COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) Specialists

Community Housing Network is seeking COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) Specialists to help process rental assistance applications for households impacted by the pandemic.

About Community Housing Network

Community Housing Network (CHN) is celebrating our 20th anniversary as the leading housing resource nonprofit organization in Southeast Michigan. We serve thousands of families and individuals annually who are facing homelessness, people with disabilities, low-income households, and other vulnerable Michigan Residents.

Our mission is to strengthen communities by connecting people to housing resources. This is achieved through the development of quality affordable housing, vital supportive services, crisis response resources, community collaboration and advocacy. We also develop housing in communities where housing needs to align with community revitalization and redevelopment goals.  The principal belief reinforcing everything we do is that people and communities are more successful when everyone - including people struggling with homelessness, those with disabilities and those with low incomes - are included in the fabric of sustainable communities.

Our work is guided by our core values and our culture provides an environment to succeed through: Inclusion, Integrity, Innovation, and Passion. 

Community Housing Network is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness which includes:

• Creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace to provide better services for participants and staff.
• Utilizing a trauma informed approach to build rapport with vulnerable populations.
• Making educational resources available related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, all the while providing a platform for conversation.

We are a CARF accredited agency. For the past six years, we have been recognized by the Detroit Free Press as a Top 100 Workplace and have been honored as a Crain’s Detroit Business Cool Place to Work for seven years. 

Department: Community Programs
Reports to: COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) Team Supervisor
Employment Status Classification: Full Time and Part-Time Hourly   

Job Description Summary: The CERA Team Specialist is a key member of Community Housing Network’s Community Programs department implementation and management of the federally funded grant COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA). The position is a grant funded position.

Essential Functions:

• Engage with tenants and landlords to prevent eviction and housing instability.
• Assess the caller’s/landlords needs and eligibility for the CERA program to provide appropriate assistance, referrals, and resources.
• Assist potential program participants/Landlords in completing applications for appropriate programs.
• Enter details of the call, communication with tenants, landlords or other partners in the appropriate record/file, required secure database, forms, trackers, etc. as directed per workflow.
• Schedule follow up appointments as appropriate to provide ongoing assistance and case management services for eligible individuals, as guidelines allow.
• Process financial assistance requests for eligible individuals for payment of rent, utilities, or other items.
• Participate in team meetings, department meetings, all staff meetings, 1:1 check ins with supervisory as scheduled.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Reliable and secure internet service at employee home location.
• Proficient use of Windows Outlook, calendar, email, and other functions
• Experience with data entry
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite including Excel.
• Established personal ethics of dependability, punctuality, productivity, self-discipline, and organizational habits.
• Must be self-directed and motivated.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrating self-motivation while functioning as a member of a team environment.
• Customer Service and case management skill set demonstrating empathy, communication skills, problem solving, active listening, personal responsibility, adaptability, attentiveness, responsiveness, time management and attention to identify details and adjust solutions accordingly.
• Documentation of tenant/landlord case details, documents, and notes on a thorough and timely basis.
• Collaborative member of team; active participation in team, department and CHN meetings, training, and other required events.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to follow program guidelines and program parameters, while demonstrating flexibility to adapt to changes and deadlines.

Compensation

This is a grant funded position with full time and part time hourly opportunities. As a part time position you will be able to create your own flexible working schedule of 20 to 28 hours per week between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The base hourly pay is $15.00 an hour.

• generous paid time off, new employees can earn up to 16 vacation days and 10 paid holidays within the first year.
• competitive health, vision, and dental insurance plans as well as flex and dependent care spending accounts
• group life and long-term disability
• a robust employee assistance program
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching

Location

This position will work remotely.

Physical Demands:

While performing the functions of this job, the position is both sedentary and at times requires the ability to be active including standing, bending, lifting and/or arranging files, office products and supplies and may require employee to periodically stand on a short step stool to access files and boxes.

To apply for this position OPEN HERE:  https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=3aa7a5be-ba3e-4943-9815-6be640408aaa&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=399633&source=CC2&lang=en_US

https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=3aa7a5be-ba3e-4943-9815-6be640408aaa&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=399633&source=CC2&lang=en_US