Dr. Dẽ Nita Square-Smith

Experience

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  Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority

  Aug 2006 - Jun 2008

  Assisted Housing Supervisor

  Monitored daily operation of Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority’s portfolio of assisted housing programs: Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), Section 8 Mainstream, Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership, Family Self Sufficiency, Project-Based/ MOD, Welfare to Work, and Occupancy Housing Programs. Provide training to landlords to ensure affordable housing is diverse and inclusive to applicants. Supervised a staff (10-25) lead training instructor to staff and stakeholders on affordable housing programs and authorized the issuance of Housing Vouchers. Key Projects & Accomplishments: Lead investigator; reduced the number of program noncompliance cases and court appearances. Customized Employee Training; resulting in 5% acceleration of completed recertification backlogged. Monitored 2,900 cases that resulted in awarding 600 new participants housing vouchers. Audited housing performance measures, reducing 15% backlog recertifications and customer complaints. Show less

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  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

  Jul 2008 - now

  Inspected time sensitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) drafts to publication for compliance, editorial condition, and contract administration prior to publication for compliance with federal housing laws, regulations and policies. (i.e. Comprehensive Housing Counseling, Housing Counseling Training, Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Implementation Grant Programs, and Lead-Hazard Control in Public Housing). Reviews grant application for funding. Policy Advisor, Training Instructor, and Department Liaison for federal funded programs governing housing and community and economic development opportunities; responding/resolving program inquiries and diversity and inclusion within housing programs. Complete assigned special projects including Clearance Document reviews and editorials. Review new or proposed legislation or regulations to determine impact on program operations and management. Key Projects & Accomplishments: Interpreted policies for program offices that reduced NOFAs by 30%-50% in length. Composed Operating Procedures and new hire training manual to centralize NOFA processing. Trained 10-25 employees on NOFA processing increasing proper processing and NOFA trackingDesigned new quarterly award notice for Notice of Funding Availability Awards Updated 25-year-old Grants Management Handbook Show less Portfolio enforcement analyst assigned to 6-9 Virginia Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to ensure PHAs compliance with federally housing policies associated with PHAs perspective affordable housing programs. Technical advisor to Troubled PHAs and PHAs administering diverse affordable housing programs (i.e. Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), Section 8 Mainstream, Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership, Family Self Sufficiency, Project-Based/ MOD, Welfare to Work, Public Housing, Project/Tenant base housing, and Occupancy Housing Programs. Investigate Congressional inquiries regarding constituents receiving affordable housing assistance, program participation, and fair housing complaints. Key Projects & Accomplishments: Training Instructor and Technical advisor to PHAs; resulted in standard and high performing agencies. Negotiator for controversial public and congressional complaints; reduced program misuse. Targeted performance for 39 PHAs; recommending appropriate resolutions to problematic issues. Designed risk assessment profiles from research and analysis to develop mix communities. Show less

  • Management and Program Analyst

    Jan 2012 - now

  • Program Analyst Public Housing Revitalization Specialist

    Jul 2008 - Jan 2012
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  Rest Up4 LLC www.restup4.life

  Jan 2023 - now

  Founder & CEO Rest Up4 LLC Self- Care Small Business

  Small business owner promoting products and services focusing on self-care.