Housing Specialist

Housing Specialist

Affordable Housing & Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs | Chicago, IL

Customer Service • Case Management • Housing Assistance • Eligibility Determination • Affordable Housing

Competitive Compensation + Comprehensive Benefits + Career Growth Opportunities

Help Individuals and Families Access Safe, Stable Housing

Are you passionate about helping others and making a meaningful impact in your community? We are seeking a dedicated, detail-oriented, and customer-focused Housing Specialist to support participants, landlords, and community partners through affordable housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs.

This opportunity is ideal for professionals with 1-4 years of experience in affordable housing, property management, social services, eligibility programs, public housing, leasing, case management, customer service, or government-assisted programs.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, compassionate, compliance-focused, and committed to delivering exceptional service while helping individuals and families achieve housing stability.

Why Join?

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Career development and advancement opportunities
• Meaningful and mission-driven work
• Collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Opportunity to positively impact the lives of families throughout the Chicago area
• Ongoing training and professional development

Position Summary

The Housing Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for program participants, applicants, landlords, and community partners. This role is responsible for managing eligibility determinations, annual recertifications, participant briefings, housing assistance calculations, case management activities, and program compliance.

The successful candidate will ensure all activities adhere to HUD regulations, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) guidelines, affordable housing requirements, fair housing laws, and agency policies while providing outstanding customer service.

Key Responsibilities

Participant & Applicant Support

• Educate applicants and participants on program requirements, eligibility guidelines, family obligations, and housing assistance benefits.
• Conduct participant briefings, orientations, and intake appointments.
• Assist families throughout the application, certification, and recertification process.
• Provide timely and professional responses to participant inquiries and concerns.
• Support participants through housing searches, moves, and portability requests.

Eligibility & Compliance

• Conduct eligibility determinations and intake processing.
• Complete annual and interim recertifications within required compliance deadlines.
• Review income, assets, family composition, and supporting documentation.
• Verify applicant and participant eligibility in accordance with HUD regulations and agency policies.
• Ensure participant files are accurate, complete, and audit-ready.

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administration

• Calculate housing assistance payments (HAP) and tenant rent portions.
• Process voucher issuance, reexaminations, moves, and portability requests.
• Interpret and apply Housing Choice Voucher regulations and program requirements.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local housing regulations.

Landlord & Community Relations

• Serve as a liaison between landlords, participants, property owners, and housing program administrators.
• Resolve concerns professionally and efficiently while maintaining positive relationships.
• Educate landlords and participants regarding program processes and requirements.
• Assist with conflict resolution and problem-solving between stakeholders.

Case Management & Customer Service

• Maintain accurate electronic and physical case files.
• Ensure timely processing of participant requests and program transactions.
• Address quality control findings and documentation discrepancies.
• Deliver exceptional customer service while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Support special projects and departmental initiatives as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.

• Minimum 1 year of experience in a customer-facing role.

• Minimum 1 year of experience in one of the following:

• Affordable Housing

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)

• Section 8 Programs

• Public Housing

• Property Management

• Leasing

• Eligibility Determination

• Social Services

• Case Management

• Government Assistance Programs

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• High attention to detail and accuracy.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and database systems.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality while handling sensitive information.

• Successful completion of background screening and drug testing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs.
• Affordable housing or public housing experience.
• HCV Specialist Certification or Credential.
• Experience conducting income calculations and eligibility reviews.
• Knowledge of HUD regulations and affordable housing compliance.
• Bilingual English/Spanish highly preferred.
• Experience working with Yardi, Emphasys Elite, HAB, Happy Software, MLS, or other housing management platforms.

Ideal Candidate Backgrounds

We encourage applications from professionals currently working as:

• Housing Specialist
• Affordable Housing Specialist
• HCV Specialist
• Section 8 Specialist
• Eligibility Specialist
• Housing Coordinator
• Resident Services Coordinator
• Case Manager
• Social Services Specialist
• Leasing Specialist
• Recertification Specialist
• Occupancy Specialist
• Public Housing Specialist
• Resident Relations Coordinator
• Client Services Representative

Desired Skills

• Customer Service Excellence
• Affordable Housing Compliance
• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administration
• Eligibility Determination
• Recertifications
• Tenant Relations
• Landlord Relations
• Conflict Resolution
• Case Management
• File Auditing
• Income Verification
• Data Entry & Documentation
• Regulatory Compliance
• Time Management
• Problem Solving
• Team Collaboration

Apply Today

If you have 1-4 years of experience in housing, eligibility programs, social services, or affordable housing, and are passionate about helping families secure and maintain housing, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity.

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BG Staffing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for employment to all qualified people, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. BG Staffing uses artificial intelligence (AI) and other automated decision-support tools to assist in the recruiting and hiring process. See https://www.bgsf.com/ai-notice for more details.