Housing Counselor Worcester, MA Summary: The Housing Counselling and Search Specialist is responsible for assisting clients with a wide range of housing issues including but not limited to: tenant issues, landlord issues, apartment/housing search, homeownership including first time home buying & post purchase counselling. The Housing Counselling and Search Specialist for HCEC will be responsible for providing information and referral services, brief counselling and in some cases more in-depth counselling in the following areas: family budget and financial fitness, tenant rights and responsibilities, homeownership obligations and responsibilities, landlord obligations under Massachusetts law and best practices and intense housing search advocacy. Responsibilities: Provide housing program and services information and referral services to walk-ins, phone clients, and others seeking services Assist with short-term counselling and information for clients in the following areas; Budget counselling, money management and credit rebuilding, tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities, housing search, fair housing and discrimination laws/complaints, federal and state rental assistance programs, housing court advocacy, and community development endeavors. Schedule, coordinate and assist with workshops and training sessions on landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, lead paint issues (removal and law), abatement, health and safety issues and laws, code violations (sanitary, structural, etc.), first-time homebuyers? education and housing search strategies. Arrange for and negotiate assistance for landlords/tenants in order to mediate disputes and negotiate agreements that avoid tenant displacement and potential homelessness. Assist in the preparation of all required program reports; insure timely and accurate data input with various databases. Relationship building with individual clients, property managers, landlords, realtors, and community agencies. Build and maintain/update housing search list Remain current in trends effecting counselling & training efforts. Requirements: Associates Degree in in Human Services or related filed or equivalent, B.S/B.A. preferred. Minimum 2 years applicable experience in social services case management and/or knowledge of housing including landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities and homeownership experience. Some experience in business, customer service areas preferred; strong computer skills are a necessity including MS Word, Excel, Outlook, etc. Ability to learn data bases. Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment. Bilingual/ Spanish Preferred. Benefits: Competitive compensation Medical, Dental, Vision, LTD, and Life Insurance Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account Competitive Vacation and Sick time 14-paid holidays 403(b) plan RCAP Contribution and Match FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Job Type: Full-time Pay: \$25.00 - \$28.00 per hour Expected hours: 40 per week Benefits: 403(b) 403(b) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance Schedule: 8 hour shift Monday to Friday Morning shift No weekends Work Location: In person