Job Description
About HPD:
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality and affordability in the city’s housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love.
HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness, Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. HPD is committed to reducing administrative and regulatory barriers and make investments to tackle New York City’s complex housing crisis, by addressing homelessness and housing instability, promoting economic stability and mobility, increasing homeownership opportunities, improving health and safety, and increasing opportunities for equitable growth.
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Your Team:
HPD’s Division of Tenant & Owner Resources (DTOR) is responsible for the administration of rental subsidy programs which provide funding to eligible low-income families for rental assistance toward decent, safe, and affordable housing in a neighborhood of their choice. These programs include Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), Project Based Voucher (PBV), Moderate Rehab Section 8, Moderate Rehab Single Room Occupancy (SRO), and Continuum of Care (CoC)-Shelter Plus Care (SPC) and NYC 15/15. Through these programs, HPD serves over 40,000 households and 9,000 landlords in all five boroughs. DTOR is responsible for the initial application screening; confirming eligibility requirements; briefing applicants; and issuing vouchers. DTOR also monitors tenant and landlord compliance of their obligations under each program and continues to administer the ongoing subsidies throughout their participation. rent subsidy programs are administered by the Division of Tenant & Owner Resources (DTOR). HPD’s rental subsidies, Community Coordinators, are part of the Appeals Unit which conducts federally mandated informal hearings and reviews, which are the mechanisms through which Section 8 and other HPD administrated rental subsidy program participants/applicants may appeal Program decisions.
Community Coordinators, in the capacity of serving as Hearing Representatives, prepare documents and exhibits to be presented at informal hearings and informal reviews concerning terminations and denials of assistance, requests for reasonable accommodations, and other petitions arising from the various rent subsidy programs administered by HPD.
As a hearing representative, you will be part of a talented team of other hearing representatives, attorneys and administrative support staff who provide critical legal services to the Agency as it executes the Mayor’s ambitious and comprehensive housing framework.
Your Impact:
As the hearing representative for the Appeals Unit, you will review casefiles and documents and assist in ensuring that Agency determinations comply with Federal, State and City regulations and contribute to emerging HPD policies.
Your Role:
Under the Deputy Director and Director’s supervision, the selected candidate’s responsibilities will include representing HPD at informal hearings/ reviews held at HPD’s Appeals unit.
Your Responsibilities:
- Handling appeals from receipt to completion, including working with appellants and the various agency units, appellants and representatives to request and review all relevant documents. Taking timely steps to pre-resolve appeals or assign appeals independently as needed.
- Reviewing casefiles and determining potential procedural and mailing issues, proper standing and timeliness of cases. Alerting supervisors of lateness for untimely cases or requesting supporting documentation, making income and other calculations as needed.
- Independently reviewing case files for relevant evidence pertaining to HPD’s actions and creating a timeline of events to clearly demonstrate the facts and events leading to HPD’s decision ensuring the decision complies with rules, policies and HPD’s Administrative Plan.
- Ensuring timely preparation of cases for hearing/review and presenting exhibits and arguing in support of the agency’s decision or action at the informal hearings /reviews and explaining those steps and documents in a clear fashion at informal hearings/reviews.
- Working with Unit staff to ensure cases are calendared, scheduled and entered correctly in the Appeal Tracking Database. Working with staff to ensure correct and timely mailing of correspondence and decisions.
- Responding to inquiries from participants/applicants and their representatives, agency staff and the general public via phone and written correspondence. Reviewing, entering and/or updating information related to the appellants’ cases in the Appeals Tracking Database and other programs and databases such as Elite, Outlook and Expertly.
- Presenting cases to the Appeals Unit as needed for internal discussions and to DTR and other Units for review and discussion.
- Sending pre-resolve or reinstatement e-mails to senior staff within the Division of Tenant Resources for cases or other Units that may be able to be resolved without a hearing or review
- Responding to inquiries that are received via mail, fax, or e-mail from staff within Division of Tenant Resources as well as external parties such as attorneys, POA, case workers, etc.
- Serving as a liaison between the Program, the Appeals Unit and other relevant internal or external parties on hearing logistics and relevant issues.
- Independently managing own caseload and assignment of cases to other team members as needed. Assisting with training and mock hearings/second seating of current and incoming Appeals staff if needed or due to staff shortages.
- Working on special projects, as needed for initiatives that result from Agency or Division priorities and strategic plans.
Preferred skills:
- Prior administrative hearing or housing or administrative experience a plus familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Teams, and document tracking databases.
- Strong communication skills both oral and written, excellent analytical and interpersonal skills as well.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects in a timely manner
- Preference will be given to candidates with experience working for or with government agencies and government programs related to affordable housing development and Section 8 and/or administrative hearings. Prior adjudication of administrative hearings a plus.
- Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in public service and housing law.
- Knowledge of computer entry/ability to learn and use computer database, including Microsoft Office Suite Outlook, Word, Excel and teams, Access, and various online filing systems.
- Ability to work under pressure and to respond to inquiries from the public and colleagues rapidly.
- Self-Initiative and detail oriented and investigative skills are a plus
- Ability and expertise as demonstrated by recent relevant administrative experience, including knowledge of administrative proceedings and Section 8 policies.
- Excellent writing, communication and management skills.
- Preference will be given to candidates with experience working for or with government agencies and government programs related to affordable housing development and/or administrative hearings. Prior adjudication of administrative hearings a plus.
- Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in public service and housing law.
Qualifications
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.
