Mobility Counselor

Marketing Statement

Under general supervision, the Mobility Counselor is responsible for counseling and supporting Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participant families, encouraging moves to economically and racially diverse neighborhoods identified as "Opportunity" areas. The Mobility Counselor directly engages clients by assessing their needs, escorting them to potential rental units, referring them to outside services as appropriate, empowering families to make informed choices about their housing, and providing post-move support. They assist voucher holders through every step of the leasing process, including workshops on home maintenance, financial management, and tenant rights. The Mobility Counselor also engages with owners in opportunity neighborhoods, encouraging their participation in the HCV program. This includes educating owners about the benefits of the program, assisting them through the leasing process, and addressing any concerns or questions. May perform other duties in relation to Move-To-Work (“MTW”), Non-MTW, Special Programs, and/or other related activities.

Annual salary range: $53,659.50 - $57,013.00

Qualifications

Minimum education

Bachelor’s Degree in Public or Business Administration, Social Work, Finance, Accounting, Auditing or a related field; AND

Minimum experience

Three (3) or more years of experience involving related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience; AND Five (5) or more years’ experience working in Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, or other Federally-assisted housing programs; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Certifications, Licenses required

Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Class C Driver’s License is required; Must pass the EIV Security and User Training Certification exams within the first year of tenure in the position, (training and test at Philadelphia Housing Authority expense); Must pass HCV Specialist certification exam within first year of tenure in the position (training and test at Philadelphia Housing Authority’s expense).

Travel required

Limited travel to PHA sites/properties as warranted.

Responsibilities

Answer telephone calls and communicate with applicants, participants, landlords/owners and co-workers in a manner that is courteous and professional; Understand and apply applicable MTW policies, agency procedures, and HUD regulations; Respond timely to requests and inquiries from internal and external customers and staff, partner organizations and agencies, and representatives from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), by phone, in person and by written communications; determine customer needs and provide the information or assistance required to satisfy the customer needs; Investigate and resolve participant and landlord complaints; Enter data into housing software and monitor and control quality of data entry; Maintain client files by filing letters, documents and transaction materials and purging the files in accordance with the file organization protocol; Assist with providing timely letters to owners and families regarding program issues and transactions; Ensure supervisor is kept abreast of issues as needed; Notify program applicants, participants and owners in a timely manner of the results of program transactions; Provide recommendations for eligibility, termination/reinstatement of housing assistance as per HUD, local program and PHA requirements; Prepare correspondence, status reports, and other materials to keep management informed of progress; Identify and establish relationships with community resources, including government agencies, community-based service providers, employers, and schools to assist families in integrating into their new communities; Provide Mobility training and orientation for new employees and refresher training for existing staff on expanding housing opportunities for families, Mobility policies and procedures, fair housing and reasonable accommodation, and program software; Conduct Mobility intake and assessment interviews with participants to determine their needs and develop plans to overcome obstacles; Prepare vouchers for initial issuance and determine the appropriate voucher size according to the Administrative Plan; Schedule and conduct lease signing appointments, explaining lease terms, conditions, and policies to tenants; Review credit checks, participant files, and assessment information, providing assistance and referrals to service providers as appropriate; Refer clients to available rental units in Opportunity Areas and provide transportation as needed to view the units; Build and maintain strong relationships with landlords to expand the availability of housing units in Opportunity Areas; Interface directly with program participants and property owners to provide effective relationship management strategies/techniques that are consistently utilized to ensure proactive service delivery and a one-touch solution for problem resolution; Act as a mediator to resolve disputes between participants and landlords; Provide post-move support to clients and landlords, ensuring families are familiar with and engaged in their new community; Proactively engage with landlords and property management companies to increase the inventory of rental units in Opportunity Areas, advocating for HCV participants and highlighting the benefits of renting to them; Continuously develop new strategies for housing counseling, community engagement, and landlord recruitment to ensure the program remains responsive and effective; Conduct eligibility interviews with applicants, document family composition, citizenship status, and social security numbers, and obtain third-party verification of family information, income, and expenses; Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and PHA information; Ensure established goals and requirements are met by the mobility program, develop and implement internal performance standards, and address deficient areas with appropriate improvement strategies; Brief voucher-holders on guidelines, housing search, and program rules and responsibilities: Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and PHA information; AND; Oversees and coordinates compliance related activities; Ensures compliance with regulations governing public housing and financial operations; Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned; Other duties as assigned

How To Apply

All applications will be accepted through the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Jobs Board at www.pha.phila.gov/jobs

Closing Statement

About the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA)

Established in 1937, and with an employment workforce of over 1,100, the Philadelphia Housing Authority is a municipal agency providing public housing services to over 76,000 residents in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Financial support for Authority operations and capital needs comes primarily from rent payments and subsidies provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). PHA is one of a very select group of housing authorities across the nation that has attained Moving to Work (MTW) status. This designation allows housing agencies the opportunity and flexibility, on a local level, to develop and implement innovative housing and self-sufficiency strategies to benefit public housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) participants.

PHA is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of individual qualifications without regard to race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, pregnancy, national origin, ethnicity or ancestry, religion, age, disability, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.