Housing Programs Specialist - 2024-25
Housing Programs Specialist
For one year, get paid to build sustainable solutions in a community, gain valuable hands-on experience and prepare for your future. This full-time AmeriCorps service position offers a great opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others while building your own knowledge and skillset.
AmeriCorps National members serve the community in direct service and capacity building activities.
What will you do?
The Housing Programs Specialist will be responsible for offering our diverse array of housing programs and services, including affordable homeownership, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, mortgage relief, and post-purchase education and support. This member plays an important role in all aspects of the homebuying process being managed by staff at Habitat LA.
- Recruit and assist applicants with registration and applying for Habitat LA’s various programs and services.
- Pull registration reports and follow up with registrants to ensure that staff are prepared for special accommodations.
- Conduct information sessions and assist individuals and families identify a program and/or service that will meet their needs.
- Support education program participants to successfully complete the program by sending them reminders of upcoming workshops, tracking their attendance, scheduling their individual counseling sessions and communicating any missing requirements.
- Provides technical assistance to applicants that require specialized support such as interpretation, uploading documents and a thorough comprehension of program criteria.
- On occasion, build alongside partner homebuyers as they complete their sweat equity requirements.
- Make outgoing calls to those who have applied to gather information and documents needed to determine eligibility for the program(s).
- Review applications submitted for completeness and accuracy.
- Track and document client information using multiple online systems.
- Follow-up with applicants to inform them of the status of their application or service to help them determine if any changes are needed to improve their eligibility for the program.
- Uses information gathered from the daily workflow to provide suggestions to improve how goals are achieved, good customer service is provided, and implementation of changes are achieved.
- Attend outreach events specifically aimed at increasing program participation of residents less likely to apply from low and moderate-income communities.
This position will focus on homeowner services aspects of Habitat affiliate operations.
Where will you serve?
- Organization name: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
- Nearest metropolitan area: Long Beach, CA
- Full-time staff: 120
- Expected number of AmeriCorps members: 14
- Number of homes to be built: 52
- Activities and attractions: Learn, serve, and explore in iconic County of Los Angeles! Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angles (Habitat LA) has hosted AmeriCorps members since 1999. In your off-hours, hike the many mountain ranges in our backyard; explore Downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign, Queen Mary, and the many beaches of Southern California. Check out the many amusement parks near us, like Six Flags, Knotts Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and more! Join our Habitat family and form lasting relationships while creating affordable housing solutions with hard-working families in Greater Los Angeles.
- Unique projects: This member will be helping support our newest and largest development to date in the City of Long Beach that has over 34 units. This project is different compared to others due to the fact the affiliate has to start the application process closer to it’s construction end date due to city guidelines. The member will need to collaborate with the Volunteer’s team to make sure families are on track of completing their sweat equity hours in time of escrow.
Benefits of AmeriCorps service
- Living allowance of $18,700 for approximately 10 ½ months of service.
- Segal Education Award of $7,395, upon successful completion of service (lifetime maximum of two full education awards).
- Forbearance for most federally-guaranteed student loans.
- Health care benefits and enrollment in Employee Assistance Plan.
- Personal and medical leave — approximately 10 days total.
- Personal and professional development opportunities.
- Child care benefits, if you qualify.
- Worker’s compensation insurance.
Supplemental Benefits
- Housing stipend paid directly to your landlord ($950 per month)
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident at least 18 or older and have a high school diploma or GED.
What are we looking for?
Our ideal candidates:
- Are passionate about serving the community through direct service.
- Demonstrate respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background.
- Desire to gain hands-on experience in the affordable housing and nonprofit sector.
- Have experience working on a team.
- Possess stellar interpersonal communication skills.
- Are motivated and committed to serve full time and in person.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a global, Christian-based nonprofit organization that grew out of an intentionally multi-racial community in rural Georgia. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings together people of all faiths and people of no faith to build homes, communities and hope. Working alongside each other, we help families and individuals build and improve places to call home and achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Habitat seeks individuals who have a willingness to affirm these principles and values.
At Habitat for Humanity International, we embrace a history rooted in creating equity and take our mission seriously by courageously committing to a culture and workplace where all staff feel safe, welcome, visible, respected, supported and valued. As an equal opportunity employer, we realize that our success depends upon building an inclusive workforce of diverse perspectives and encourage people of varied races (which is inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles and hair texture), ethnicities, national origins, tribes, religions, ages, gender identities and expressions, genders, sexual orientations, marital statuses, disabilities, veteran/reserve national guard statuses, socio-economic statuses, thinking and communication styles to work with us.
We also require that all staff take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities (especially children), and all those with whom we work. In line with the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, all staff must pass a thorough background screening and will be held accountable to upholding our policies around ethical behavior, including safeguarding and whistleblowing.