Housing Counselor

$50,000 - $50,000/Yr

World YWCA - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Entry Level

Remote - Chicago, IL

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

The Housing Counselor at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is responsible for providing comprehensive housing counseling and education services to clients, including first-time homebuyers and those facing housing challenges. This role involves conducting workshops, offering financial education, and managing client relationships to enhance financial capacity and support homeownership goals. The counselor will also handle administrative tasks such as data tracking and reporting, while collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure effective service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Conduct homebuyer education and financial education workshops.
• Provide housing counseling services, including pre-purchase, rental, and foreclosure counseling.
• Assist clients in building financial capacity through credit counseling.
• Perform client assessments to guide informed housing decisions.
• Educate clients about available Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment services.
• Assist clients with required forms and assessments for housing services.
• Conduct member screenings to evaluate immediate support needs and facilitate referrals.
• Record all communications and update client management systems after each interaction.
• Follow up with clients to ensure adherence to their financial goal plans.
• Ensure secure storage of client files and documents.
• Prepare reports for management as required.
• Manage day-to-day client scheduling and delivery of counseling services.
• Conduct financial analysis and affordability assessments for clients.
• Create action plans to support clients' financial capacity.
• Participate in group education workshops at least once a month according to HUD standards.
• Represent the agency at events and networking functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree preferred; minimum Associate's degree required.
• Experience in homeownership processes, including mortgage lending and loan processing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and client management databases.
• Strong public speaking and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a high-volume work environment.
• Attention to detail and excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to work with diverse populations and demonstrate cultural competency.
• Must hold or obtain HUD Certified Housing Counselor certification within 90 days of employment.

Nice-to-haves

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.
• Experience or certification as a housing counselor, loan processor, or financial educator is a plus.

Benefits

• Remote work options two days per week.
• Flexible work schedule with potential evening and weekend hours.