Home Repair Advocate

POSITION PURPOSE

Home Repair Advocate is responsible for assessing repair needs, educating and empowering clients who are part of the program to self-manage their home repairs by independent contractors as part of the Restore, Repair, Renew (RRR): Philadelphia Neighborhood Home Preservation Program sponsored by Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation. In doing such, the Home Repair Advocate will maintain a high level of empathy and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) focused approach with clients, vendors and stakeholders. Travel required throughout Philadelphia and Delaware County.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES 

Repair Needs Assessment and Facilitation

• Visit homes to visually assess and prioritize needed repairs and record findings in a consistent format
• Create a repair action plan for the homeowner based on the home assessment
• Educate and empower the homeowner on managing the repair action plan
• Be available to assist the homeowner with questions about the repair action plan and their project
• Maintain a high level of empathy toward homeowners  
• Provide contractors with information about the program as needed 
• Perform follow-up assessment to assist clients in project close-out as needed

Education and Advocacy

• Conduct regular education sessions on how to manage and understand home repair and preservation
• Collaborate to create/update home repair education curriculum for program participants 
• Analyze program processes and make recommendations that improve program outcomes

Administrative

• Update team members, partners, and databases to reflect current program status
• Communicate timely and effectively to ensure team and partners understand client status
• Compile weekly status reports 
• Record and submit accurate expense requests

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Housing Focus

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in residential construction and/or home inspection industry in the city of Philadelphia
• Familiarity with housing programs serving LMI residents of Philadelphia and Delaware County a plus
• Passion for serving low- to moderate-income populations 
• Ability to effectively use the technology for the job (e.g. client management systems, HomeInspector Pro, PDF editors, etc.)
• Achieve Building Sciences Principals certificate within 60 days of hire
• Achieve NFCC certification within 30 days of hire

Client and Community Focus

• Strong project management and administrative skills to maintain client caseload including milestone dates in client progress 
• Ability to maintain data and status updates within client management systems
• Ability to document processes in the client management systems
• Ability to explain housing systems and repairs to homeowners in terms they understand
• Exceptional ability to relate to homeowners in a culturally sensitive manner 
• Outcome-driven and strong sense of customer/client focus
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills 

General 

• Self-motivated with strong time management skills
• Energetic, fun, and interested in working in a fast-paced and collegial environment
• Ability to drive, with own motor vehicle and routinely work evening or weekend hours as needed
• Maintains a valid Driver’s License
• Good computer skills and command of English. Fluency in Spanish is a plus 

QUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICS

• Commitment to Mission. Passion for serving low- to middle-income populations and strong and demonstrated commitment to social justice, equity, and anti-poverty initiatives. Understanding of the root causes of poverty and systems and structures that perpetuate inequality.
• Personal qualities. Clarifi requires the highest ethical standards and integrity in service to our clients and partners. The ideal candidate will possess maturity, self-awareness, empathy, flexibility, cultural humility, and an exceptional capacity for team and community building.
• Interest in personal finance and comfort with quantitative calculations. Strong personal finance competencies are not required prior to applying for the role, as training and certification in personal finance will be provided.  Interest in learning about, and building proficiency in, personal and consumer finance. 
• Interest in the connection between housing and health. A healthy interest in how housing is a social determinant of health and the interconnection with financial health will be helpful in this role.  
• Commitment to innovation, excellence, and entrepreneurship. Energized to work in an entrepreneurial, growth-oriented nonprofit organization. Demonstrated commitment to testing and evaluating new ideas and to building a model organization. The ideal candidate will be a proactive team player with a willingness to pitch in to support larger goals.        Detail-focused and strong commitment to client services and consumer protection. 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Excellent organizational and communication skills. Exhibit strong attention to detail with the ability to complete work accurately and efficiently. Exceptional presentation, organizational, written and verbal communication skills. Ability to understand and develop processes to make workflows manageable and replicable. Excellent computer literacy, including web-based applications and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong interpersonal and one-on-one coaching skills. Ability to form strong, trusting partnerships with clients and to provide financial coaching that is non-judgmental, empathetic, and culturally proficient.  

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The environment for this position is a standard office environment (currently WFH) and includes travel within the city of Philadelphia and Delaware County about 30% - 50% of the time. Candidate must be a licensed driver with full time access to reliable, properly registered and insured motor vehicle and be able and willing to travel to locations within agency’s service area.  Position requires stair and low ladder climbing, and good hearing and vision. Ability to move through cramped spaces with low ceilings.  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.