JENNIFER VARELA
Indio,Ca
Summary
Personable housing specialist committed to maintaining positive communications and relationships with clients, property managers, landlords and housing agencies in the desert. Expertise in providing housing coordination services, supporting clients in maintaining independent housing goals and performing thorough housing inspections. Excellent case management, recordkeeping, and problem-solving capabilities.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Housing Specialist 1
Housing and Workforce Solutions
Indio, CA
10.2023 - Current
- Manage a caseload for a housing choice voucher program, process annual reexaminations for the Housing choice voucher program.
- Work with landlords, owners and property managers with the RFTA packet that is sent to them that needs to be filled out once a client finds housing. Negotiate rents to make sure they are under the payment standard and stay under the guidelines of the voucher program.
- Process relocation paperwork from start to finish, including receiving packet, property detail/rent comps, property management agreement, copy of lease signed by both parties, scheduling unit inspection, and following up with conducting the inspection.
- Send out certified repair notices if unit doesn't pass inspection, then reinspect unit following a minimum of 10 days to repair the issues.
- Enter HMIS data for each person in the household
- Assisted clients in understanding their rights and responsibilities as tenants, promoting healthy landlord-tenant relationships.
- Maintained accurate records of client interactions, ensuring confidentiality and efficient case management.
- Explained rental and housing regulations to clients and helped each discover best options for housing.
- Reviewed documentation and input data into computer system to complete eligibility process, re-certifications.
- Established positive rapport with clients by providing exceptional customer service and addressing their unique needs.
- Calculated tenant rent amount based on there income and assets.
Property Manager
AWI Management Corporation Bermuda Park Apartments
Bermuda Dunes, California
02.2021 - 06.2022
- Manage a property of 90 units in Bermuda Dunes Tax credit
- Oversee day-to-day operations of property, process application paperwork screen applicants
- Place applicants on waiting list except money order for application fees
- Recertification done on a monthly basis ensure all paperwork including lease and House Rules have signatures
- Collect rent and security deposit make deposits on a daily basis
- Complete maintenance request work orders ensure tenant maintenance needs are being done in a timely manner.
Housing Specialist 1 TAP
Riverside County Housing Authority
Indio, CA
09.2020 - 02.2021
- Work with the project room key clients on a daily basis, speak to the clients on a daily basis to ensure their well-being that they are in a safe place have open communication with each client
- Help assist each client in finding available resources to help them move out of homelessness
- Work with each client on a one-on-one basis to help find permanent housing with the income they have available
- Search for units online that are affordable for clients to apply for, help them find a place that accepts a Section 8 voucher
- If needed help clients with filling out applications for potential housing or applying for other assistance and resources that are available.
- Assisted clients in understanding their rights and responsibilities as tenants, promoting healthy landlord-tenant relationships.
- Maintained accurate records of client interactions, ensuring confidentiality and efficient case management.
- Explained rental and housing regulations to clients and helped each discover best options for housing.
- Reviewed documentation and input data into computer system to complete eligibility process.
- Assisted applicants in filling out housing applications and verifying assets.
Property Manager
Hyder & Company
Coachella, CA
09.2013 - 09.2020
- Manage a property of 52 units in Coachella, CA Tax Credit and HOME
- Preparing move-in packets to re-rent the units placing all applicants and tenants information into Yardi
- Updated waiting list, greet guest and tenants in a professional manner
- Ensure that residents are provided with a well-maintained community
- Prepare for annual Tax Credit and other government inspections
- Collect monthly rent payments and make deposits on a daily basis, received, process, and ensure proper payments to each unit, paid property bills weekly, maintain accurate recordkeeping of all invoices for the property
- Send out notices to the applicants and tenants for recertification’s and move-in process, file every day the proper forms in the tenants files
- Semiannual inspections in all units
- Ensure that all maintenance requests are handled appropriately in accordance with the company policies and procedures
- Work within the established budget and notify the regional property manager of any possible variations
- Responsible for oversight and preparation and process of all rental agreements and related forms, operate at a computer on a daily basis
- Oversee the work in process of outside contractors as it relates to work orders or capital budget
- Oversee all leasing in order to maintain the company’s occupancy standards.
- Handled tenant complaints promptly and appropriately, calling in repairmen, and other support services.
- Maintained positive landlord-tenant relationships, ensuring clear communication and prompt resolution of any disputes.
- Completed final move-out walk-throughs with tenants to identify required repairs.
- Conducted regular property inspections, identifying areas for improvement and proactively addressing potential safety hazards.
Property Manager
Hyder & Company
Mecca, CA
09.2011 - 12.2013
- Manage a property of 31 units in Mecca, CA Tax Credit and Rural Development
- Preparing move-in, placing all applicants and tenants information into ICAMS
- Updated waiting list, greet guest and tenants in a professional manner
- Prepare for annual Tax Credit and other government inspections
- Collect monthly rent payments and make deposits weekly
- Paid property bills weekly
- Send out notices to the applicants and tenants for recertification’s and move-in process
- Semiannual inspections in all units
- Responsible for oversight and preparation and process of all rental agreements and related forms
- Oversee the work in process of outside contractors as it relates to work orders or capital budget
- Oversee all leasing in order to maintain the company’s occupancy standards.
Assistant Manager
Professional Property Management
Rockford, IL
08.2009 - 09.2011
- Filing new resident’s contracts and recertification’s with the proper tax credit documentation
- Help manage a tax credit property and a RD property
- Prepare move-in packet for approval to move in
- Log residents work orders in the maintenance journal
- Greeting guests and answering the phone in a professional manner
- Updated waiting list, and send out notices to the applicants and tenants for recertification’s or move-in process
- Collect monthly rent payments and made deposits on a weekly basis to the bank
- Prepare for annual Tax Credit and other government inspections.
Education
General Education Graduate -
Coachella Valley High School
Thermal, CASkills
- Computer Literate in Microsoft, Excel, Word, Email outlook, Yardi Voyager and ICAMS 2282 TEAMS, TENMAST, shared drive
- Strong organizational and detail-oriented skills
- Effectively handle multiple tasks simultaneously
- Demonstrated ability to acquire and apply knowledge rapidly
- Independent work with minimal supervision and contribute to team
- Bilingual in Spanish such as speaking and reading
Affordable Housing Knowledge
Fair Housing Regulations
Tenant rights
Certification
Certificate of Fair Housing Training, 03/24/21
References
Gina Marassco
Saira Aguiar
Housing Specialist III
Lupe Gomez
Regional Supervisor
Kim Warren
Housing Specialist I
Laura Lucio
Housing Specialist II
Timeline
Housing Specialist 1
Housing and Workforce Solutions
10.2023 - Current
Property Manager
AWI Management Corporation Bermuda Park Apartments
02.2021 - 06.2022
Housing Specialist 1 TAP
Riverside County Housing Authority
09.2020 - 02.2021
Property Manager
Hyder & Company
09.2013 - 09.2020
Property Manager
Hyder & Company
09.2011 - 12.2013
Assistant Manager
Professional Property Management
08.2009 - 09.2011
General Education Graduate -
Coachella Valley High School