Landlord Liaison

Under general supervision the Director of Human Services or designee, The Landlord Liaison supports Rockford Housing Authority's (RHA's) strategic and operational objectives in the following way: responsible for leading agency-wide efforts to effectively market RHA's voucher programs to new and existing landlords and owners with the goal of expanding the number of units available to families receiving rental assistance. The Landlord Liaison is responsible for increasing access to both private and public rental markets for those utilizing RHA's vouchers. The Liaison will identify affordable housing units in the rental market throughout Rockford, develop partnerships with landlords to overcome barriers that prevent vouchered households from obtaining permanent housing, and work closely with Housing Specialists to ensure clients can access housing. In this context, the incumbent in this position will collaborate with others at all levels of the organization and with external stakeholders in the consideration of significant goals, concepts, initiatives, and other activities that profoundly affect RHA, its

employees, and the people that it serves.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

Other duties may be assigned.

1. Perform landlord outreach efforts including meeting with various interested parties to discuss the advantages of participating in RHA's voucher programs; on-site visits at apartment complexes or realtors offices; private presentations at RHA, and attending meetings where interested parties may be present;
2. Coordinate landlord outreach efforts with local partners to include apartment associations, Board of Realtors, tenant council's and other community partners with an emphasis on recruiting additional property owners willing to lease their properties to participants of the HCV program and other rental assistance programs.
3. Participate in trade shows where property owners/investors and managers are present. This includes creating a professional presentation for the trade show booth and compiling all information to bring to the tradeshow regarding the benefits of participating in the housing choice voucher program.
4. Coordinate and conduct informational and educational seminars for property owners/property investors/managers and vouchered tenants; and invite property owners/investors and managers to initial orientations and move orientations.
5. Ensure compliance with Expanding Housing Opportunities to include outreach efforts to encourage participation of owners with units in high opportunity areas, completing reports on de-concentration efforts and compiling all data and information.
6. Identify opportunities for expanding the number of units available to voucher participants using RHA's leasing statistics, market data and other sources of information.
7. Develop and maintain a network of professional contacts in the property management and real estate industry;
8. Maintain an in-depth knowledge of Housing Choice Voucher, Project Based Voucher, FUP Vouchers, VASH , EHV Vouchers and RHA Special Population program rules and procedures.
9. Assist Housing Specialists with coordination of residential support services to ensure clients maintain permanent housing
10. Work closely with other agencies providing supportive services to voucher participants.
11. Work closely with the Human Services department to identify and remove any barriers for families or individuals in the moving process
12. Create and maintain reporting platform to highlight landlord incentive progress
13. Provide monthly reports to CEO and board, when necessary
14. Responsible for all MTW cohort IV HUD reporting
15. Identify challenges for MTW incentives, and propose solutions or alternative actions
16. Present a professional image as a representative of RHA;
17. Maintain a high degree of confidentiality relative to work performed;
18. Fulfill all duties and responsibilities with a high level of integrity, honesty and adherence to agency policies and rules;
19. Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with co-workers, management, partner agencies and the community.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Effective verbal skills in motivating low-income families and landlords
2. Comfortable and proficient with public speaking
3. Persuasive writing skills.
4. Sensitivity to needs of low-income families with children.
5. Awareness of the social service network availability
6. Excellent organizational skills to maintain a significant caseload
7. A commitment to fair housing, racial and economic diversity.
8. Knowledge of the Rockford metropolitan area.
9. Basic computer skills
10. Must always possess a valid driver's license, be insurable under the regular RHA policy and able to provide personal transportation as needed to perform duties, (reimbursement per RHA Travel Policy).
11. Ability to work effectively in situations requiring independentjudgment and performance and willingness to engage in continuing related training and education.
12. Must be proficient in reporting both in writing and verbal communication.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Experience in housing counseling, real estate, fair housing, social work and/or the Housing Choice Voucher program is important. Bachelor's degree in the Liberal Arts, Education, Policy, Public Administration, Social Work, Business or other related field

Three or more years' experience in property management, real estate, sales or experience with housing authority programs, and HUD regulations experience is not necessary but is considered a plus.

In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess a combination of relevant education and experience that would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above, with CEO approval.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Revised:

Current Openings for Landlord Liaison Jobs at Rockford Housing Authority