Homeownership Housing Counselor

Description

The primary purpose of this position is to develop strong partnerships with clients to provide financial capability coaching with the goal of reaching mortgage readiness in preparation for homeownership. Ensure program participants develop a strong understanding of the responsibilities of homeownership with an emphasis on financial wellness in credit and debt management. Develop and follow through with action plan for each future homeowner. Work in partnership with the Program Supervisor to coordinate strategic outreach efforts to ensure program participants represent the diversity in the Omaha community. Contribute towards strong partnerships between Habitat for Humanity of Omaha (HFHO) and referral and pilot partner organizations. 

Requirements

Principle Duties: 

• Collaborate with the Programs team in the ongoing development of a strong Financial Coaching and Homeownership Readiness with a focus on working with low- and moderate- income households with the goal of accessing and sustaining affordable homeownership.
• Coach families to develop household financial management skills through individual coaching sessions on the topics of income, expenses, debts, credit, budgeting, and the responsibilities of homeownership. 
• Measure and report on success outcomes and identify areas of improvement.
• Develop individual action plans in partnership with coaching participants. Follow-up with any community resources that can improve the household’s financial success.
• Support households in becoming mortgage-ready to apply for HFHO home loan or on the Open Market through HFHO’s relator network.
• Ensure coaching client data is accurate and available for cross-departmental reporting. Maintain accurate documentation for paper files and electronic database.
• Develop a system of following up with coaching clients on the next steps, while responding to current inquiries in timely manner.
• Coordinate launch of workforce housing pilots 
• Support strong partnership with financial coaching and partner agencies to ensure a steady pipeline of households 
• Integrate program feedback by developing and implementing recommended changes towards best practices in the industry.
• Outreach – Present to different partnering agencies Home Journey program opportunities 
• Partner internally to provide ongoing engagement opportunities post-close and financial coaching as needed.

Supervising Duties: 

• None

Experience, Abilities, and Qualifications: 

• At least 5 years of applicable work experience or bachelor’s degree in related field
• Homebuyer education and counseling training. (HUD, NeighborWorks, or comparable certification), preferred but not required. 
• Must become HUD certified housing counselor within 6 months of hire.
• Demonstrated experience with MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher)
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills with a varied audience.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills
• Ability to support English Language Learner clients with interpreters
• Highly accountable planning for and achieving monthly, quarterly, and yearly targets for number of families served
• Ability to manage caseload by strategically prioritizing and organizing tasks and workflows 
• Goal-oriented, success driven, professional, outgoing, and self-starting.
• Demonstrate success in building relationships with culturally diverse groups of people.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.

Equal Opportunity Policy: 

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha (Habitat Omaha) actively recruits, employs, trains, and compensates employees regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetics or veteran status.  In addition to federal law requirements, Habitat Omaha complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including workplace harassment.  

At Habitat Omaha, we have a clear vision to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and to do their best work.  Our vision is to see a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live, and we know our company runs on the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees.  Our dedication to promoting diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion is clearly reflected in the work that we do externally in the community, as well as internally with our employment practices.