Financial and Housing Counselor

FINANCIAL AND HOUSING COUNSELOR

Job Description

About ¡HICA!

The Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama, ¡HICA!, is one of the most successful social impact organizations in Alabama and has been the major catalyst for the empowerment and economic progress of the Latino community for over 25 years. ¡HICA! is a non-profit organization with a successful track record of providing over 4,000 residents annually with quality services while advocating to local and state leaders for policies that improve the quality of life of all residents. ¡HICA! achieves its goals with its staff of over 30 full time employees and works collaboratively with community partners and government agencies. ¡HICA! has also established the Camino Loan Fund, that will become a CDFI and has an initial goal of raising $1M to deploy to small business owners. ¡HICA! operates community programming in family services, immigration legal services, civic engagement, college and career readiness, housing counseling, and economic development. ¡HICA! is in Birmingham, AL and has a $3 million operating budget.

About the Community Economic Development Program

From financial literacy to business planning and development, the Community Economic Development Program provides the critical and necessary information for Latino and immigrant families to build financial stability for the future.

Job Summary

This position plays a vital role in delivering financial education and advocating for housing stability and affordability, particularly in addressing tenancy issues for low- and moderate-income households within the Latino and immigrant community. Through workshops and individualized sessions focusing on safe banking, debt management, income, savings, and credit, the counselor empowers individuals and families to enhance their financial skills to attain their housing goals and resolve their housing needs. The financial and housing counselor is required to be certified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Reports to: Community Economic Development Program Manager

Status: Full-time, exempt

Location: Birmingham, AL

Key Responsibilities

· Conduct assessments with individuals to gain a comprehensive understanding of their financial and housing situation and needs.

· Develop, evaluate, and revise individual financial analyses for participants, considering factors such as income, debt, credit history, and income stability, to collaboratively establish customized action plans and housing and financial objectives tailored to each participant’s specific circumstances.

· Ensure that participants have a thorough understanding of concepts and tools necessary for success in housing counseling and education and monitor their progress towards program objectives and established housing and financial goals.

· Provide guidance and support to participants, adhering to HUD’s housing counseling rules and guidelines, and particularly providing tenancy counseling services, including eviction prevention, lease agreements guidance, and assistance in understanding tenant rights and responsibilities.

· Establish and manage detailed participant files in our client management systems.

· Document and track client information, dates, outcomes, attendance, and counseling duration to maintain accurate records for grant reporting and internal use.

· Cultivate referral sources by establishing strong relationships with lenders, real estate professionals, and other relevant stakeholders.

· Actively participate and contribute to networking opportunities, such as convening meetings, committees, outreach events, and other relevant community gatherings to effectively disseminate information about the CED Program and ¡HICA!.

· Work closely with the CED Team to effectively implement CED programs, which may include our duties as an IRS approved VITA site, among other responsibilities.

· Assist in occasional front desk coverage, including greeting visitors and answering calls.

Required Skills and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant experience demonstrating the ability to fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the job description are desirable.

· Candidates must either possess a current HUD Counseling Certification or obtain the certification within 6 months of the date of hire for this position.

· Knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations and resources related to housing stability and affordability.

· Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.

· Ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends, and willing to travel as necessary.

· Bilingual, Spanish/English (reading, writing, and speaking) is essential.

COMPENSATION

Competitive $40-45k annual salary plus excellent benefits package that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Health and Dental, (Vision optional) paid at 100% for each employee with coverage starting on first day of employment; 3 weeks earned PTO leave, plus 12 paid holidays; 1-week mid-year closure; 2 weeks closure at end of year, and Simple IRA Plan with 3% company match after one year of service. This position is scheduled to begin in the early part of January 2025.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to Gloria Glassco at hr@hicaalabama.org

Covid-19 Policy Statement

To protect our employees, constituents, and the community from COVID-19 infection, ¡HICA! requires immunization of all employees. If seeking an exemption for medical or religious reasons, please complete a request for accommodation form and submit to human resources at hr@hicaalabama.org

¡HICA! is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama hires the most qualified candidates without regard to any person’s race, color, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, parental status, marital status, military discharge status, or source of income.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $40,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $40,000 - $45,000