Position: Homeownership Counselor
Unit: Fifth Avenue Committee’s Housing Development Department
Status: Non-Exempt
Employee Type: Full-Time, 35 hours per week
Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) and Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) are seeking a Homeownership Counselor to provide foreclosure prevention and pre-purchase homebuyer counseling and advocacy to homeowners in Brooklyn and New York City. This is a 35-hour, five- day-per-week position.

Join an experienced, fun, and creative team as we work to advance and protect affordable homeownership in New York City. We offer a great work environment with friendly co-workers who are passionate about their jobs. Our office is centrally located in Park Slope/Gowanus, a diverse neighborhood with easy access to transportation.

FAC is an award-winning, 39-year-old, South Brooklyn-based, non-profit community development corporation whose mission is to advance economic and social justice. FAC develops and manages affordable housing and community facilities, creates economic opportunities and ensures access to economic stability, organizes residents and workers, offers student-centered adult education, and combats displacement caused by gentrification.

NHN became an affiliate of FAC in 2011 and has received funding to assist homeowners and first-time homebuyers. NHN is a non-profit, community-based organization whose mission is to empower low- and moderate-income Brooklyn residents to secure quality housing and build assets. NHN is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency providing foreclosure prevention services, homebuyer education, and tenant advocacy.

Responsibilities include:

• Foreclosure prevention counseling: Meet with homeowners facing mortgage default to review their personal finances and reason for delinquency, assess their home retention options, and develop an action plan to return them to financial stability.
• Loan modification applications and advocacy: Work with homeowners to assemble and submit applications to mortgage servicers for loan modifications or other programs to resolve delinquency, communicate with servicers to advocate on behalf of homeowners, escalate cases or refer them to legal services partners when necessary.
• Pre-purchase homebuyer counseling: Meet with first-time homebuyers to review their personal finances, assess their readiness for homeownership, and develop financial goals and action plans; advise ready buyers on mortgage options and help them to secure loan approvals, assist buyers in applying for downpayment and closing cost assistance.
• Data management: Record, maintain, and track counseling data using the online CounselorMax database.
• Outreach & retention: Assist in promoting awareness of the program by attending community events and helping with other outreach and marketing efforts, such as distributing flyers, direct mailing, or social media.
• Training and knowledge-building: Attend regular training sessions to be informed of industry trends and to receive up-to-date information regarding homeownership and
  foreclosure prevention.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
 Bachelor’s degree preferred.
 Experience in social services, banking, or paralegal work strongly preferred.
 Additional experience in housing counseling is helpful.
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
 Strong public speaking skills.
 Ability to engage with low- and moderate-income homeowners and homebuyers in a
respectful manner.
 Able to work well on a team as well as independently.
 Highly-organized self-starter able to multi-task.
 Excellent computer skills; familiarity with CounselorMax a plus.
 Detail-oriented, thorough, and able to concentrate while meeting deadlines.
 Demonstrated patience and flexibility handling complex issues and crises.
 Fluency in a second language is helpful, particularly Spanish, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, or Cantonese.
 Strong commitment to FAC and NHN’s missions.

Compensation & Benefits: $50,000 to $53,000 annual salary, commensurate with experience; NHN offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance
benefits (following a 90-day waiting period), voluntary flexible spending plan, 403b retirement plan, and paid leave time including 18 vacation days and 12 sick days.

To Apply: Please email cover letter and resume to jobs@fifthave.org by January 2nd, 2018.

Indicate “Homeownership Counselor” in the subject line.

No phone calls, please.

NHN is an equal opportunity employer (EEO). People of color, community residents, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.