Rental Assistance Clerk

**Department**: Regional Planning & Housing Services
**Employee Group**: Teamsters Local 31
**Location**:4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby
**Salary Range/ Wage Rate**: PG T17 $2,317.83 - $2,724.55 bi-weekly

**You are a positive, motivated, team-player with exceptional verbal and written communication skills and excellent attention to detail. You have a proven ability to think critically while thoughtfully navigating difficult/challenging conversations. You are compassionate and empathetic, and always willing to go the extra mile. You take pride in being a strong contributor to any team you’re on and are looking to develop your skills and knowledge in order to make a difference in the not-for-profit housing sector.**

**This role**:

- Analyzes the financial data of applicants to determine need and eligibility for rental assistance, and to calculate subsidy amount in accordance with established guidelines.
- Conducts interviews with applicants to review circumstances and obtain required information; contacts MVHC field operations staff to inspect condition of premises and to gather information as required.
- Contacts previous landlords or MVHC housing project supervisors to obtain background information regarding applicants such as whether rent is paid promptly and rented premises are properly cared for.
- Prepares reports to superior summarizing findings of investigations and recommending granting, changing or denial of rental assistance subsidy and informs applicants of outcome.
- Regularly reviews the files of each recipient to ensure continued eligibility for rental assistance and recommends changes to subsidies; conducts annual reviews for all subsidized tenants and performs additional interim reviews as required.
- Investigates suspected abuses of subsidies, rent arrears or other tenancy problems; gathers information from a variety of sources regarding the activities of subsidy recipients to make determinations regarding information reported; as appropriate, recommends changes in subsidies to superior.
- Provides information and assistance to the public and tenants regarding rental assistance subsidies and applicable departmental operations, regulations and procedures; handles sensitive enquiries pertaining to subsidies and related issues and seeks resolution.
- Prepares a variety of correspondence and reports, and establishes and maintains files and records related to the work.
- Performs related work as required.

**To be successful, you have**:

- Completion of Grade 12 supplemented by post-secondary courses related to the work, plus considerable related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Considerable knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies and procedures applicable to the work.
- Sound knowledge of provincial and federal housing program guidelines and of the financial assistance available through various social programs as such related to the work performed.
- Sound knowledge of the functions and operations of the department as it relates to the work.
- Working knowledge of the principles and practices of property management.
- Ability to conduct personal interviews with tact and diplomacy and to maintain a sympathetic and objective view of applicants’ problems.
- Ability to prepare a variety of correspondence and reports, and to establish and maintain files and records related to the work.
- Ability to provide information and assistance to the public and tenants regarding rental assistance subsidies and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts.
- Driver’s License for the Province of British Columbia.