NEOCH is Hiring a Housing Justice Community Organizer!
Position: Housing Justice Community Organizer
Reports to: Advocacy Director
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: Full-time, Monday – Friday, 9am - 5pm (some evenings and weekends)
Job Summary
The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) is seeking applicants for its full-time Housing Justice Community Organizer position. NEOCH is seeking a dynamic, passionate, and skilled organizer with experience in community organizing or social justice movement work, either professional or volunteer. You should apply if you are interested in running and winning campaigns for housing justice. NEOCH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to eliminate the root causes of homelessness while loving our diverse community through organizing, advocacy, education, and street outreach. This is a new role created to advance NEOCH’s organizing portfolio and advance the organization’s goal of mobilizing a grassroots constituency to share ideas and build power to ignite public support, political will, and initiatives to eliminate the root causes of homelessness and housing insecurity. In coordination with the Advocacy Director, Executive Director, and Director of Strategic Initiatives, the Housing Justice Community Organizer (HJCO) will work directly with residents to organize, educate, and build power to redress our country’s racist housing legacy and ensure that folks that are directly impacted are centered in this work towards housing justice.
For the last 30 years, NEOCH has been respected for our work to ensure that all people in Northeast Ohio who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness have equal access to justice, safe shelter, and secure housing. The Housing Justice Community Organizer will work to grow and nurture the housing justice movement in Cleveland by organizing to advocate for change. This position will provide regular community outreach, education, and leadership development support to build the capacity of renters in Cleveland to preserve, stabilize, and improve their housing. It will be critical for this position to develop an understanding of the fundamentals of organizing, affordable housing policy, undoing racism strategies, and to remain grounded in the City’s historical political context and focused on uprooting systems of oppression.
Task Responsibilities (including but not limited to):
In coordination with the Advocacy Director, develop a system to respond to inadequate housing conditions reported by renters and determine existing efforts and capacity for organizing in rental housing
In collaboration with community partners, establish a curriculum and community engagement strategy that educates renters on their housing rights and mobilizes them to respond to common predatory practices by landlords that often result in displacement and homelessness
Recruit, train, and develop tenant leaders to build a Housing Justice Organizing Coalition and unite passionate stakeholders to take on issues of housing insecurity and homelessness
Track, manage, and analyze data to inform campaign planning
Work to develop the skills, capacity, and analysis of renters through formal and informal leadership development work to encourage participation and a sense of ownership among members through relationship-building
Build grassroots capacity to manage eviction-prevention efforts
Organize tenants to link issues identified up to systems level advocacy and demand legislation and administrative policies that further fair housing and prevent homelessness (e.g., “pay to stay,” source-of-income protections, and shallow rent subsidies)
Provide support for renters to form associations at properties or in neighborhoods that lack cohesive representation and make connections to resources for renters to push for change in areas of concern
Connect and build broad-based housing justice advocacy and organizing in the community
Link stakeholders to NEOCH’s education, advocacy, and street outreach work to strengthen campaign work and connections to local organizing efforts
Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Experience and knowledge in community organizing, coalition building, and building power through grassroots organizing required
A minimum of five years of experience working with low-income individuals and/or those experiencing homelessness
Possession of a high school diploma or GED
Commitment to NEOCH’s mission, vision, and values
Commitment to fostering a work environment and organizing campaigns that challenge and undo racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-immigrant sentiment and other forms of prejudice and oppression
Proven experience working with the public, and developing and maintaining excellent relationships
Excellent oral, written, and organizational skills with attention to detail
Experience with Microsoft Suite, data entry, and documentation or commitment to learn (training can be provided)
Ability to work flexible hours in times of need, including weekends and evenings
Awareness of and adherence to strict boundaries and professional ethics in the care of others
Belief in the principles of self-determination, social justice, and equity
Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred
Ability to provide own transportation
Ability to lift and carry supplies equal to or greater than 30-50 pounds
Compensation:
Salary $35,000 (exempt)
Benefits:
Health insurance
10 vacation days / 10 personal PTO days
Paid federal holidays and birthday
NEOCH seeks to dismantle systems and forms of oppression- racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, classism - and we embrace cultural diversity. We are an equal opportunity employer.
Join our team!
Please send a cover letter and resume to chloe@neoch.org by October 8th, 2021