Bandula Hettiarachchi
Norwalk,CA
Summary
Accomplished Housing Specialist with a proven track record at Volunteers of America, Los Angeles, excelling in affordable housing and negotiation. Leveraged housing quality standards and landlord relations to enhance community living conditions. Skilled in case management, significantly improved client access to supportive services, demonstrating strong problem-solving and communication abilities.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Housing Specialist II
Volunteers of America, Los Angeles
Santa Ana, CA
06.2024 - Current
- Assisted in the implementation of public housing policies and procedures.
- Communicated with housing managers and rental agencies on behalf of clients.
- Assisted clients with permanent housing transitions.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments of clients' housing needs, preferences, and financial capabilities.
- Connected individuals with relevant community resources and coordinated referrals.
- Reviewed applications and documents for accuracy and completeness.
- Conducted housing inspections to ensure properties met health and safety standards.
- Made referrals to utilize community resources for resident's needs.
- Advised clients on their rights as tenants in accordance with local laws and regulations.
- Collaborated with social workers to support patients.
- Conducted assessments to determine eligibility for rental assistance programs.
- Participated in community meetings to discuss housing issues.
- Coordinated with social service agencies to provide clients with access to supportive services.
Housing Specialist II
OC Housing Authority
Santa Ana, CA
10.2016 - 01.2024
- Found affordable housing options for individuals and families.
- Assessed eligibility of applicants in accordance with predetermined criteria to fill vacancies.
- Educated clients on lease and rental agreements.
- Implemented community outreach programs to raise awareness of housing services and resources.
- Served as a liaison between governmental agencies and other stakeholders involved in providing safe and affordable housing solutions.
- Facilitated housing workshops and seminars for clients covering topics such as tenant rights, budgeting, and home maintenance.
- Negotiated leases between landlords and tenants in order to secure affordable rental units.
- Provided assertive community-based rehabilitation and case management services to high-risk mentally ill patients.
- Coordinated with maintenance staff to address and resolve housing repair issues promptly.
- Conducted housing inspections to ensure properties met health and safety standards.
- Assisted in the implementation of public housing policies and procedures.
- Trained new staff and volunteers on housing policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Verified assets and income for applicants.
- Maintained accurate records, files, and reports of program activities.
- Safeguarded patient privacy with strict adherence to HIPAA protocols.
- Inspected properties to ensure they meet safety standards prior to tenant occupancy.
English Instructor
Sabaragamuwa University Of Sri Lanka
Belihuloya, Sri Lanka
01.1994 - 06.2005
- Taught English classes to students of various levels.
- Created exciting lessons on course material to educate and engage students in classroom.
- Facilitated small group activities to promote collaboration among students.
- Monitored student performance during tests and exams in order to ensure they followed proper procedures while taking them.
- Utilized a variety of assessment methods including oral presentations, portfolios, quizzes and writing assignments.
- Encouraged students to participate in class discussions, debates and activities to foster language development.
- Tutored students requiring extra assistance to help improve grades and better understand class material.
- Developed and implemented lesson plans to meet the individual needs of students.
- Maintained accurate records of student attendance, grades and behavior in accordance with school policies.
- Collaborated with other instructors to create innovative curriculum for English classes.
- Developed and delivered engaging English lessons to students of various ages, abilities and backgrounds.
- Utilized technology resources to develop immersive, informative lessons.
Secondary English Language Teacher
Majeediyya School
Male, Rep. Of Maldives
01.1999 - 12.2000
- Worked with English language learners in small groups to develop fluency.
- Collaborated with faculty and academic administrators to implement program changes and evaluate learning outcomes.
- Assisted students in understanding the use of grammar rules while speaking or writing in English.
- Created lesson plans to address needs of entry-level and upper-level science students.
- Developed and implemented activities and lessons to improve vocabulary and sentence structure.
- Met with parents and administration to advocate for student needs.
- Assessed student classroom performance to report on progress.
- Collaborated with other teachers in order to share best practices in teaching English language effectively.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ12-2011
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Sri Jayewardenapura
Colombo, Sri Lanka02-2004
Skills
- Section 8 administration
- Affordable housing
- Housing counseling
- Housing quality standards
- Negotiation
- Affordable Housing Knowledge
- Case management
- Landlord relations
- Rent calculation
- Occupancy standards
Affiliations
- International Cricket Council Certified Umpire Level 1 Instructor
Certification
- NAHRO certified Housing Quality Standard Inspector
- English Specialist Trained Teacher (Certified by English Teacher Training College - Sri Lanka)
Timeline
Housing Specialist II
Volunteers of America, Los Angeles
06.2024 - Current
Housing Specialist II
OC Housing Authority
10.2016 - 01.2024
Secondary English Language Teacher
Majeediyya School
01.1999 - 12.2000
English Instructor
Sabaragamuwa University Of Sri Lanka
01.1994 - 06.2005
MBA - Business Administration
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Sri Jayewardenapura