Housing Specialist

Unit: Teamster

Department: Leased Housing

Grade: 8A

Salary Range: Starting Salary: $64,049.72

Posting Date: Friday, September 5, 2025

Application Deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025

Application Procedure:

Please submit a cover letter and resume detailing your qualification. No phone calls or letters. Submit your resume, cover letter, and any additional materials to jobs@bostonhousing.org. Deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025. Please be sure to identify the position you are applying for.

General Description:

ABOUT THE JOB: 
Hybrid office/remote position. Reports to a Manager in the Leased Housing Division. The Housing Specialist is responsible for all duties relating to clients eligible for BHA leased housing programs, including but not limited to: certification of initial and continued eligibility, redetermination of participant income upon request, preparation and execution of all necessary documents to complete leasing associated initial occupancy and relocation, serving as a primary point of contact for owners with BHA clients as tenants, and serving as a liaison for owners and tenants with other divisions of the Leased Housing Department and the BHA.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Determines program eligibility, voucher size and applicable payment standards in calculating total tenant share for applicant and participant families in accordance with HUD or DHCD regulations and BHA policy.
• Collects income, asset, and deduction verification in accordance with Federal Regulations, BHA policy and business practices.
• Calculates family annual income in accordance with BHA policy by reviewing information including, but not limited to, family eligibility questionnaire, pay stubs, benefits statements, statements from financial institutions, and other verification related to eligible expenses and deductions to annual income.
• Counsels family on program requirements, including, but not limited to reporting requirements, family obligations, requests for relocation and the impact of proposed rent increases.
• Counsels clients on program requirements and housing search.
• Counsels clients individually during the housing search; monitors voucher expiration, recommends extensions of time and cancels certificates upon expiration.
• Recieves the Request for Lease Approval and arranges for inspections of housing units.
• Assists the client with negotiating the rent with the landlord to minimize monthly tenant payments and maintain program affordability. Responds timely to requests and inquiries from clients and staff, by phone, in person and by written communications.
• Works collaboratively with clients, owners, and other stakeholders to provide the information, services or assistance needed in a timely and professional manner.
• Completes all certifications in a timely manner to ensure proper notice and prompt payment to the landlord and family.
• Enters accurate information into the BHA system of record and completes accurate and timely 50058s for submission to HUD.
• Maintains required correspondence and documents in client electronic files per Leased Housing's required protocol.
• Notifies program applicants, participants, and owners in a timely manner of the results of program transactions.
• Understands and applies HUD or DHCD regulations, and BHA policies and procedures.
• Works collaboratively with Leased Housing's quality control team to correct errors.
• Reviews and takes appropriate action for program non-compliance, including recommending proposed termination of assistance.
• Performs other related housing specialist duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

High school diploma or GED is required. A Bachelor's Degree is preferred. Demonstrated ability to assess eligibility with accuracy and resolve complex related matters. Relevant experience may be substituted for education requirements. The capacity to perform simple mathematical calculations quickly and accurately is required. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Ability to relate positively and in a professional manner to persons of all races, ethnicities, income levels and age groups. Proficiency in a language other than English is highly desirable.

BHA BENEFITS:
BHA's generous benefits package includes 14 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 2 weeks of vacation, 3 weeks of paid sick leave, MBTA discount, participation in the City's pension plan, and healthcare through the Commonwealth, and much more.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:
BHA is a proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, and military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law. To the greatest extent possible, it is the policy of BHA to give preference in employment to BHA public housing and leased housing residents, and to low-income persons.
 
ABOUT US:
Boston Housing Authority (BHA) fosters sustainable communities by providing quality affordable housing, bringing stability, opportunity, and peace of mind to thousands of low and moderate-income families across Greater Boston and the City of Boston as a whole. As the largest provider of affordable housing in Boston, one of the most expensive cities in the country, BHA understands housing as a crucial platform for individual, household, and community stability. Through our public housing communities and rental assistance programs, BHA provides housing assistance and services to more than 62,000 low and moderate-income households, including families with children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. As a housing authority, we recognize the historical role that residential segregation has played in the City of Boston. In all aspects of our operations, internally and externally, BHA is committed to breaking down the barriers to justice in housing and related fields that disproportionately impact the communities we serve.