Home Journey Housing Counselor – Long-Term Services

Description

 The Homeownership Housing Counselor – Long-Term Services provides intensive, ongoing housing counseling and financial coaching to individuals and families who require extended support to achieve long-term housing stability and eventual homeownership. This position works with clients who may need more than one year of counseling due to financial barriers, credit challenges, income instability, or other obstacles that require sustained intervention.

The counselor develops long-term relationships with clients, providing individualized coaching, accountability, resource navigation, and education while helping families build the financial habits and stability necessary for successful homeownership. This position serves as an individual contributor and collaborates with internal program staff and community partners to coordinate services that address each family's unique needs.

Requirements

What You'll Do

Provide Long-Term Housing Counseling & Financial Coaching

• Deliver comprehensive housing counseling and financial coaching services to individuals and families requiring ongoing support.
• Maintain an active caseload of clients who require services extending beyond one year.
• Conduct comprehensive financial assessments, including income, expenses, debt, credit, savings, and overall financial health.
• Develop individualized action plans with measurable goals designed to support long-term financial stability and future homeownership.
• Conduct  recurring counseling sessions to monitor progress, evaluate challenges, and adjust plans as circumstances evolve.
• Provide accountability, encouragement, and coaching to help clients stay engaged and focused on achieving their goals.

Strengthen Financial Capability & Housing Stability

• Educate clients on budgeting, credit improvement, debt reduction, savings strategies, and overall financial wellness.
• Help families develop sustainable financial habits that support long-term success.
• Assist clients in preparing for future mortgage qualification and homeownership readiness.
• Support clients through life events that may impact financial stability, including employment changes, family transitions, unexpected expenses, or financial setbacks.
• Empower clients to overcome barriers while building confidence and self-sufficiency.

Connect Clients to Resources & Support Services

• Identify client needs and connect families with internal Habitat programs and community resources.
• Coordinate referrals for workforce development, financial assistance, legal services, housing stability programs, and additional supportive services.
• Build collaborative relationships with community organizations and service providers.
• Partner with lenders, social service agencies, and community stakeholders to support comprehensive client success.

Coordinate Client Services & Program Outcomes

• Collaborate closely with Habitat Omaha staff to ensure services are aligned and responsive to client needs.
• Monitor client progress toward milestones and identify opportunities for additional intervention or support.
• Encourage participation in homebuyer education and financial capability programs.
• Promote a positive and supportive client experience through responsive communication and relationship-building.

Manage Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain detailed case notes, client records, and supporting program documentation.
• Ensure compliance with agency, funding, and HUD-related requirements.
• Track client outcomes and progress through established reporting systems.
• Meet program productivity standards, performance goals, and reporting expectations.
• Support continuous improvement efforts by identifying trends, challenges, and opportunities that strengthen program outcomes.

What You'll Experience

Mission in Action

Every family you serve moves closer to financial stability, housing security, and the dream of sustainable homeownership.

Meaningful Relationships

You'll develop long-term relationships with clients and have the opportunity to witness their growth, resilience, and success over time.

Community Impact

Your work helps strengthen families, neighborhoods, and communities through increased access to affordable housing and financial empowerment.

Purpose-Driven Work

You'll have the opportunity to make a lasting difference by supporting families through life-changing financial and housing milestones.

What Success Looks Like

• Clients demonstrate measurable progress toward financial stability and homeownership readiness.
• Families successfully improve budgeting, savings, credit, and debt management practices.
• Long-term counseling clients remain engaged and actively working toward identified goals.
• Housing stability barriers are identified and addressed through coordinated support and intervention.
• Client case files and documentation remain accurate, organized, and compliant.
• Strong partnerships are maintained with community organizations and service providers.
• Program productivity, reporting, and outcome goals are achieved or exceeded.
• Clients feel supported, respected, empowered, and connected to resources throughout their journey.
• Habitat Omaha continues expanding pathways to affordable homeownership and long-term housing stability.

What You Bring

Education & Experience

• Associate's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• Two to four years of experience in housing counseling, case management, financial coaching, social services, banking, nonprofit services, or a related field.
• Experience working with families experiencing financial, housing, or economic challenges preferred.
• Experience managing long-term client relationships and caseloads is highly valued.

Skills & Strengths

Relationship Building: Ability to establish trust and maintain meaningful client relationships over extended periods.

Financial Coaching: Strong understanding of budgeting, savings, debt reduction, credit improvement, and financial capability.

Case Management: Ability to manage multiple client files while maintaining consistent engagement and follow-through.

Communication: Strong verbal, written, listening, and interpersonal communication skills.

Coaching & Accountability: Ability to motivate, guide, and support clients through complex financial and personal challenges.

Problem Solving: Skilled in identifying barriers and connecting clients with practical solutions and resources.

Empathy & Compassion: Ability to serve clients with professionalism, cultural responsiveness, and a trauma-informed approach.

Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, community organizations, lenders, and service providers.

Mission Focus: Passion for helping families achieve long-term housing stability and affordable homeownership.

Technology

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and related technology platforms.
• Experience using case management software, databases, and reporting systems preferred.
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize housing counseling and client management software.
• Comfortable maintaining electronic case files, documentation, and program reporting requirements.

Additional Qualifications

• Bilingual language skills are a plus.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive client information with discretion.
• Demonstrated commitment to equitable, client-centered, and culturally responsive services.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout Habitat Omaha's service area as needed.

Schedule & Travel Requirements

• Primarily office-based position with occasional community outreach, partner meetings, and client support activities.
• Some evening and weekend appointments may be required to meet client and program needs.
• Occasional travel throughout Habitat Omaha's service area is required.
• Ability to maintain flexibility in scheduling to support client engagement and program success.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone.
• Ability to move throughout office, community, and partner locations as needed.
• Ability to occasionally transport program materials, resources, and training supplies.
• Vision and hearing sufficient to effectively perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Why It Matters

Many families face significant financial, credit, and life challenges that cannot be resolved through short-term intervention alone. The Homeownership Housing Counselor – Long-Term Services provides the consistent guidance, coaching, and support needed to help families navigate these challenges and build a foundation for long-term success.

By creating trusted relationships, connecting clients to critical resources, and helping families strengthen their financial capability over time, this role directly advances Habitat Omaha's mission of expanding access to affordable homeownership and housing stability. Through education, accountability, and compassionate support, the counselor helps individuals and families build financial independence, achieve lasting housing security, and create opportunities for future generations.

Equal Opportunity Policy

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha (Habitat Omaha) actively recruits, employs, trains, and compensates employees regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, Habitat Omaha complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including workplace harassment.   

At Habitat Omaha, we have a clear vision to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and to do their best work. Our vision is to see a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live, and we know our company runs on the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees. Our dedication to promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion is clearly reflected in the work that we do externally in the community, as well as internally with our employment practices.