Housing Counselor

Summary:

The Housing Counselor will provide professional pre-purchase counseling services, foreclosure prevention counseling services, and comprehensive financial coaching to individuals seeking to become homeowners or stabilize their housing situations. The Housing Counselor will help develop and implement curriculum for workshops hosted in the community and at St. Ambrose, and will be responsible for administration of client information and outcomes for grant reporting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct confidential intake interviews to ascertain client needs; maintain and monitor client files and database
• Conduct homeownership, financial education, foreclosure prevention and transition education presentations to groups such as community organizations, PTAs, religious and/or social committees, etc.; assist in marketing the services available through the program
• Stay current on issues relevant to mortgage lending, refinance, changes in foreclosure laws and the availability of resources and special programs in the greater Baltimore region
• Secure and/or maintain individual certification as a Foreclosure Intervention and Default counselor, Financial Coach and Homeownership Educator
• Provide financial coaching, including assisting clients in creating a family budget
• Identify goals and create action plans that will help clients implement sustainable behavior changes required for them reach their goals
• Evaluate client eligibility for loss mitigation options and other alternatives to avert foreclosure
• In foreclosure prevention cases, act as a liaison between the homeowner and loan servicer to ensure that the homeowner understands the status of their case at all times
• Provide one-on-one, homeownership counseling to 6-10 homebuyers per week and manage a small pipeline of foreclosure prevention clients. to eligible clients as necessary
• Knowledgeable of all related programs, partners, funders, as well as all products, local programs and assistance available to help clients select those best suited for their needs
• Research activities in the real estate, lending and related markets.
• Participate in policy recommendations; write reports and correspondence as needed
• Comply with all requirements of contracts and agreements, work within required state and federal guidelines, and follow agency policies/procedures in all areas
• Performs related duties or responsibilities, as assigned or requested

Qualifications:

Required:

• Associate’s degree in related field, with at least two (2) years housing counseling or case management experience
• Must obtain HUD housing counseling certification within 6 months of hire
• Ability to facilitate workshops which may take place outside of traditional work hours
• Ability to work well with individuals from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds
• Must possess the ability to multitask and consistently meet deadlines
• Ability to function both independently or as an active team member
• Manage sensitive and confidential information with integrity

Desired:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work/Social Science, finance, business or closely related field AND one (1) year of housing counseling or case management experience
• Current HUD or NeighborWorks America Center for Homeownership Education Counseling certifications preferred
• Solid judgment; critical thinking, and organizational skills
• Strong communication, counseling, and computer skills

Physical Requirements:

This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting or performing other work requiring medium exertion, talking, and hearing on a regular basis to perform the job requirement. These physical demands are required up to 85% of the time.

St. Ambrose values a diverse workforce. EOE.