Preservation Specialist

The purpose of this role is to advance the work of affordable housing preservation in the City of Detroit. The role is the newest part of the Preservation Team within the Housing and Revitalization Department (HRD), which leads the implementation of programs and services that preserve affordability of housing for low-income Detroit residents. Much of this work will be done through three American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded programs created by the Housing and Revitalization Department:

• “Preservation Predevelopment Program”, a new iteration of a program to provide predevelopment services to affordable housing owners.
• Scatter Site Homeownership, a program that transitions portfolios of single-family homes and duplexes to homeownership for low-income residents.
• Tenant Engagement and Relocation Services, an effort to ensure that residents of affordable multifamily rental properties are aware of the processes they will go through when the buildings they live in are rehabilitated.

The person in this role will have two main focuses. The first is the preservation pipeline, specifically, identifying and reaching out to affordable housing owners to bring their properties into the preservation pipeline. The second focus is making sure that the Preservation Team maintains accurate information and efficient systems to track our preservation progress. They will report to the Affordable Housing Preservation Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with affordable housing owners
  • Develop and update presentations and other written materials that describe affordable housing preservation resources available via the City of Detroit
  • Assisting owners in addressing issues, developing or providing feedback on plans, agreements or other documents as needed
  • Connect preservation developers to existing resources (including resource network developed by Preservation Partnership; resources offered directly by the Partnership; community development financial institutions (CDFIs); Detroit Housing for the Future Fund (DHFF)
  • Perform initial review of Tenant Retention Plans submitted by developers for projects receiving City funds, tax abatements, or approved for modification through the Asset Review Committee (ARC).
  • Review preservation development scenarios, including proformas and sources & uses, to understand options for existing owners (or new owners) in executing preservation deals, and recommend preservation strategies as needed
• Proactively identify preservation deals to increase preservation pipeline
  • Conduct outreach to owners and managers who seek to understand or receive affordable housing preservation resources
  • Coordinate with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) regarding Detroit Housing for the Future Fund pipeline and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation regarding abatement pipeline
• Management of ARPA grants
  • Track billing and process invoices for ARPA subrecipient agreements
  • Manage communication with subrecipients
• Data management
  • Manage preservation acquisition opportunities, including list of interested preservation developers and list of potential acquisition or partnership deals
  • Manage multifamily affordable housing database, including pipeline of potential and active preservation projects; provide regular updates and information on preservation projects via regular reporting and by request.
• Coordination with other divisions and teams
  • Collect agenda items for, attend, and actively participate in Intergovernmental Group meetings
  • Attend Asset Review Committee (ARC) meetings; review memos from team, provide feedback as needed and incorporate updates into database
  • In partnership with subrecipient, coordinate tenant communications for preservation deals undergoing rehab, including representing the City at tenant meetings

BS degree and 2-3 years of professional experience.

• 
  Data management
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to build and manage relationships with developer partners

The following skills and knowledge are preferred:

• Development finance
• Knowledge of local, state and federal affordable housing financing and subsidy programs
• Knowledge of affordable housing preservation strategies
• Experience in tenant communications

Appointment term is based on availability of grant funds.