Housing Programs Advisor - Waterloo, Canada - Region of Waterloo

Region of Waterloo

Verified Company

Waterloo, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Our Story:

Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach.

Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect and innovation.

This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.

The Opportunity:

Coordinates and administers housing programs and operating agreements with
primarily non-profit and co-operative housing providers, their residents, and some
private landlords. Ensures divisional objectives are met. Provides advice, guidance, and
direction to housing providers and others regarding operating agreements, housing
policies and programs, property management practices, and the impact of relevant
legislation. Develops and implements education and outreach initiatives for housing
providers. Makes recommendations regarding policy development.

Ensures housing providers understand and comply with Regional community housing and administration policies, legislation and regulations, and general operating agreements between providers and the Region.
Undertakes, as part of a multidisciplinary team, regular monitoring and periodic operational reviews to ensure housing providers are in full compliance with program requirements for financial, property and building asset management, contracts, tenant relations and governance operations, including conflicts of interest.
Works with housing providers regarding outstanding issues arising from operational reviews or other monitoring mechanisms to ensure housing providers develop plans to ensure full compliance with operating agreements and policies.
Identifies and assesses significant difficulties such as outstanding capital repair costs or financial deficits, with Manager. Develops and implements intervention strategies to resolve, up to and including termination of funding agreements.
Develops and recommends, and upon approval implements strategies to work with projects that do not comply with legislation and projects in difficulty to minimize risks incurred by the Region, potentially involving forensic auditors or police investigation. In extreme cases, upon approval oversees the process for separate agreements between the Region and specific housing providers.
Acts as primary contact for housing providers to provide information, advice, and direction including interpretation of legislation and housing program policies.
Provides advice regarding property management methods and good business practices, including financial advice, preparing operating and capital budgets, interpreting financial statements, and drafting deficit reduction plans. Provides information to tenants, coop members, agencies, and the public on legislation and programs. Investigates complaints and inquiries regarding housing provider operating practices.
Provides outreach services and training to housing providers on program requirements. Recommends, prepares, and develops training materials. Liaises with housing sector organizations to assist in training and professional standards of operation. Provides advice and guidance to housing provider boards on governance issues. Facilitates organizational capacity and selfsufficiency through staff/board development.
Provides recommendations to enhance the delivery of community housing, such as improving service standards, developing templates for operational and rent geared to income reviews, and drafting or critiquing housing policy and procedures. Attends, on behalf of the Region, committees to deal with housing program issues. Researches other municipalities' approaches to related issues. Prepares written documents for and presents findings to senior departmental staff.
Liaises with Ministry staff regarding provincial housing program requirements.
Represents the Region in discussions and negotiations with the Ministry.
Monitors legislation, regulations, and guidelines impacting housing programs.
Works with manager to monitor compliance of providers funded under the
Region's Affordable Housing Strategy.
Works with other divisional staff to analyze legislation and regulations, implement guidelines, and prepare recommendations on housing program issues to staff,
Council, committees, agencies, Ministries, area municipalities, and interest groups.
Assists to track administrative reporting requirements. Receives confidential information from local community housing providers and community housing residents to analyze and assist to resolve outstanding case issues.
Provides advice and assistance to Council.
Performs re