Project Coordinator - Rental Assistance

EMPLOYMENT VALUE PROPOSITION: Mental Health Center of Denver provides you with the support you need to help you develop a career in helping others succeed. We innovate, adapt, and leverage the diverse perspectives of the people on our team and the people we serve in everything we do.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVENESS: The Mental Health Center of Denver values and is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to ending bias and discrimination in our community and ensuring equity within all aspects of our organization. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, transfer, or promotion opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

COMMITMENT TO PAY EQUITY: Mental Health Center of Denver is committed to fair and equitable hiring with salaries based on relevant factors, such as work experience, education, and certification/licensure (rather than wage history). Toward the principle of equal pay for equal work, we post and hire within defined hiring salary ranges. We ask all applicants to carefully review the hiring salary range for each posted job opportunity, as we will not hire outside the predetermined range.

Learn what it is like to work at the Mental Health Center of Denver:

STARTING SALARY: $48,000 - $53,00 year.

POSITION SUMMARY: Administer, manage and coordinate multiple HUD, state, city and grant funded housing subsidy programs within the Rental Assistance team. Support program manager as directed in overseeing all applicable regulations and work processes completed by Housing Resource Specialists, Peer Specialists and Administrative staff. Participate with team members in assisting housing participants in locating and maintain housing within the programmatic parameters of the various subsidy programs. Assure that all program requirements are met by all parties. Assist housing participants in finding alternative housing, as needed.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Direct workflow in rent assistance department at direction of Program Manager.
• Oversee rental assistance department program and staff in absence of Program Manager.
• Provide input in Catalytic Coaching process.
• Complete all paperwork required for HUD or other programs on a timely basis
• Act as liaison between tenant and landlord.
• Provide information on vacancies, negotiates leases with landlords; fill vacancies in a timely manner.
• Assist in assuring housing qualities standards and compliance requirement are met.
• Maintain communication with case management staff concerning tenant status. Assess tenants potential for living independently and coordinate/monitor support systems as needed.
• Resolves issues raised by tenants, landlords and clinical staff relating to housing issues.
• Develops strategies for maintaining Housing Program.
• Maintain familiarity with contract law as it relates to apartment leasing. Help program participants facilitate resolutions of landlord disputes and evictions.
• Maintains rental assistance caseload in accordance with MHCD standards and HUD regulations, policies and procedures.
• Facilitate interaction between program participants, clinicians and non-MHCD housing providers as required.
• Support the Program Manager with landlord recruitment, staff training, and client referrals.
• Maintain a trauma informed environment of wellbeing.
• Perform other duties as assigned including assisting performance of other departmental functions.

EDUCATION: Bachelors degree in psychology, behavioral health, or related mental health field.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of two years of experience with federally funded housing or low-income housing programs, or similar equivalent experience.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge or ability to learn and practice trauma informed principles and practices.

• Working knowledge of Section 8 HCV and other federal and state housing programs strongly preferred, including a working knowledge of HUD regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to direct housing department work.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft office and its components.
• Must have a valid drivers license with good driving record and motor vehicle to drive to and from a variety of housing locations -meet with landlords and tenants.
• Good communications skills and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate with and assist a diverse population of clientele.
• Customer-service oriented with a genuine desire to assist clientele.
• Knowledge of office procedures and basic office equipment, business English and mathematics.
• Ability to give, receive and analyze information, formulate work plans, prepare written material and articulate goals and action plans.
• Have the ability to maintain efficiency and accuracy under pressure of deadlines and numerous interruptions throughout the workday.
• Organizational and time-management skills.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGRISTRATION: (may be obtained on the job)

• Registered and proficient in the HUD Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) web based computer system
• Certified to perform HUD Housing Quality Standards inspections
• Must be an approved Colorado Division of Housing (DOH) Elite Super User
• One year experience using the Colorado Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) performing intakes, exits, updates and reports
• One year experience administering the various MHCD rental assistance programs

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervise Housing Resources Specialists as delegated by Program Manager.

MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT TO BE USED: Computers, calculators, fax machines, copiers, telephone and a variety of other office/clerical equipment.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires sitting, standing, bending and reaching. May require lifting up to 50 pounds. Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office machines such as computers, fax machines, the telephone and other office and/or clinical equipment.

WORKING CONDITIONS: May require occasional evening or weekend hours. Local driving required.