Leasing Eligibility Technician

Internal Close Date: July 31, 2025

Grade Level: 6A

Salary: $29.60 - 35.38 per hour

Note: Starting pay rates are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. New employees typically start in the lower half of range, but experts in their field may be considered for starting pay rates in the top half of the range.

Department/Location: Leasing, Occupancy, and Compliance

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to determine initial eligibility, including screening and continuing eligibility for the Public Housing and Tax Credit Programs, verifying accuracy of eligibility determinations and calculations, processing a variety of forms and documents, preparing related correspondence and reports. Must be able to learn and apply multi-layered guidelines that are predominantly standardized but complex within the specific role but with an understanding of the work conducted across the department and how the work is interconnected.

All activities must support the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority’s (“MPHA” or “Authority”) mission, vision, and values.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The position duties and responsibilities listed below describe the general nature and scope of work. Other responsibilities, duties and skills may be required and assigned, as needed.

• Responds to telephone, email, and in-person inquiries from applicants, tenants, and property management regarding the availability of and eligibility requirements for Public Housing Programs and a variety of questions related to Minneapolis Public Housing’s Leasing, Occupancy and Compliance (LOC)Policies and Procedures, and HUD Regulations, e.g., rent concerns, changes in family income/deductions or family composition, recertification and interim changes, lease add on, transfers, and new move-ins.
• Reviews application information to determine suitability and eligibility requirements for Public Housing Programs.
• Runs reports for: Minnesota Courts Information System (MNCIS), States BCA Criminal background; credit; Immigration Naturalization System (INS); Wage Detail (employment); and county property records. Uses the results of those reports for eligibility and continued occupancy determinations.
• Submits fingerprints and analyzes the criminal history reports to determine eligibility based on our Statement of Policies. Determines if applicant is required to be submitted for further review.
• Prepares and presents information to the Manager of LOC along with a recommendation to either continue processing or deny application.
• Determines necessary verifications of household income using the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System and other means verify deductions and exclusions the household claimed; ensures the tenants rent is accurately calculated per HUD regulations and MPHA Policy; enters information into Yardi and processes the HUD 50058; prepares Lease Addendum/Contract Addendums and distributes to Property Management and tenant(s) within the time frame of policy.
• Explains lease provisions and family obligations, rent computations, and security deposit procedures to applicants who are accepting Public Housing, Tax credits and Project Based units.
• Compiles necessary verifications of income/deductions and computes rent amounts for program admissions.
• Processes interim rent adjustment when there are changes to program, family composition or benefits (e.g., utility allowances, income/deductions, or rent increases). Prepares and mails Lease Addendum.
• Identifies unreported or misrepresented income; prepares rent loss adjustments and submits adjustments to Assistant Manager of LOC. Presents evidence for formal and informal grievance hearings to explain retro-rent and may testify in court, as needed.
• Creates and maintains reports for the assigned caseload to track progress on resident and applicant processing; and identifies challenges to meeting department goals, to present to department management.
• Records and monitors vacant units on Smartsheet; offers vacant units in accordance with MPHA offering policy and procedures and per HUD regulation. Signs leases and related materials with new tenants and transfers information and deposits to Yardi. Resolves problems and issues as necessary.
• Monitors tenants that qualify for the Earned Income Disallowance (EID) and adjusts monthly rent according to HUD and Moving to Work (MTW) guidelines. Correctly tracks program participation information in the EID Smartsheet.
• Corrects internal audit findings and works with management, colleagues, and quality assurance to maintain compliance standards.
• Works with Property Managers and HCV employees to promote quality and meaningful housing by explaining the housing lease and rules, clarifying rent calculations, and addressing ledger and payment issues with rent collections with Property Managers and residents.
• Communicates with outside partners such as community services organizations, social workers from Hennepin County, or other housing authorities to ensure continual and accurate housing assistance.
• Maintains and updates knowledge of Statement of Policy and procedural guidelines to ensure accurate decisions are being made.
• Maximizes occupancy by creating and managing a workflow comprised of processing requirements with specific timelines and interim/emergent needs.
• Employs established policies and procedures in the review and processing of participant files and applies an educated and thoughtful method of analysis for extrapolating said policies and procedures for unique and non-recurring situations related to the assessment of continued eligibility and compliance.
• Applies specific policies and procedures related to special programs when screening as part of caseload composition. For example, assisted living applicants, applicants from the Hennepin County Coordinated Entry, referrals from Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) and Tax credit properties.
• Works to meet and exceed established Key Performance Indicators for the position.
• May train and assist new staff in interpreting policies, procedures, and file processing.
• Promptly completes recertification process on all eligible tenants for continued occupancy and contacts tenants to schedule appointments to verify income/family composition; interviews to review information; verifies any changes in income/deductions family composition or related information; explains program requirements, policies, and procedures and determines if housing will be continued; completes recertification process on all eligible tenants.
• Recertifies “zero income families” every 90 days until income is established.
• Assures compliance with HUDs Community Service Requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Behavioral Competencies

MPHA expects all employees to exhibit the following behavioral skills:

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors, and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; and recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; and persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Effective Communication: Employee is prepared, clear, concise, and organized in all facets of communication in order to fully establish understanding. Actively listens and understands the audience to adapt message appropriately. Communicates information with appropriate personnel in a timely manner.

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Initiative: Proactively seeks solutions to resolve unexpected challenges. Actively assists others without formal/informal direction. Possesses the capacity to learn and actively seeks developmental feedback. Applies feedback for continued growth by mastering concepts needed to perform work.

Work Environment

The work of this position is performed entirely on-site in support of our agency's mission. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment requires a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with persons from diverse economic, social, and ethnic backgrounds, including new immigrants, limited English language proficiency clients, and clients with a variety of mental health issues and other disabilities.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Education and/or Experience

Associate's degree and a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience providing administrative support for low-income housing programs or similar populations. Customer service-related experience desired. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Some positions may require possession of a valid driver’s license. Those positions may also require use of a personal vehicle and evidence of individual automobile insurance coverage, or the ability to be insurable under the Authority’s automobile insurance plan at the standard rate. Must pass a criminal history background check.

Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, the employee should have strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, and Outlook). Must have the ability to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks. Yardi Voyager experience preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position. Daily movements include sitting; standing; reaching and grasping; operating computers and other office equipment; moving about the office; and attending onsite and offsite meetings. The employee must be able to exchange information in person, in writing, and via telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 25 pounds.