Southside Together
Organizing for Power (STOP)
Posting
Date: April 2, 2015
Position
Available
VISTA
Affordable Housing Preservation Project (VAHPP)
Organizer
(VAD)
Position Summary:
Southside
Together Organizing for Power is seeking a VISTA Organizer to build the
capacity of tenant associations in eligible Project-based Section 8 U.S.
Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)-assisted properties to
increase tenants’ knowledge of their rights, responsibilities, and options for
preserving their homes and improving their communities.
The
Organizer with work directly with the VISTA Supervisor to build the capacity of
tenant organizations through outreach, education, leadership development, and
legal aid over the period of the project.
Responsibilities:
o With, Supervisor, provide
training in tenants’ rights, HUD housing subsidies, and organizational and
leadership develop to targeted tenant associations
o Work in close partnership
with VAHPP Legal Fellows based in the same geographic area
o Help tenants identify
critical areas of need and goals and strategies for selected buildings
o Coordinate tenant efforts to
engage owners, public officials, and HUD and other agencies to preserve and
improve targeted properties
o Assist tenant associations
in networking and building alliances with other tenant association and allies
in their local areas and nationwide
o Assist tenant associations
in obtaining services through negotiation with owners and referrals to other
agencies
o Assist sponsor in raising
funds for at least one tenant leader from targeted buildings to attend the June
NAHT training conference in Washington, D.C.
o Participate in at least ¾ of
bi-weekly NAHT Network training calls and NAHT Network task forces, as
appropriate
o Participate in the monthly
Housing meetings (@ least 5)
o Develop written reports on
“best practices” and victory stories and related material to share with NAHT,
EJW, other VAHPP project partners and tenant associations
o Track the number of
organizations and tenants that receive capacity building services through an
activity log
o Track increased request for
organizing assistance made to local sponsoring organizations
Qualifications:
ü The ideal candidate will have
at least two years of work or volunteer experience with an active tenant
association
ü Knowledgeable in computer
skills; email, social media, word and excel
ü Is self motivated, and is a
good team player
ü Available to travel locally
and nationally to mandatory meetings
ü Able to work in a timely and
professional manner
About STOP:
Southside
Together Organizing for Powers’ mission is to advance economic and social human
rights by organizing and developing leadership among people most affected by
economic and racial oppression.
STOP
is located on the south side of Chicago in the Woodlawn and neighboring
communities. We have a robust housing,
mental health, and youth (Fearless Leading by the Youth) driven campaigns. We are members of the National Alliance of
HUD Tenants and in coalition with the Chicago Housing Initiative (CHI).
Salary and Benefits:
Paid
directly through the VISTA program
Salary
$12,276
Health
Dental
Employee
Assistance
Local
& mandatory national transportation
Allowable
reimbursable expenses for housing, student loans, food, relocation
Eligible
for federal student loan forbearance
Student
loan assistance
$5,645
education award at the end of the service year
Equal
Justice will cover training benefits
To Apply:
Please
submit your application to:
Application
will be accepted April 3 – April 17, 2015. Appointments will be scheduled
during the week of April 20th, and applicants will be notified in writing. It is out intention to have someone start the
position May 1, 2015 at the earliest. Please submit your application one line directly
to VISTA and your resume to STOP.
VISTA
On Line Contact:
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=58341&fromSearch=true
STOP
Contact Information:
Southside
Together Organizing for Power
602
E 61st Street
Chicago,
Illinois 60637
773-217-9598
Stopjobs@gmail.com
Southside
Together is an Equal Opportunity Employer