Job Description

Senior Housing Counselor - Manager

Helping Detroiters stay in their homes

About the Position 

Jefferson East, Inc. seeks an experienced, highly-driven leader to serve in its newly created role as Senior Housing Counselor Manager. This position provides an opportunity to create innovative approaches to housing counseling as well as envision new housing program opportunities that benefit Detroit residents. The Senior Housing Counselor will build & lead JEI’s housing counseling team. This position has oversight, management & implementation responsibilities surrounding JEI’s HUD Housing Counseling Agency designation. In addition, JEI’s Senior Housing Counselor will manage JEI’s role as a lead member in the new Detroit Housing Network (DHN) that links residents to a range of city housing services including 0% Home Repair Loans, Senior Emergency Repair, Lead Abatement and the HOPE (Property Tax Abatement) Program. Lastly, this role works strategically with the Director of Home Repair & Resiliency in managing clients through their housing counseling and home repair experience. 

Position Duties and Responsibilities

HUD (Federal, State & Local) + Housing Counseling Program Management + Intake

-Responsible for JEI’s organizational compliance as a HUD housing counseling agency.

-Oversee operation of JEI’s HUD approved housing counseling program.

-Ensure alignment with HUD approved housing counseling work plan.

-Facilitate timely completion of specialized housing counseling reporting & activities including maintenance of HUD housing counseling system, FHAC Coordinator duties & Report 9902.

-Ensure federal, state & local compliance related to HUD housing counseling activities & services.

Housing Counseling + Intake

- Counsel & interview residents with respect to their overall financial situation as it relates to home ownership or renting, budgeting, debt reductions, credit rebuilding & education.

-Create a budget and a detailed action plan for all clients.

-Manage, empower, & support housing counseling & intake staff.

-In collaboration with JEI’s Home Repair Director, re-design JEI’s intake + housing counseling process to achieve optimal efficiency.

Housing Education

- Design & implement a comprehensive housing education programming for homeowners & renters in various stages of life. 

MSHDA Homeowner’s Education Program (HEP) & HUD Consolidated grants

-Keeping overall track of housing counseling activities funded by HEP & HUD grants.

-Preparing reimbursement requests as defined by grant standards.

-Complete reporting requirements for MSHDA grants.

Detroit Housing Network

L ead in-house administrator of DHN’s client management system called Homekeeper.  

-Supervising the input of accurate client information across the housing counseling team. 

-Keeping client files according to HUD & DHN standards within Homekeeper as well as overall program records. 

Implementation of housing counseling services grant through the City of Detroit.

-Program management of housing counseling services as defined by the City of Detroit.

-In collaboration with the accounting team, prepare & submit monthly reimbursement requests and any exhibits as part of this process. 

Serve as chief liaison to DHN

-Attending weekly and monthly meetings with the City of Detroit’s housing network manager.

-Making sure JEI fulfills its role as a participating partner in DHN. 

-Keeping network manager informed of any challenges related to Homekeeper, HUD reporting and other issues that arise as a DHN participant.

Home Repair Programs

-Align JEI’s work and tie local residents into other home repair grant programs such as the City of Detroit Roof Program, Basement Protection Program and other resources. 

-Work with JEI’s Director of Resilient Homes to:

+ Determine client eligibility for specialized city programs including 0% Home Repair, Senior Emergency Repair, and City Lead Assistance, as well as other programs such as DTE’s Energy Efficiency Assistance & Detroit Home Repair Fund

+Determine Housing Stabilization Strategy for clients that combines counseling support and home repair services.

+Develop Action and Disaster Preparedness Plans for recipients of JEI’s Home Repair Services.

Energy Case Management

-Analyze Client’s Energy Bills and develop strategies to reduce energy costs for residents by enrolling them in DTE’s EEA program and other energy efficiency programs. 

-Educate clients on DTE’s Time of Day rate plan to help minimize energy costs. 

-Enroll Clients in various JEI/University partnerships and studies to develop new approaches to energy efficiency and housing health improvements.

Housing Counseling Development & Growth

-Development of housing counseling goals & objectives that align with JEI’s strategic plan as well as contribute to JEI’s creation of its Resiliency 1.0 Blueprint.

-Work closely with the CPO, CEO, & Home Repair Director to create & implement a fund development strategy to support & expand housing programming.

-Assist with data collection & management of housing programs.

+Take the lead in shaping JEI’s approach to pre-purchase, renter & financial housing counseling services.

Includes but not limited to building relationships with lenders, realtors, & other professionals to develop referral sources.

-Develop and implement Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Counseling services as part of JEI’s Resiliency 1.0 Blueprint.

Qualifications

-HUD Housing Counseling Certification--i.e. Active certification at a minimum of 6 months.

-Understanding of housing challenges within urban neighborhoods.

-Has experience and knowledge in the area of traditional foreclosure counseling.

-Strong project management skills, including managing competing priorities & meeting deadlines.

-Decision-making and critical thinking skills.

-Highly motivated, with proven capacity to work independently, take initiative & thrive in a high-paced entrepreneurial environment.

-Flexible, with availability to work a weeknight & occasional Saturdays.

-Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Education & Experience 

-Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in fields such as Public Administration, Urban Planning, Political Science, Business Administration, Social Work, Community Development or related field. 

- Experience with housing based CRM systems such as Homekeeper, Salesforce or other HUD CMS systems). 

- A minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in housing revitalization, mortgage or homeowner services management. 

-A minimum of 3 years experience in the following areas: Traditional foreclosure methods Project management experience Community engagement & outreach Experience in administering grants or services related to post purchase, home repair or maintenance. 

- Experience working with national leaders or partnerships in senior service, health & housing supports. Experience in nonprofit service organization is desirable.

Compensation & Benefits 

-$65,000-$68,000 (depending on qualifications)

-Benefits include a 4% 401k Match, Healthcare, Vision, Dental & Long-Term Disability.

-Flexible work environment.

-Generous paid time off.

This position will remain posted until the position is filled. Thank you for your interest in joining the JEI team!

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