Job Title: Fair Housing Officer
Schedule
: Full time
Salary range
:
$108,994.00 - $138,060.00 annually.
Benefits
:
Medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and 13 holidays; retirement savings plan, including agency contribution.
JOB SUMMARY
:
Organizes, coordinates and administers the Fair Housing Plan for the City of Norwalk. Oversees and performs the investigation of fair housing complaints. Reports to and receives day-to-day administrative supervision from the Executive Director of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency (RDA). Receives policy advice and direction from the Fair Housing Advisory Commission (FHAC) in those areas relating to the duties of the FHAC. Supervises volunteers and support staff.
GENERAL DUTIES:
- Serves as support staff and attends the monthly meetings of the FHAC. Assists the FHAC in developing fair housing programs and outreach.
- Annually prepares a proposed budget for the Fair Housing Office (the Office). Submits it to the FHAC for finalization and then, to the City.
- Establishes work procedures and priority of work tasks for the Office.
- Participates in the drafting of reports that are required of the City as a condition of receiving local, state or federal monies;
- Conducts studies of local housing patterns and practices, fair lending practices, and economic and social trends relevant to fair housing, and develops recommendations.
- Advises the Mayor, RDA, FHAC and other appropriate entities on housing and economic issues.
- Advocates for needed legislation.
- Prepares reports for the Executive Director of the RDA, the Mayor and the FHAC upon request.
- Conducts outreach to residents. Prepares and distributes written materials; Speaks to social, cultural, religious and civic organizations; Attends meetings including evenings or weekends when necessary.
- Remains current on relevant issues and laws and is a source of information on landlord/tenant and housing discrimination laws.
- Prepares an annual report.
- Receives housing discrimination complaints; Investigates those complaints and prepares recommendations for the city and agencies. Recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer testers. Acts as ombudsman in investigating and resolving problems related to fair housing. Assists residents in the filing and pursuit of complaints with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, or other appropriate enforcement body. Provides advocacy and/or testimony at fair housing enforcement hearings. Maintains a list of pro bono attorneys who will assist residents file complaints.
- Works in cooperation with government officials and private agencies/organizations to implement local fair housing/fair lending objectives.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- The skills and knowledge required would generally be acquired with a Bachelors Degree in a social science and at least two years of responsible housing or employment discrimination work that includes some administrative experience. A law degree is highly desirable. A minimum of three years successful experience as a Fair Housing Officer in an urban setting may be considered in lieu of a law degree.
- The candidate must possess the following abilities: work independently; organize people with divergent backgrounds into working committees; defuse hostile situations; research issues; prepare written materials for public dissemination; speak to groups of people, including the media, in a clear and concise manner; supervise; investigate complaints; interview effectively; advocate; and comfort operating in all neighborhoods in the city
- The candidate should also possess skills in writing and client record-keeping; preparing budgets and financial reports; recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers; analyzing information; evaluating tester data; generating enforceme t action; Competent in using a computer and Microsoft Office programs.
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