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About the Role

Reporting to the Housing Benefits Consultant, the Housing Benefits Officer provides specialized administrative support services related to the administration of the Rent Geared to Income Program. This includes managing a portfolio of households, service agencies, and landlords within the Housing Benefits Section.

Responsibilities

• Provides specialized administrative support services to a diverse client community.
• Reviews applications, confirms current circumstances and eligibility of applicants to ensure compliance with the Rent Geared to Income Program, the Housing Service Act, and the City of Toronto’s local rules.
• Assists in matching eligible applicants to Rent Geared to Income vacancies and preparing/issuing housing offers according to guidelines and procedures.
• Applies legislation, Rent Geared to Income program guidelines, and policies to assess and make administrative decisions regarding eligibility, household changes, rent, and subsidy amounts.
• Responds to and resolves inquiries and issues from households and landlords.
• Follows business processes to support applicants and communicate decisions, including general correspondence, notice of decisions, annual rent reviews, rent supplement agreements, and communications related to legislative requirements.
• Performs rent calculations in accordance with guidelines and communicates with tenants and landlords.
• Maintains Rent Geared to Income household records in information systems, ensuring accuracy of household composition, income, assets, rent, eligibility status, annual review information, housing provider information, benefit amounts, and supporting documentation.
• Operates and maintains information systems and software to enter, retrieve, verify, calculate, and update RGI household, rent, and subsidy information, generate correspondence, and maintain accurate electronic records.
• Communicates with applicants, tenants, landlords, agencies, and advocates in person, by phone, or in writing, following Municipal Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) guidelines.
• Provides support to vulnerable households and collaborates with support agencies to promote housing stability and minimize eviction risk.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative working relationships with nonprofit agencies, private landlords, and advocacy groups to enhance business partnerships.
• Maintains current knowledge of legislation, community services, resources, policies, programs, procedures, and issues affecting the client population.
• Assists in the training and orientation of new staff.
• Conducts orientation interviews with new households and service providers to ensure understanding of obligations for ongoing eligibility for the rent geared to income program.
• Participates in special projects, focus groups, or steering committees, including implementing new technologies and software applications to improve program delivery, data management, file accuracy, reporting, and client service.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in Social Services or equivalent combination of education and experience in housing, social, or community services.
• Considerable experience administering the Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) program, including interpreting and applying the Housing Services Act (HSA), RGI program guidelines, policies, and procedures to assess and determine household initial and ongoing eligibility.
• Considerable experience completing Rent-Geared-to-Income rent and subsidy calculations and administering annual and interim reviews, including verifying household income, assets, household composition, and issuing decisions.
• Experience providing customer service in a diverse environment, including working with clients, service providers, and staff, while applying an equity and trauma-informed lens to address service inquiries, requests, and complaints.
• Experience and demonstrated aptitude in adopting and applying various technologies and software applications to support and improve program delivery, data management, and client service.

Skills

• Knowledge of various Housing Programs and related legislation including the Residential Tenancies Act, Human Rights Code, Housing Services Act.
• Ability to make calculations accurately.
• Working knowledge of financial procedures, including Housing Services Act and City of Toronto Local Rules, related to calculating tenant and landlord payments.
• Ability to interpret and accurately apply complex policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to assess client needs and make appropriate referrals to community agencies.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Willingness to be trained on alternative software.
• Rent Geared to Income certification (asset).
• Knowledge of technical systems such as Yardi (Voyager) and Rent Café (asset).
• Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment while managing conflicting priorities.
• Ability to work co-operatively as a team member and independently with initiative and minimum supervision.

Location

• 176 Elm Street

Work Type

• Full-time
• Temporary (12 months)

Experience Level

• Considerable experience administering Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) program
• Considerable experience completing Rent-Geared-to-Income rent and subsidy calculations
• Experience providing customer service in a diverse environment
• Experience and demonstrated aptitude adopting and applying various technologies and software applications

Education Level

• Post-secondary education in Social Services or equivalent combination of education and experience

Salary/Compensations

• $40.08 - $43.91 hourly rate

About the Company

• The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve.
• The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization.
• We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Equal Opportunity

• The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve.
• Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.
• Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.
• Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request.
• Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.