Housing Counselor

HOUSING COUNSELOR (FULL-TIME)

ORGANIZATION: ACT Lawrence is an award-winning non-profit community development corporation (CDC) whose mission is to empower people to achieve their financial goals and dreams by providing opportunities for financial capability, community engagement & personal growth. The organization’s primary focus is Lawrence, MA. We serve 1600+ annually throughout all our programs and services.

LOCATION: Lawrence, MA

SUMMARY: The Housing Counselor makes a difference in the lives of community members by empowering financial readiness for each stage of consumer finance. The counselor engages clients in activities across a wide spectrum including building credit, savings, debt reduction, first-time home ownership, rental assistance, mortgage default and delinquency, and home equity. The counselor will document and deliver a realistic action plan for clients to achieve their goals with the continued support of their changing financial circumstances and goals.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Excellent customer service and basic math skills. This role requires an individual with a passion for and commitment to social service, especially for low-income and financially distressed individuals.

HUD Housing Counselor Certified or must be able to obtain HUD Housing Counselor Certification within 60 days of hire.

• Must be bilingual in Spanish & English (write, speak and present in public in both languages)

• Ability to recruit and secure new clients for counseling services and other agency for services

• Confident with public speaking, with writing and presentation skills in both English and Spanish

• Coordinate and deliver group education sessions in Spanish and or English on various housing and financial literacy topics

• 1-year case management experience and data collection and evaluation

• Candidates with an interest or passion to engage the community and working in nonprofit

• Outstanding customer service skills; professional demeanor

• Attend outreach events to promote financial stability and communicate the benefit of various ACT Lawrence programs to potential clients

• Ability to connect effectively with a variety of stakeholders to build relationships with partners

• Comfortable using online platforms such as Zoom and, Teams

• Proficiency with Microsoft office 365, and Google Suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong documentation and communication skills

• High level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential information using organizational security protocols around every aspect of client data

• Ability to work independently and with a team

• Car and valid driver’s license

• Support staff in project-based work including fundraising, membership activities, and events

• Entrepreneurial spirit a plus

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Must become HUD certified within 60 days post start date

• Preferred Associate Degree

• GED or High School Diploma: Required

• Bilingual in English & Spanish (Write, speak, and present in public in both languages)

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including strong spelling, grammar, and punctuation in English and Spanish**

• Candidates with an interest or passion in serving and working with the community

• Ability to connect effectively with a variety of stakeholders to recruit program participants

• Must be proficient in phone and email communications

• Strong knowledge of online platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Office, and Google Suite

• Experience in organizing and coordinating events

• Manage multiple projects and deadlines

• Strong willingness to learn with a growth mindset

• Commitment toward meeting or exceeding office goals

• Ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks efficiently

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends upon request

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong documentation and communication skills

• Ability to work independently and as a team member

JOB TYPE: Full time, 40 hours per week, flexibility required to work 4 nights per month and some weekends depending on program goals and objectives.

COMPENSATION: Negotiable based on experience, plus performance-based incentives. Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time. $1,000 bonus after passing HUD Housing Counselor certification. The organization does not provide health insurance. Training will be provided.

This is a grant-funded position for a period of 12 months.

#Equal Opportunity Employer, minorities, and BIPOC are encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $39,000.00 - $49,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Do have facilitation experience? If so, tell me about programs and workshops you have facilitated? If none write (N/A)
• Have you worked with any financial products? If yes, please describe. If none write (N/A)
• "Describe your case management experience." "How do you track client progress?" "Walk me through your documentation process." "How do you prioritize a heavy caseload?" If non-write (N/A)

Experience:

• Case management: 1 year (Required)
• Customer service: 1 year (Required)
• Microsoft Office: 1 year (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Required)

Work Location: In person