Job: Housing and Consumer Counselor/Mediator

Job: Housing and Consumer Counselor/Mediator

UpSide413 (Formerly the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority)
1 Fenn St
4th flr
PITTSFIELD, MA 01201

Fax:(413)443-8137
Website:upside413.org

Company Description:

UpSide413, formerly known as the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority (BCRHA) is a regional housing authority organized in 1980 pursuant to MGL, Chapter 121, Section 3A. UpSide413 acts as a local housing authority for those 23 towns in the county that do not have a local housing authority. As a regional agency, UpSide413 is also mandated to provide housing programming, and related services and technical assistance to all communities in the county. Since the late 1980’s, UpSide413 has developed programming and services that are not typically administered by housing authorities. UpSide413 has moved away from the traditional activities of solely developing and managing housing. Specifically, in 1988 in an effort to provide greater assistance to Berkshire County residents, UpSide413 expanded the scope of its mission to include the development, administration, and implementation of the following: Comprehensive housing counseling programming, legal and educational counseling services, loss mitigation (anti-foreclosure) counseling, community and court-connected dispute resolution programs (i.e., mediation, conciliation, negotiation programs), homelessness prevention (Tenancy Preservation Program) services; and anti-poverty programming. UpSide413 is a court certified mediation program, a HUD approved “Counseling Agency” a Community Dispute Resolution Center, a member of the Western Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Center, Berkshire County’s primary provider of housing stability and homelessness prevention and resolution services, and Berkshire County’s designated Consumer Services Program. In 2001, in collaboration with Hearthway Inc, UpSide413 established the Berkshire based Housing and Consumer Education Center (HCEC), which currently serves as an umbrella program for all of the agency’s programming and services.

Additional Business Name: UpSide413

Job Title:
Housing and Consumer Counselor/Mediator
Salary Range:	Location:
$44,000 - $48,000 Per Year	Berkshire County
Job Type:	Category:
Full Time	Human Services
Education Level:	Work Experience:
Bachelor's Degree Preferred
Description:
Please submit Cover Letter and Resume Housing & Consumer Counselor/Mediator Please note: This position requires you to study for and successfully pass the HUD housing counseling exam. Candidates do not need to be certified prior to hire. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority (BCRHA) is a public agency operating for the benefit of all citizens. Personnel shall conduct themselves in a manner respectful of all clients and shall adhere to BCRHA’s mission and goals. Personnel shall act in such a way as to create a positive image of the Agency. 2. Personnel will act in a professional manner while relating to BCRHA staff, clients business contacts seeking to resolve differences or complaints through appropriate agency procedures. 3. All personnel are responsible for adherence to BCRHA personnel policies, including the prevention of conflict of interest, misuse of funds, or abuse of trust and are responsible for reporting known misconduct to an Executive Officer. 4. All personnel shall respect the legal and moral rights and privacy of confidential information due all clients and are responsible for upholding BCRHA’s affirmative action policies. PRINCIPLE DUTIES * Report to and work in cooperation with the Director of Housing, Legal, and Consumer Services to ensure program quality assurance and furtherance of BCRHA’s mission. Provide housing/legal counseling to tenants and landlords/property managers with the goal of preserving/stabilizing tenancies. Housing/Legal Counseling is the process of helping a client to make a decision. A part of this process, the person providing housing/legal counseling will typically give their opinion about a matter, which will typically be based upon legal precedent (the law), economic, social, and other considerations. Provide foreclosure prevention services to assist homeowners in maintaining homeownership or exploring softer landing options. Provide consumer advocacy to consumers filing complaints against businesses through the Berkshire Consumer Services Program/Local Consumer Program, working in cooperation with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Conduct informal mediation / negotiation between tenants and landlords, neighbors, property owners, managers, other agencies, etc. to assist clients to maintain, stabilize, or obtain permanent housing. Implement court-connected mediation services during summary process eviction sessions. Maintain and continuously develop a strong knowledge of housing/consumer law and community resources by attending relevant trainings/continuing education. Establish an understanding of and relationships with community resources. Participate in regular staff meetings and work cooperatively with the Program Director and other team members. Complete up-to-date and accurate client files and program statistics in the organization’s Client Management Systems. Prepare accurate periodic program and statistical reports for relevant funding sources. Provide educational workshops and community outreach to state, local, and community organizations and agencies. Other duties as assigned. Job Type: Full-time BILINGUAL STRONGLY PREFERRED A RESUME AND A COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED UPON SUBMISSION. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $44,000.00 - $48,000.00 per year Benefits: Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance Work Location: In person
Requirements:
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED · Bachelor’s degree preferred; may be substituted for 2 years of relevant work experience · At least 2 years experience in non-profit social services programming or related field REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES · HUD Housing Counselor Certification (Preferred but must be able to obtain within 3 months of hire). · Knowledge of current tenant/landlord law (Preferred). · Communicate and deal effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. · Operate in a fast-paced environment. · Demonstrated proficiency in both oral and written communication. · The knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently. · Prior mediation experience (Preferred).