Housing Counselor - Chicago, United States - YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

Verified Company

Chicago, United States

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

POSITION TITLE:
Housing Counselor - HC
STATUS: Exempt, FT
GRADE: 3

DEPT/PROGRAM NAME:
Financial Inclusion
SALARY:$50k/yr

REPORTS TO:
Director, Financial Inclusion

SUPERVISES:
N/A

COLLABORATES WITH:

The Housing Counselor - HC manages relationships with the Financial Inclusion and overall Economic Empowerment staff, YWCA program members and other YWCA staff members; and community representatives.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primary Responsibilities:

The Housing Counselor is responsible for providing housing counseling and education to prospective first-time homebuyers, existing homeowners, and homeowners in distress.

The Housing Counselor will focus on helping clients build financial capacity through credit counseling which includes financial capacity building for pre-purchase, post
- purchase, and foreclosure prevention. Provide client assessments that enable the client to make informed decisions regarding their housing choices.

Member Contact:

Educate clients and prospective clients about the available Financial Inclusion services, Economic Empowerment Services, and greater YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Services.

Assist members with completion of required forms and assessments. Conduct member screening to evaluate need for immediate support and to facilitate referral and linkage to appropriate community services. Use appropriate judgment in upward communication regarding client or member concerns.

Office Management:
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following areas:

Responsible for day-to-day client scheduling and delivery of homeownership counseling and education in credit counseling, financial capacity building, pre-purchase, delinquency and foreclosure prevention counseling.
Conduct financial analysis and affordability assessment based on information and documents provided by the client.
Create an Action Plan that supports and builds client's financial capacity.
Perform ongoing case management to provide service and problemsolving assistance.
Assist management with facilitating homebuyer's education, and postpurchase workshops.
Participate in group education workshops at least once a month in accordance with U.S. HUD

standards

(Note:

Sessions held on evenings and weekends)

Represent Agency at events, seminars, and networking functions as needed.
Record all communications, and update log after each meeting or interaction with client/ lender for both (hard and electronic) file utilizing required client management system mPact Pro.
Ensure all client files are securely stored and locked with all required documents and forms.
Collect Closing Disclosure statements once a client fulfills homeownership.
Prepare reports for management as required.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Participate in staff meetings, and training as scheduled.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED:

Other duties outside of the responsibilities of the position may be assigned, whether for a project, special needs task or other assignment.

Working experience with any aspect of the homeownership and postpurchase process: mortgage lending, realtor service, closing of mortgage loan, loan processing, and loan modification.
Must hold a HUD Certified Housing Counselor certificate or become certified within 90 days of employment.
Case management.
Ability and willingness to learn new software and computer systems.
Public speaking and communication skills (written and verbal).
Ability to manage multiple tasks in a highvolume work environment.
Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
Attention to detail with excellent internal and external customer service skills.
Experience and/or certification as a housing counselor, loan processor, or financial educator is a plus.
Minimum Associate Degree from accredited college, BA preferred.

Bilingual Spanish speaking is preferable but not required
Discretion is required for handling of documents and for member concerns. Demonstrated respect and appreciation for working in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural work environment must be evident. The Housing Counselor must be able to work effectively with members who may show stress and impatience.

Professional Training Required:
Must be complaint to be able to offer both pre-purchase and foreclosure counseling.
-
Note: A bilingual Housing Counselor who works with a foreign language speaking community must demonstrate cultural competency with that community and fluency in both English and the community's language (oral and written).

EDUCATION REQUIRED:
Minimum Associate's Degree from accredited college, BA preferred.***
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:N/A.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment includes remote working two days per week. While in the office, the noise level is usually moderate. Movement requirements include walking, stooping or kneeling. There may be a need to reach, lift or move objects, such as pa