Housing Specialist III in Bremerton, Washington at Bremerton Housing Authority

Housing Specialist lll

Department: Housing

Job Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Assistant Director of Housing, Housing Lead

Grade/Level: 39

Amount of Travel Required: None

Job Type: Regular

Positions Supervised: None

Work Schedule: Regular business hours

Union: OPEIU represented position

Work Location: On-site

Starting Hourly Rate: $33.43 per hour; Union position Grade 39, Step 1

Full Hourly Range: $33.43 - $53.77 per hour

Position Close Date: This position will remain open until Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 5:00pm.

Benefit package includes:

• Medical Insurance-BHA pays 95% for employee only or 90% for family
• Vision Insurance-BHA pays 95% for employee only or 90% for family
• Dental Insurance – 100% Covered by BHA
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Washington State Retirement (PERS)
• Washington State Deferred Compensation
• Paid Time Off (PTO) Accrual of 150 hours in first year
• Washington State Paid Sick Leave – 1 hour for every thirty hours worked (approx. 69 hours per year)
• 14 Paid Holidays per year
• Longevity Pay
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Opportunities

POSITION SUMMARY

The Housing Specialists are responsible for responding to inquiries, developing, and maintaining reports on their production and performance. Maintains close, recurring contact with tenants and landlords while processing the Housing Choice Voucher Program and various other programs to eligible low-income individuals and families. Primary functions of this position are to calculate financial information and changes in income and make rent adjustments, review documents, and obtain proper verifications to determine program eligibility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Function Summaries

• Process annual re-certifications including determining participant compliance, review annual applications, request any missing information, reconcile information in YARDI system, and show calculations of financial information.
• Process interim certifications for change in circumstances including receiving notification from tenant, verifying documentation, re-calculating adjusted monthly income, calculate the correct tenant rent and HAP payment, notify all parties of rent change, and input data into various systems within deadlines.
• Act as liaison between landlords, tenants, and the community by responding to inquiries and complaints, explaining federal housing programs to both parties, and recognizing participant needs and referring them to resources in times of adversity.
• Review files to ensure accuracy (i.e., utility assignment matches) and contact the landlord and participant to have a new lease and HAP contract signed when discrepancies are corrected.
• Research any requests for rent increases. Coordinate with inspectors and provide collected information needed. Calculate and reconcile with utilities and other amenities. Write and send out letters explaining what was implemented.
• Process inspection documentation for submission into the computer systems; ensure inspection data is correct and aligns with all other information in the participant records; scan documents and post onto a document imaging software.
• Follow up and discuss any case violations such as unreported income, unauthorized occupants, drug activity, violent criminal activity, etc., in a timely manner. Contact tenants to discuss circumstances, update individuals on lease, notify landlord of any changes, and re-calculate income. Check change of circumstances through government resources and follow up with tenants to verify information. Determine if money is owed to BHA or if fraud needs to be reported.
• Prepare termination packet for the F Drive in preparation of the determination to terminate. Process program participation terminations by writing and sending out letters with an explanation of the termination and instructions for next steps. Adhere to program deadlines and protocols and follow-up to ensure all steps have been completed.
• Manage a caseload that consists of several different types of housing programs and subsidy sources. Maintain thorough knowledge and application of federal, state, and local policies, procedures, and regulations. Interpret and implement BHA policies and procedures in accordance with HUD rules and regulations.
• Issue HCV (tenant-based vouchers), project-based vouchers, and all other, including reviewing file for accuracy and/or eligibility, coordinate portability moves with continued assistance, calculate rent, and prepare addendums to HAP contract, determining affordability, procedures for request for tenancy approval (RFTA), and the unit inspection process.
• Process HAP contracts, receive requests for tenancy approval (RFTA) from inspectors, set up unit in Yardi, add family info to unit in system, calculate rent, and write letters with rent information.
• Responsible for the project-based voucher Tenancy Addendum. Receive and review applicant files, calculate participant rent and prepare the Tenancy Addendum. Track and process vacancy payment claims, communicate the obligations & rights of participants and prepare change letters indicating change to the Contract Rent/Resident Portion/HAP Payment. Provide Tenancy Addendum and Change letters to Property Management as required to allow timely processing and implementation.
• Update and maintain accurate information in YARDI and other program databases.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education and Experience

Education:

High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED): Required

Associate degree (two-year college or technical school) Preferred, Field of Study: Business, Public Administration, Accounting, or related field.

Experience:

• 2 plus years of experience in customer service or social services including working with individuals under stress.
• 2 plus years of experience in office work with substantial writing and intermediate to advanced business math skills and tasks.
• Strongly prefer experience in affordable housing or property management.

Bremerton Housing Authority has the discretion to accept any other equivalent combination of education and experience when relevant.

Computer Skills:

Experienced user of Microsoft Office programs, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.

This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, ten-key machines and fax machines.

Certifications & Licenses: Housing Choice Voucher Specialist Certificate or be able to acquire it within one year of employment.

Other Requirements:

• Must be able to handle high-volume, fast-paced work with tremendous attention to detail in the midst of multi-tasking, being organized, and meeting multiple deadlines.
• Must have the ability to obtain within the first four months in the position in-depth working knowledge and the ability to administer housing programs, policies, and procedures in accordance with HUD and federal, state, and local laws.

Required Competencies

• Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.

• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.

• Assertiveness - Ability to act in a self-confident manner to facilitate completion of a work assignment or to defend a position or idea.

• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.

• Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.

• Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the customers’ needs while following company procedures.

• Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.

• Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace.

• Initiative - Ability to make decisions or take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal.

• Interpersonal - Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.

• Mathematics - Accurately perform basic computations and approach practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques.

• Motivation - Ability to inspire oneself and others to reach a goal and/or perform to the best of their ability.

• Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.

• Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.

• Tactful - Ability to avoid being offensive when communicating with others, maintain diplomatic relations or good customer services, and show consideration for others with diverse backgrounds.

• Technical Aptitude – HUD Affordable Housing Programs - Technical aptitude: Ability to comprehend complex technical knowledge and terminology of HUD affordable housing programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, Public Housing and Low-Income Tax Credit, and accurately follow applicable federal, state, and local laws.

• Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.

• Working Under Pressure - Ability to complete assigned tasks under stressful situations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is primarily an office position. The employee primarily sits at a desk but has the opportunity to move about at will. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate various types of office equipment. The employee will occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position.

O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs/day)

F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs/day)

C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs/day)

Physical Demands Lift/Carry

Stand O 10 lbs or less O

Walk O 11-20 lbs O

Sit F 21-50 lbs N

Manually Manipulate F 51-100 lbs. N

Climb N 12 lbs or less O

Crawl N 13-25 lbs O

Squat or Kneel N 26-40 lbs. N

Bend O 41-100 lbs N

Grasp O

Speak F

Other Physical Requirements

• Vision (Near)

• Sense of Sound - listening to instructions and customer comments

The Housing Authority of the City of Bremerton (BHA) has reviewed this position outline to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. Review the job analysis or desk manual for greater details about the types of tasks being performed in this position. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and BHA reserves the right to change this position outline and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the company may deem appropriate.

Equal Employment and Housing Opportunity Barrier Free

Bremerton Housing Authority does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, age (over 40), military status, whistleblower retaliation, or familial status in admission and access to its programs.

To request a reasonable accommodation for work related reasons, contact the HR office at 360-616-7107.

To request a reasonable accommodation for housing, contact a BHA Section 504 Coordinator at 360-479-3694