Housing Counselor (Bilingual)

NeighborWorks® Umpqua

Bilingual Housing Counselor

NeighborWorks Umpqua is a community-focused private, rural nonprofit organization working to enhance the lives of Oregon residents in Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine Counties. NeighborWorks Umpqua has been a dynamic part of people's lives for many years - working together to build businesses, homes, and affordable housing, helping government provide needed infrastructure, conserve resource, and develop a stable local economy. Our mission is to empower our neighbors in need to pursue opportunities in housing, finance, and community. We envision a future where residents in SW Oregon's rural communities are equipped with the tools to overcome barriers to reach their dreams.

Position Summary

NeighborWorks Umpqua's (NWU) Housing Counseling Programs empower low- to moderate-income families to achieve safe, stable, and affordable housing through comprehensive, client-centered counseling. The Housing Counselor plays a critical role in providing pre-purchase, post-purchase, and rental counseling services to help clients navigate the complexities of housing decisions, overcome obstacles, and build long-term stability. Experience in mortgage lending or real estate is a plus. This position reports directly to the Director of Wealth Building.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Client-Focused Housing Counseling

• Pre-Purchase Counseling:
• Evaluate client readiness for homeownership through comprehensive financial and credit assessments
• Guide clients in understanding the homebuying process, budgeting, and available down payment assistance programs
• Post-Purchase Counseling:
• Assist clients with managing homeownership responsibilities, including maintenance planning, budgeting for unexpected expenses, and strategies to prevent foreclosure
• Provide ongoing support and resource referrals to ensure long-term housing stability
• Rental Counseling:
• Advise clients on securing, maintaining, and transitioning from rental housing, including understanding tenant rights and responsibilities
• Develop personalized action plans for clients facing housing challenges or seeking to improve their rental situation
• Conduct thorough assessments of clients’ housing needs and develop tailored action plans
• Educate clients on local housing resources, financial management, and legal rights related to housing
• Build lasting relationships with clients by providing clear, accessible, and empathetic counseling
  
  

Outreach and Community Engagement

• Collaborate with community partners, local organizations, and housing professionals to expand NWU’s reach and services
• Develop, distribute, and present educational materials on homeownership, rental options, and foreclosure prevention
• Represent NWU at community events, workshops, and fairs to raise awareness of housing counseling services
  
  

Workshop Support and Facilitation

• Assist in planning and delivering in-person and virtual workshops and classes on topics such as:
• Homebuyer education
• Rental rights and responsibilities
• Foreclosure prevention and home maintenance
• Work collaboratively with team members to develop curriculum and training materials that address community-specific needs
  
  

Data Management and Program Evaluation

• Maintain detailed records and case management documentation for all client interactions
• Track client progress against measurable benchmarks to assess the effectiveness of counseling services
• Participate in program evaluations, data collection, and grant reporting efforts
  
  

Professional Development and Travel

• Pursue and obtain required certifications and training as part of ongoing professional development (if not already held)
• Attend regional and national housing counseling training sessions and conferences to stay current with industry best practices
• Travel to various service delivery sites and partner organizations to facilitate client outreach and support program implementation
  
  

Bilingual

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral in English and Spanish
• Must additionally have excellent Spanish writing skills
• Direct outreach to communities in Coos, Curry, Douglas and Josephine counties and support across NWU region
• Adapt services for use in Spanish language
  
  

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities)

• Previous work experience with the low-income populations
• Ability to provide financial counseling/coaching services
• A good financial coach is able to relate well to both team members and clients
• Internet and resource savvy
• A strong understanding of personal finances, particularly in the areas of budgeting, asset building, and credit building
• Supports a respectful and professional workplace environment that values teamwork and mutual respect
• Experience working with individuals seeking financial education and support, including those from various economic backgrounds
  
  

Specific requirements include:

• HUD Housing Counselor Certification - Must be obtained within 3 months of hire.
• NeighborWorks America NCHEC Certification - Must be obtained within 12 months of hire.
• Adherence to the Code of Ethics and Conduct of National Industry Standards for Housing Counseling
• Fluency in Spanish and English required to effectively communicate with clients
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to work independently
• Proficient in the full Microsoft suite including, but not limited to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• demonstrated progress within the first three months of hire
• Must be willing to travel; sometimes overnight
• Must have a valid Oregon driver’s license and a good driving record
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two years related case management experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Competency in business planning and a demonstrated ability to impart these skills to others.
• Experience developing/delivering educational trainings
• Previous work experience in the financial sector (banking, lending, insurance, investments)
• Fluency in Spanish and English.
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include those required for reading, writing, and typing. This position will be working primarily indoors and some of the time in an outdoor environment for events or clean up. From this movement, the employee will encounter varying temperatures. The noise level is low in the office environment.

Position classification: Full-time, salaried, non-exempt.

Benefits Package includes: Company contribution to Medical, Dental & Vision insurance; Company Retirement Contribution, Company Covered life insurance, Long-term Disability, Accidental death and Dismemberment Insurance, Identity theft insurance; Vacation & Sick Leave, Federal Paid Holidays one Floating Holiday, Employee Assistance Program;/ Access to: Voluntary Life & Disability Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care FSA, Dependent Care Flex Spending Account, Hospital Indemnity, Group Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Critical Illness, Short and Long Term Disability.

Who We Are:

For over 30 years, NeighborWorks Umpqua has successfully met its housing and economic goals by providing comprehensive client services, including Affordable Housing Development, Education & Homeownership Assistance, Financial Services, Economic Development, Community Development, and Property Management.

Our services are open to all individuals, and we are committed to ethical and responsible practices that support financial and housing stability. As a community partner, we remain dedicated to collaboration, transparency, and continuous learning to best serve the needs of those we support.

As an organization, we:

• Foster a culture that values respect, fairness, and opportunity for all individuals
• Ensure our practices and processes support fair and transparent opportunities
• Cultivate a staff, management team, and board that bring a broad range of skills, perspectives, and experiences to our mission
• Engage individuals and communities in areas that are core to our mission—housing, community development, and financial sustainability
• Identify and address challenges that impact housing and economic opportunities in the communities we serve
  
  

Our core values: Integrity, Dignity, Empowerment, Empathy, Respect, and Collaboration.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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