HRA Outreach Coordinator

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.
We are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Community Development Division is responsible for the Council's regional growth strategy, planning and technical assistance to local communities, parks and open space, Livable Communities grants to local governments, and the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA).

Metropolitan Council Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA) administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher program and related programs on behalf of nearly 100 suburban and rural communities throughout Anoka, Carver, and most of suburban Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Metro HRA serves low-income seniors, families and households, as well as individuals living with disabilities.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
TheHRA Outreach Coordinator plays a crucial role in the work of Metro HRA's Outreach Team by developing strategies to reach underserved populations, enhancing community awareness of available housing assistance programs, and fostering partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders. The HRA Outreach Coordinator will also support recruitment and enrollment efforts related to the housing mobility program called Community Choice Demonstration (CCD). The CCD is a federally-funded research study testing housing mobility services - the study builds upon research that shows growing up in low-poverty neighborhoods improves children's academic achievement and long-term chances of success and reduces intergenerational poverty.

Notes:

This position is eligible for a hybrid (remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

• Identify partnership opportunities, stakeholders and organizations in the Twin Cities region available to support the success of Housing Choice Voucher holders.

• Connect clients to housing options and assist program applicants and participants with overcoming barriers to housing success.
• Provide unit referrals to clients in the program that meet their housing and neighborhood needs.
• Assist clients and their support team in contacting property owners, determining unit affordability, setting up tours, negotiating rental criteria and submitting payments.
• Plan, develop and implement outreach activities such as public hearings, resident engagement events and resident advisory board meetings that promote voucher holder, property owner and community services understand and acceptance of the Metro HRA programs.
• Serve as a program advisor and primary contact for participating property owners/managers to work towards issue resolution.
• Conduct educational programming for property owners, tenant and community services.
• Provide community service information and referrals to program applicants and participants.
• Manage a small caseload of clients (<100) receiving rent assistance benefits; review applications to determine program eligibility; conduct initial lease up, annual reexaminations and interim rent changes based on HUD's Housing Choice Voucher regulations, other federal and state programs rules and Metro HRA's Administrative Plan.
• Support the use of Housing Intergration Funds or other eligible financial resources including tracking expenditures and requesting payments from Finance.
• Support Metro HRA's mobility counseling initiatives including HUD's Mobility Demonstration Program in partnership with MPHA, special purpose vouchers and other initiatives as Metro HRA's Outreach and Mobility program grows.

Any of the following combinations of experience (in rent assistance or social services field determining program eligibility) and completed education (degree field of study in Housing, Urban Studies, Social Work, Communication, Psychology, Sociology, or related field):

• High school diploma/GED with five (5) years of experience
• Associate degree with three (3) years of experience
• Bachelor's degree with one (1) year of experience

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience explaining governmental programs to, and determining eligibility for, participants and applicants.
• Recent (within the last three years) experience with Housing Choice Voucher program or a similar subsidized housing program.
• Bilingual or multilingual - able to communicate fluently in English AND one or more other languages.
• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers as well as people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Experience developing outreach strategies to attract and engage an identified group.
• Experience with public speaking, including presentation to our training a target audience.
• Knowledge of racial and social equity and an ability to participate in conversations about race, equity, and lived-experience, as well as identify opportunities to integrate equity initiatives into the work.
• Knowledge of the rental market.
• Strong collaboration, group facilitation, public speaking and negotiation skills.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of Housing Choice Voucher or other similar assisted housing programs.
• Knowledge of trauma informed care and harm reduction principles.
• Knowledge of and ability to communicate effectively state and federal regulations, program rules and standard business practices regarding the operation of rental assistance programs.
• Skills to analyze, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to rent assistance programs.
• Skills to identify opportunities for efficiency or areas for improvement and recommend/implement solutions or change.
• Ability to understand the impacts of systemic and institutional racism within Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities when supporting staff and implementing process.
• Ability to establish positive relationships and partnerships with other agencies, employees, internal and external contacts, non-profits, residents, historically underrepresented communities, and people with limited English.
• Proficient in the use of HousingPro, Microsoft Office applications and other software programs.
• Ability to work independently to meet deadlines.
• Ability to understand the impacts of systemic and institutional racism with BlacK, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Communities when working with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to engage communities and maintain positive working relationships with program participants, property owners/managers, community organizations, other human service agencies and co-workers.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees/Grade G
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.

1. We rate your education and experience.

1. We conduct a structured panel interview.

1. We conduct a selection interview.

What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.

1. We rate your education and experience.

1. We conduct a structured panel interview.

1. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety-sensitive positions only) and a background check, which verifies education and employment, covers driving record (if applicable to the job) and any criminal record. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety-sensitive position) and criminal background checks if the job you're applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please emailHR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.