Program Specialist, Accessibility Services

The Program Specialist, Accessibility Services, supports the Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) centralized administration of reasonable accommodation requests for residents and applicants with disabilities.

Under the direction of the Manager, Accessibility the Specialist serves as the primary intake and coordination with our service providers for reasonable accommodation requests, ensuring that all submissions are reviewed, verified, documented, and completed in accordance with Section 504, ADA, FHA, and CHA policy.

This role requires a high level of attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to guide residents, applicants, and property staff through the reasonable accommodation process with clarity, patience, and professionalism.

The Specialist also contributes to broader Accessibility Services initiatives, including data tracking, resident support, and cross-department collaboration.

• Serve as the primary intake point for reasonable accommodation (RA) requests from public housing residents and applicants, ensuring timely review and processing.
• Complete assigned RA requests, including review of documentation, case notes, determination letters, resident notifications, and coordination with Service Providers, Property Management and other CHA departments.
• Conduct on ‑ site reasonable accommodation or modification assessments as needed to evaluate the feasibility of requested modifications, understand resident needs, and coordinate with Property Management and Maintenance teams.
• Ensure all RA determinations, correspondence, and supporting documentation are accurately recorded in YARDI and communicated to residents, applicants, and third-party contractor staff. Prepare RA documentation and recommendations for approval chain.
• Communicate with residents and applicants regarding the status of their accommodation request, explaining processes, policies, and next steps in clear and accessible language.
• Coordinate implementation of approved accommodations with Property Management, Maintenance, Property Office/Occupancy, and other CHA partners.