Housing Counselor (Homeownership)

STATUS:Full-time, Permanent

FLSA: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Housing Director

The Housing Counselor is an exempt position that works with Dry Creek Rancheria homeowners and families wishing to buy their first homes and DCR homeowners. The Housing Counselor provides program coordination of homeownership education services and represents the Housing Department to a diverse group of clients, community partners, and stakeholders. The Housing Counselor works with the Housing Director, Housing Administrator, and other staff to plan, develop, and support homebuyer education workshops and other special projects, including foreclosure prevention, mortgage refinancing, mutual self-help, ADU financing, and solar energy production.

The Housing Counselor will provide client assistance that addresses unique financial circumstances or housing issues and focuses on ways of overcoming specific obstacles to achieving a housing goal, such as repairing credit, addressing a rental dispute, purchasing a home, locating cash for a down payment, finding affordable units accessible to persons with disabilities, avoiding foreclosure, or resolving a financial crisis. Except for reverse mortgage counseling, all counseling shall involve the creation of an action plan.

This position has regular business hours but occasionally requires work on evenings and weekends.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Housing Counselor will monitor and establish the provision and quality of services provided to the client and family through the Housing Department and act as the liaison when new services/resources need to be sought or developed. Within six months of being hired, the Housing Counselor will have passed the HUD Housing Counseling Certification examination and demonstrated the competency to provide housing counseling services per DCR's requirements for its Homebuyer Assistance Program.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

There are no direct reports for supervisory responsibilities for this position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and ability required.

1. Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Business, Sociology, Human Services, or a related field is required, or equivalent work experience may be considered instead of formal education.
2. Previous experience as a social worker, case manager, mortgage lender, or underwriter in a public or private agency is preferred.
3. 5+ years' knowledge & experience working with Native American communities, culture, customs, and tribal law.
4. Ability to communicate effectively in writing or orally.
5. Must be able to work independently and productively with minimal supervision.
6. Must always present a professional appearance.
7. Must maintain a high degree of confidentiality concerning the Tribe and its members.
8. Ability to manage time effectively.
9. Maintain regular HUD and program grant reporting.
10. Within six months of hiring, the incumbent will secure Housing Counselor certification from HUD, which may include formal classes with established curriculum and instructional goals provided in a group or classroom setting, covering topics applicable to groups of people such as but not limited to:

(1) Tenants' rights.

(2) The homebuying process.

(3) Home maintenance.

(4) Household budgeting.

(5) Fair housing laws and practices.

(6) Identifying & reporting predatory lending practices.

(7) Advocating for persons with disabilities.

(8) Financing solar installations & energy efficiency upgrades.

(9) The importance of good credit.

(10) Foreclosure prevention.

(11) Financing home repairs & modernization

(12) Landlord & tenant relations.

(13) Financing ADUs, tiny homes, & innovative housing options.

TRIBAL AND INDIAN PREFERENCE

Under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 USC § 450e (b)), the Dry Creek Rancheria applies the policy of "Tribal and Indian Preference" when filling vacancies. Tribal and Indian Preference shall be given to qualified applicants who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe or band. The Dry Creek Rancheria reserves the right to require applicants claiming to be American Indian or Alaskan Native a copy of their Certificate of Tribal Enrollment or Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood (CDIB) card.

EDUCATION:

1. Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Business, Sociology, Human Services, or a related field is required, or equivalent work experience may be considered instead of formal education.
2. Additional certifications may be considered (i.e., RE license, NMLS, HUD Housing Counselor Certification).

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

1. Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
2. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential to the successful conduct of this position.
3. Ability to write accurate, grammatically correct, polished reports and business correspondence.
4. Must be able to speak with the public professionally.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

1. Must have basic math skills (adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing).
2. Knowledge of mortgage lending calculations, familiarity with program income standards, and IHBG assistance calculations.

REASONING ABILITY:

1. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
2. Ability to interpret various instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
3. Ability to process detailed work and requests for information or assistance promptly.
4. Ability to apply regulatory and procedure doctrine, concepts, and policy to practical situations.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS:

1. Must possess a valid California Driver's License with a clean driving record and be insurable under the Tribe's insurance policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods.
2. Must be able to lift and carry up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
3. Must be able to respond to visual and aural cues.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here represent those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

1. This is a fast-paced, highly diverse work environment, and the position requires the ability to remain flexible and get along with all personality types.
2. Must be able to manage several priorities simultaneously and meet deadlines.
3. Must be able to respond calmly to customer concerns and questions.
4. Occasional travel may be required.

In conjunction with DCR Human Resources, Dry Creek Rancheria Housing Department reserves the right to change this job description.

A PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TEST, FINGERPRINT, AND BACKGROUND CHECK ARE REQUIRED