At the Center for Housing and Health (CHH), we're on a mission to provide more than just housing - we're building a foundation for stability and opportunity. As the third-party administrator of the Flexible Housing Pool (FHP), CHH plays a key role in maintaining a robust portfolio of quality, readily accessible housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness across Chicago and Cook County. The Flexible Housing Pool is a groundbreaking initiative, uniting public and private partners to create lasting housing solutions. Through our collaboration with 20 community-based organizations, we provide critical tenancy support to participants as they transition from homelessness to a place they can call home. As a Housing Engagement Specialist, you'll join our dynamic Landlord Engagement Team, where every day brings a new challenge and the chance to make a meaningful impact. In this role, you'll focus on one of the following key areas (with opportunities to support others based on program needs):a) Developing and maintaining relationships with property ownersb) Conduct housing inspectionsc) Support emergency tenant movesd) Mitigate landlord/tenant conflictse) Support program participant access to “bridge” housing and f) Coordinate with direct service staff to ensure program participants experience a seamless transition from homelessness to housing. CHH is a supporting organization of AIDS Foundation ChicagoThe salary for this position is $50,000 annually. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Increase and Maintain a Robust Housing Portfolio Research and identify a broad range of safe and affordable rental housing throughout the city of Chicago and/or Cook County suburbs for individuals and families experiencing homelessnessDevelop, cultivate, and maintain professional relationships with landlordsOutreach to and engage landlords/property managers to secure safe, affordable rental units that meet the needs and preferences of program participantsConduct unit inspections to ensure housing quality standards are met; Work collaboratively with landlords/property managers to monitor unit remediation and repair activities prior to move-inLiaise between case managers and landlords, on behalf of the client, to resolve significant repair or safety issues after tenant move-in and for the duration of the lease; Facilitate lease agreements with landlords, and complete program rental payment paperwork to ensure subsidy payments are set up in a timely manner Lease Renewals and Tenant MovesNo less than 30-45 days to the lease expiration, coordinate with partner subcontracted case manager to initiate the lease renewal processInitiate and complete a lease renewal agreement with the landlord, when applicableComplete and submit program rental payment paperwork for renewals in a timely manner; For client moves, collaborate with the Landlord Engagement Team to identify a new unit; Coordinate leasing and move logistics with the partner case manager and landlordSubmit complete and accurate lease and rental payment paperwork in a timely manner General Program Supports Support coordination and monitoring of program participant move-in to temporary (“bridge”) housingMonitor and document program participant move outs; Provide professional customer service when responding to and addressing landlord concerns/complaintsProvide mitigation supports to landlords, as needed; Identify and secure “high need” units, specifically Chicago northside neighborhood units, suburban units, accessible units, and units for individuals with justice-involved backgroundsSupport the Landlord Engagement Manager to promote the program at community engagement events, and landlord appreciation eventsBe available on a rotating basis for the 24/7 landlord crisis line to address landlord issues Quality Assurance Complete and submit all paperwork in an accurate and timely manner for approval by the Landlord Engagement ManagerComplete and update data entry in Case Worthy (case management and leasing database) in an accurate and timely mannerEnter and track housing inventory data in the landlord portfolio database; Meet or exceed monthly program goalsSubmit monthly Quality Assurance reports Other Participate in annual internal trainings regarding fair housing laws and tenant-landlord rental ordinancesOtherStay abreast of fair housing laws and tenant-landlord rental ordinancesActively participate in agency, department, and team meetings; Assist with agency-wide activities as directed, including Annual Meeting, AIDS Run & Walk, and othersParticipate in voluntary or assigned professional development opportunitiesProtect organization's values and manage risk by keeping information confidential and following HIPAA regulationsPerform other duties as assignedSUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES None.EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONMinimum Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in social service or related field, Business Administration, Communications or 1 or more years of Housing/Homelessness or Business/Real Estate experience OR 1 or more years of Housing/Homelessness or Business/Real Estate experience Valid driver's license and acceptable vehicle insuranceReliable vehicle transportation Preferred QualificationsBachelor's Degree in social service or related field, Business Administration, Communications or 1 or more years of Housing/Homelessness or Business/Real Estate experience3 or more years in Housing/Homelessness or related field or 2 or more years in Real Estate experienceBi-lingual, Spanish-speakingKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIESExceptional time management skills Strong ability to multi-task in a fast-paced work environment Strong attention to detail Strong communication skills to work with and address different constituencies (staff, landlords, program participants) Knowledge and understanding of applicable housing/rental laws, with training and guidance Openness to learning about a variety of Chicago neighborhoods/wards and suburban Cook County suburbsBasic knowledge of Microsoft applications, including Outlook and ExcelREQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS None. WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDSThis role is perfect for someone who thrives on variety and enjoys being out in the community. You'll spend about 60% of your time exploring neighborhoods, visiting properties, and connecting with landlords and tenants across Chicago. The other 40% of your time will be spent in a comfortable office environment, catching up on emails, planning next steps, and collaborating with the team. It's a great balance of active, hands-on work and focused office time. While the job requires light physical effort - like carrying materials (up to 10 pounds) or pushing and pulling items occasionally - it's all in service of empowering people to find a place to call home.
