compliance with applicable regulations and standards, safe and sanitary conditions; prepare work orders; implement and monitor outcomes.

• Advise and assist property owners and tenants of unit maintenance needs identified from inspections, assessment, or complaints; conduct follow up inspections of completed work and repairs; conduct site visits with contracted vendors for quality control, provide technical consultation and make recommendations as needed.

• Answer questions and provide applicable program information to the applicants and public.

• Perform a variety of duties involved in the determination of applicants' eligibility and tenants' continual eligibility for the programs.

• Prepare reports on inspections and related matters.

HOUSING AND WORKFORCE SOLUTION (In addition to the general essential duties listed above, incumbents assigned to HWS):

• Conduct initial, annual, special and vacated unit inspections for Section 8 and related assisted housing programs; ensure proper condition of units including compliance with HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS); ensure decent, safe and sanitary conditions; develop service quality improvement initiatives; implement and monitor outcomes.

• Mediate between the tenant and property owner; determine liabilities and charges for tenants and owners during vacated unit inspections; process damage claims; liaison between the Department of Mental Health and state licensed board and care facilities; troubleshoot and assist in resolving issues.

• Conduct damage and move out inspections; investigate claims regarding violations of housing quality standards; counsel tenants on good housekeeping practices.

• Request and verify documents from property owners to confirm ownership of property.

• Prepare and execute contracts between the Housing Authority and property owners; prepare leases and agreements between tenants and property owners; negotiate rent agreements with property owners; calculate tenant's rent; initiate the collection of delinquent overpayments from participants or property owners.

• Investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints. HOUSING SPECIALIST I :
Experience: Minimum of one year housing or other state or federal program eligibility or social work experience is preferred; OR one year of work experience in general construction or trade work, including but not limited to, carpentry, HVAC, electrical.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of twelfth grade supplemented by additional course work in social science or a related field. (Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree may substitute for program eligibility experience.)

HOUSING SPECIALIST lI :
Experience: Two years full time work experience equivalent to Housing Specialist I duties and responsibilities; OR two years of full-time work experience in Section 8 and related assisted housing programs; OR two years of full-time work experience in general construction or trade work, including but not limited to, carpentry, HVAC, electrical.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of twelfth grade supplemented by additional course work in social science or a related field. (Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree may substitute for one year of program eligibility experience.)

Knowledge of: Section 8 and related assisted housing programs, policies and procedures or regulations; HUD HQS; pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; operations, services and activities in providing housing assistance to low-income persons under the Section 8 and related assisted housing programs; general construction or building inspection; energy efficiency measures.

Ability to: Perform housing inspections, determine needed repairs and estimate cost of repairs; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action necessary to resolve complaints; identify and respond to program participants and public issues and concerns; work effectively with people from a variety of social, economic and racial backgrounds; work independently in the absence of supervisor. Other Requirements
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.

What's Next?

This recruitment is open to all.

Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.

Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.

For questions regarding this recruitment
For specific questions regarding this position, contact Bianca Galaviz at bgalaviz @rivco.org .