Housing Program Coordinator
(Main Office in Long Island City, NY)
About Urban Upbound
Founded in 2004, the mission of Urban Upbound is to break cycles of poverty in New York City public housing and other low-income neighborhoods. We provide underserved youth and adults with the tools and resources needed to achieve economic prosperity and self-sufficiency through seven comprehensive, integrated programs: Employment Services, Financial Counseling, College Access and Youth Development, Tax Preparation and Income Support Services, Community Revitalization through Business Innovation, Mental Health and Wellness, and Financial Inclusion services anchored by the Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union. In addition, Urban Upbound also has a robust affordable housing program that provides rental, first-time home buyer, and foreclosure education and counseling.
Currently, we are looking for a dedicated housing professional to join our Financial Fitness Department as our Housing Program Coordinator. The Housing Program Coordinator provides a range of housing and financial services tailored to the needs of individual program participants seeking affordable rental and first- time homebuyer opportunities. This program staff will galvanize internal and partner resources to provide HUD-approved housing education and counseling to help clients achieve their dream of sustainable homeownership or affordable rental. He or she will support the program’s efforts to enhance the financial futures of participants by changing their attitudes to goal setting, credit repair, and debt management, and provide pathways to long-term asset building of homeownership, higher education, and retirement planning. The ideal candidate would have individualized housing and financial counseling experience with clients from diverse economic, cultural, and social backgrounds including low to moderate income.
The Housing Program Coordinator is someone who is flexible, open, and caring to the greater population. You will be on the front lines of poverty alleviation, working with an innovative city organization, which is constantly changing and evolving its tactics toward tackling poverty and providing a pathway to financial mobility in NYC.
Position Summary:
Responsible for providing information and guidance to individuals that will enable them to meet their housing goals. They are well-versed in housing options and financial analysis. Housing Program Coordinators must be solutions-oriented and problem solvers who are understanding and non-judgmental. They are the consumer’s advocate and are expected to build relationships with housing industry professionals to facilitate opportunities and support for clients.
Primary Responsibilities (include but is not limited to):
- The primary duty of a housing counselor is to determine a homebuyer, homeowner’s or renter’s objectives, goals and needs
- Provides high quality housing counseling services
- Maintains official records and documents, and ensures compliance with federal, state and local regulations
- Maintains a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the industry
- Maintains confidentiality of client information as required by agency and/or state and federal regulations
Workshops and Group Education: Conduct/coordinate group education and informational seminars utilizing PowerPoint presentations, Zoom, and other available platforms.
- Conducts community outreach and marketing for homebuyer education, foreclosure intervention, and budget and credit workshops
- Conducts group intakes and collects required documentation; authorizations and disclosures
- Registers clients seeking to purchase a home or other home-related services
- Explains the basic elements of the home buying process, and the various loan programs available
- Becomes familiar with local financing programs and the mortgage programs offered by lender partners
One-on-one Counseling: Individualized financial counseling with lower-income New Yorkers, helping them achieve financial stability and mobility based on their housing goals; measuring impact with specific weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals.
- Gather information from the client and assess the best way possible to help make solid decisions concerning the requirements for buying, renting, or saving their home
- Create case or client files containing personal and financial information to determine the status of a homeowner
- Develop an Action Plan that identifies the needs/goals, the steps necessary to meet the goals and the timeframes
- Assists clients in reviewing spending habits and budgeting appropriately
- Provides adequate documented follow-up
- Provides internal and external referrals when appropriate
- Ensures client files are closed timely and in accordance with established procedures
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ensures policies and procedures are followed
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
- Demonstrates strong communication, negotiation, and mediation skills
- Ability to meet deadlines and program outcomes
- Knowledge of evaluation and outcome measurement
- Ability to plan long-range goals with the flexibility to change course where appropriate
- Display a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently, work with minimal supervision, and demonstrate responsible behavior and attention to details
- Establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community groups and organizations to eliminate duplicative services
- Excellent time management, problem prevention, and problem solving skills
- Proficient in the operation of intermediate-level office equipment and software programs; including but not limited to Client Management System (CMS), Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint)
- Express information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; Listen to others and respond appropriately
- Work and communicate with internal and external customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous, and cooperative manner, committed to quality service
- Respond appropriately to supervision, follow policies, and cooperate with supervisors
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to provide outreach and general marketing services to the community regarding Housing/Financial Fitness and other Urban Upbound programs and services.
- Duties will be required to be performed at various locations within the five boroughs as determined by the organization.
- Additional duties at the discretion of the Director of Financial Fitness Programs Department
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree- Required.
- Prior work experience working with low-income communities helpful.
- 2nd Language (Spanish, Bengali, Cantonese, Creole language proficiency preferred).
- Affordable housing experience (rental, first-time homebuyer, foreclosure prevention) preferred
- Financial Fitness Counseling experience preferred (You must be committed to taking and passing the CUNY Personal Finance course, as mandated by NYC’s Office of Financial Empowerment).
- Must be based in the NYC Metropolitan area.
Preferred Qualities:
- Commitment to helping social empowerment and economic development.
- Genuine passion for service and working with LMI community.
- Client focus and adaptability to different personality types.
- Genuine passion about money is essential, although advanced knowledge on topics may be learned on the job.
- Independent self-starter with strong teamwork abilities, as you will be given a lot of autonomy in managing your own clientele.
- Flexibility in working towards the larger mission of Urban Upbound, as this may involve a lot of experimentation in approaches to working with clients and referrals to other programs.
- Creativity in your approaches to working with people. Ideas are welcome here, including on improving client service delivery through technology, integration and communication methods.
- Flexible work hours, including some evenings and weekends may be required of this position.
- Willingness to perform duties at various Urban Upbound offices.
Benefits:
- Training provided in various topics, including technical content skills, operational management, and analytical skills.
- Flexible schedule, committed to work-life balance.
- Medical, Dental and Vision options available.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- Housing Counseling: 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
