Housing Specialist 1

The State of Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) has one (1) available opportunity for a Housing Specialist 1. DOH strengthens and revitalizes communities by promoting affordable housing opportunities. DOH seeks to eliminate homelessness and to catalyze the creation and preservation of quality, affordable housing to meet the needs of all individuals and families statewide.

The incumbent in this position will administer, review, analyze and prepare financial assistance applications while also providing technical assistance to local, state and/or federal government entities regarding housing and community development funding programs.

This is a permanent, full-time position, 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 8 hours per day. The position is located at 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT.

This position requires the ability to speak Spanish, travel one to two days weekly, and a financial background in Affordable Housing.

Interested candidates should choose the 'resume tab' to attach a resume with their submission. At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. 

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Heidi Gray at heidi.gray@ct.gov or 860-713-5028.

In the Department of Housing, this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks related to housing and/or community development programs and/or projects.

Reviews, analyzes and processes financial assistance applications, program plans, budgets, term sheets, contracts, revisions to contracts to ensure accuracy and conformity with statutory and agency requirements; provides funding and other recommendations on financial applications; reviews and processes requests for disbursements, contract modifications and other program and project modifications requested by the financial assistance recipients and makes recommendations; provides technical assistance to staff, state agencies and federal government entities relative to housing related programs including but not limited to moderate rental housing, rental homes for elderly, urban revitalization, tax abatement, relocation, housing site development, housing development corporations, downtown revitalization, incentive housing zones, local programs to facilitate affordable housing development, lead abatement, emergency shelters, transitional living, rapid re-housing, accessibility, homelessness reduction or prevention, fair housing, transit-oriented development and housing code enforcement; assists local agencies and authorities in areas of program planning, design, operations and management; serves as liaison with agency administrative staff, state agencies and federal government entities, property managers, landlords, private consultants, advocates, service providers and attorneys on housing, housing related and community development matters including agency projects and programs; performs inspections, recertifications, reviews and evaluations to determine quality of program operation, conformance with program plan and other contractual requirements and effectiveness and makes recommendations; prepares comprehensive statistical, financial, budget, progress and other reports; maintains and monitors program budgets and completes related paperwork; monitors status of payment requests; may serve on committees, task forces and work groups; may represent the agency in meetings with financial assistance recipients and public fora; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of local, state, federal governmental and private resources available in the area of housing and community development; knowledge of the challenges and programs related to the expansion of affordable housing, community revitalization and homelessness reduction and prevention; knowledge of social and economic factors related to expansion of affordable housing, community revitalization and homelessness reduction and prevention; considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; ability to review, analyze or prepare financial assistance applications from local, state, or federal governmental entities; ability to plan, analyze and evaluate housing programs and projects; ability to utilize computer software.

Six (6) years of professional experience in the development and coordination of housing programs or projects or financial or technical advisory assistance to local, state, or federal government entities relative to housing or related housing matters.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's Degree.
2. A Master's Degree in housing and community development, housing studies, housing and human environments, urban planning, business administration, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
3. For State Employees, one (1) year of experience as a Assistant Economic And Community Development Agent, with a concentration in housing and community development, may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Experience with underwriting of affordable housing financing projects
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint)
• Bilingual - Spanish
• Knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations
• Graduate degree in business, or urban planning

1 Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.