Program Officer - Afghan Housing Assistance

The Vermont Afghan Alliance is a Vermont-based non-profit working to assist and support the Afghan community resettling in Vermont. The Alliance seeks a Program Officer to lead an Afghan Housing Assistance Program funded by the State of Vermont. The Program will run from September 1, 2024 to August 30, 2025. The Program Officer will work to place Afghan individuals and families in appropriate housing in northern Vermont (primarily Chittenden, Franklin and Washington counties). 

Primary responsibilities include:

• Identifying appropriate housing, contacting landlords, arranging showings of property to prospective tenants, completing housing applications, assisting in the execution of leases, and assisting with basic household furnishings;
• Transporting clients as necessary to and from apartment/house showings and assisting with interpretation at such showings; 
• In coordination with the Alliance’s Operations Manager, managing the distribution of housing assistance funds;
• Assisting clients with applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Section 8, as applicable;
• Developing landlord relationships and maintaining positive tenant-landlord relationships, and assist with interpretation between tenant and landlord as needed;
• Referring clients to other housing programs, if necessary, if outside of the northern Vermont region or if the individual seeking assistance does not meet the criteria for service;
• Developing linguistically appropriate housing information and materials, as well as a criteria to guide the consistent provision of services and a housing agreement to guide expectations between the Alliance and clients; 
• Coordinating as needed with other Afghan refugee service providers, including USCRI-VT;
• Assisting with required grant reporting on outcomes achieved and recording keeping; and
• Assisting with the receipt and distribution of household furnishings. 

Desired Experience and Education:

• Interest in helping those fleeing persecution successfully build their lives in Vermont;
• Education and/or relevant professional experience working with housing placement or as a housing coordinator, in real estate, social services, community development, or refugee support services;
• Ability to work with clients with varying levels of literacy in person or by telephone;
• Knowledge of or a willingness to learn and to navigate community resources;
• Ability to drive to multiple locations;
• Ability to research housing options, and to build and maintain relationships with landlords;
• Ability to lift household items of varying weights (storage and homes);
• Excellent communication and customer service skills;
• Outstanding organizational skills;
• Experience working with interpretation services or the ability to speak Pashto and/or Dari;
• Demonstrated ability to work and thrive in a multicultural environment, across language barriers and cultural traditions and as part of a team; and
• Familiarity with Excel, Google suite or Microsoft Office suite.