Housing Specialist

#jobalert | DIRECT HIRE | HOUSING SPECIALIST | AFFORDABLE HOUSING | Chicago, IL

A national housing consulting firm that manages Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program operations on behalf of public housing authorities is hiring a Housing Specialist for its onsite Chicago office. This is a client-facing role at the center of how families and property owners interact with a federally funded rental assistance program: determining eligibility, calculating rent and assistance payments, processing recertifications, and resolving issues between tenants, landlords, and the housing authority. The office runs a high-volume, in-person walk-in day each week alongside a full slate of scheduled appointments, so the role rewards someone who stays calm, organized, and solution-focused under steady public contact. This seat offers direct exposure to federal housing policy in practice, a structured 90-day onboarding plan, and a clear path to more responsibility for someone who performs.

• Anticipated $45,000-$50,000 per year, based on experience level and credentials
• Benefits include: Health, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with Roth option, Employee Assistance Program, employer-paid life/AD&D insurance
• PTO, paid personal days, paid holidays, and pet insurance
• Full-time, Monday-Friday, onsite schedule (8:30 AM-5:00 PM); this is an in-office role with no hybrid or remote component

Overview

• Determine and document program eligibility, household income, and rent calculations for applicants and current participants
• Process annual and interim recertifications on schedule and keep participant files audit-ready
• Manage move and portability paperwork so transitions between units or jurisdictions happen without unnecessary disruption
• Serve as a front-line point of contact for a high volume of in-person visitors, including a dedicated weekly walk-in day
• Mediate issues between tenants, property owners, and the housing authority, aiming for fair, well-documented outcomes
• Maintain accurate records and correct quality-control findings on your own work

Preferred Skills and Experience

• High school diploma or GED, required
• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program credential, preferred
• 1 or more years of experience in a client-facing customer service role, required
• 1 or more years of experience in government eligibility determination or a similar rental/lease-up field, required
• 1 or more years of experience specifically within an HCV program, preferred
• Strongly Preferred — bilingual in Spanish or another commonly used language
• Comfortable in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, SharePoint) and able to pick up new case-management software quickly
• Able to pass a background check and drug screen

Keywords: Housing Choice Voucher, HCV, Section 8, public housing, affordable housing, HUD, eligibility specialist, occupancy specialist, certification specialist, recertification, rent calculation, tenant relations, landlord relations, case management, income verification, portability, PHA, housing authority, customer service, government programs, compliance, records management, mediation, Chicago

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