Housing Specialist/RHA-Open Competitive Exam Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cityofrochester/jobs/newprint/4778022) Apply  Housing Specialist/RHA-Open Competitive Exam Salary $36,000.00 - $51,500.00 Annually Location Rochester, NY Job Type Full-Time Job Number 25EOC89177-010 Department Rochester Housing Authority Opening Date 01/03/2025 Closing Date 1/31/2025 11:59 PM Eastern Civil Service Exam Date 03/01/2025 + Description + Benefits General Description Employees in this entry-level service title perform a variety of administrative and, clerical tasks, including participant(*), landlord and housing authority liaison activities. Housing Specialists may assist management in overseeing day-to-day operations of public housing complexes. Housing Specialists may also manage participants and private landlord relations and interview, evaluate, select, and assist in evicting participants. Employees may perform field work such as inspecting Housing Authority property. Employees work independently, with general supervision from management staff. Related work is performed as required. Work may be performed in extreme weather and travel situations, as well as in varying living conditions. * For purposes of this document, the general term of ‘Participant’ will be used to refer to Applicants, Tenants, Residents and Participants, both prospective and current. Typical Work Activities + Assists with the activities of a small housing office, assigning tasks to clerical workers and monitoring workflow; + Interviews prospective participants to complete housing applications and collect eligibility information and documentation, explain RHA and HUD programs and guidelines, eligibility requirements and lease restrictions, and the rules and regulations applicable to public housing and Section 8 programs; + Conducts recertification of housing eligibility for current participants; + Interviews new and current participants to obtain data regarding income and household expenses and to collect documents of proof; + Verifies that information provided by housing participants is accurate by inspecting documents and contacting social service agencies, employers, etc. by phone or mail; + Determines eligibility and suitability of participants for residency in public housing and Section 8 programs; + Computes income and expenses to determine participants rental charges according to the Authority's policies and HUD's rules and regulations; + Inspects rental units to assess housekeeping habits of participants and identify repair and maintenance needs and need for correction of safety hazards; + Discusses with public housing participants complaints against them such as poor housekeeping habits, insect infestations, landlord/neighbor relations, noise, etc., and delivers oral and written lease enforcement notices when necessary; + Recommends eviction of participants when necessary and assists with eviction proceedings; + Assists landlords with completing forms for lease and contract renewals to receive rental subsidies for privately owned housing; + May contact various human service agencies and refers tenants to such organizations as visiting nurses, Department of Social Services, medical transportation and youth and family counseling; + May collect rents and other participants charges, make deposits and prepare appropriate documentation; + Writes letters, memos, simple reports, and completes a variety of forms and ledgers using a personal computer. Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or GED; AND + Associate's degree in Human Services* or Business Administration* or a related area; AND two (2) years of work experience involving explaining complex information and making determinations based on complex rules, guidelines or procedures, in fields such as, but not limited to, social services, financial aid, insurance claim investigation, employment and training intake, mortgage origination, housing eligibility intake. OR + Four (4) years of work experience as described in 1. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT WHEN ASSIGNED TO PUBLIC HOUSING: + Valid N.Y. State Class D driver’s license. This license must be maintained while in this assignment. + Availability of a car for daily use. *Candidates who expect to receive this degree or diploma by August 1, 2025, may participate in the examination. If successful on the examination, you will not be certified for appointment until you have submitted proof of completion of the requirements to the City of Rochester Examination Administration Unit. Proof must be submitted no later than 2 (two) months after the completion of your degree or diploma; failure to do so will result in the removal of your name from this list. Exam Information Scopes/Subjects of Examination: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the following areas. Preparing Written Material: These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences. Understanding and Interpreting Numerical Data Related to Community Development and Housing: These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret numerical data related to community development and housing. The data will be presented in formats such as tables and charts. All the information needed to answer the questions will be provided in the data presented. You may be required to perform basic mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and to calculate averages and percentages. You should bring with you a hand-held battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on this test. You will not be permitted to use the calculator function of your cell phone or other electronic devices. Understanding, Interpreting and Applying Housing and Community Development Laws, Rules and Regulations: These questions test for the ability to understand, interpret, and apply a variety of federal and State housing and community development laws, rules, and regulations. You will be provided with a brief reading selection based on or extracted from a passage of legal text. You must read the selection and then answer one or more questions based on that selection. All the information needed to answer the questions will be provided in the reading selections. Interviewing: These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in obtaining information from individuals through structured conversations. These questions require you to apply the principles, practices, and techniques of effective interviewing to hypothetical interviewing situations. Included are questions that present a problem arising from an interviewing situation, and you must choose the most appropriate course of action to take. Test Guide: + The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm. The Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County MAY have exam-related material, as well as, other branches. (i.e., CSEA Exam Preparation booklets) For full-time employees: The City of Rochester offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. For less-than full-time employees: The City of Rochester offers numerous growth opportunities to include the potential to transition into full-time, permanent employment. Agency City of Rochester (NY) Address 30 Church Street Room 103A Rochester, New York, 14614 Phone 585-428-7115 Website http://www.cityofrochester.gov Apply Please verify your email address Verify Email