AmeriCorps VISTA Tenant Organizer
Housing Justice Center is hiring an AmeriCorps VISTA Tenant Organizer for the 2024-25 Service Year!
HJC Overview
Housing Justice Center (HJC) is a nonprofit public interest legal and policy advocacy organization dedicated to the production and preservation of affordable housing and the protection of the rights of people who need affordable places to call home. The tools we use for this work are community organizing, research, education, policy advocacy, and legal advocacy.
Our primary goals are to:
- Prevent affordable housing loss, tenant displacement, and exploitation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) households, people with disabilities, and low-wealth people
- Ensure people have real choices for safe, healthy, affordable, accessible, culturally adaptive, and convenient housing
- Support communities in building power to drive decision-making about their housing future
Overview of HJC VISTA Project
HJC’s AmeriCorps VISTA project will expand organizational capacity to address housing instability by educating tenants on their rights and building organizing infrastructure to support housing justice organizers, renters, and manufactured housing residents in Minnesota. The VISTA Tenant Organizer will build capacity by creating and updating organizing materials, developing and delivering tenant rights training and resources, and researching grant opportunities. They will also support the creation of a new annual report.
This VISTA Member is a part of HOME Line’s Tenant Organizing VISTA Project cohort.
VISTA Responsibilities
This project year, the VISTA will build organizing infrastructure through:
- Update the Manufactured Home Organizing Guide
- Identify and Create fact sheets and resource guides based on community needs
- Share and build trainings around community resources and maps
- Host tenant rights trainings for resident leaders
- Research grant opportunities and support the creation of an annual report
- Work in collaboration with other VISTA members in the HOME Line cohort to support and expand partnerships and complete project goals
- Engage in professional development activities to support personal leadership and growth
AmeriCorps Eligibility Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must have a high school diploma or GED. Some college may be helpful but is not required.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National or have status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.
AmeriCorps members must not engage in prohibited activities during their service year. Please review information on prohibited activities at: https://www.mcnvista.org/vista-policies
Finalists are required to provide two professional references and complete the online AmeriCorps application, as well as an FBI criminal background check. A criminal record does NOT necessarily disqualify you from a VISTA position.
Required Qualifications
- Dedication to participating in a year of national service
- Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of legal professionals, organizers, advocates, renters, and community partners
- Commitment to systems change and power-building with renters
- Effective communication & public speaking skills
- Strong writing, editing, and spreadsheet skills
- Strong technical skills with navigating computers and technology
- Strong social/emotional intelligence and relational skills
- Self-motivation and ability to take initiative
- Enthusiasm for working with individuals impacted by housing insecurity across a broad range of experiences including socioeconomic background, upbringing, religion, education, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and disability
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest in the housing justice and/or legal fields
- Experience with engaging stakeholders and bringing together a range of ideas
- Bilingual language skills in Spanish, Somali, and/or Hmong
Additional Information
- Service year runs from August 26, 2024 through August 25, 2025.
- Hybrid work schedule with two days in the office per week minimum
- Weekly Schedule: Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm, with flexibility allowed to complete project goals. Occasional evenings and weekends and travel into the Minneapolis/St Paul/Exurban Twin Cities area will be required.
- Car not required. Need to be able to commute to office and specific events as needed related to the role via transit or other personal transportation. License required to use Hour Car for limited community events.
- VISTA Members serve in a full-time capacity of 40 hours per week during their year-long term of service.
- Per AmeriCorps, VISTA Members may NOT be in school full-time or have another full-time position.
Benefits of Service
- Modest Living Allowance (approximately $877.66 pre-tax, biweekly. Current as of 6/14/24)
- $400 monthly housing stipend (paid directly to landlord or mortgage provider)
- Education award of $7,395 annually for each year of service, or an alternative cash stipend of $1,800 upon completion of service year
- VISTA Healthcare allowance of $8,550
- For VISTAs relocating more than 50 miles: $750 settling-in allowance in addition to mileage reimbursement
- Child care assistance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Those receiving public assistance (such as Social Security, SNAP/EBT, or housing subsidy) will not have eligibility or level of assistance affected. The stipend is excluded income in HUD subsidized rental housing.
- Federal student loan forbearance or credit toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program during the service year
- 10 vacation/personal days and 10 sick days plus HJC holidays
- Professional development opportunities and ongoing support and training
- Training in tenant/landlord laws, subsidized housing rules, and community organizing strategies
- Training from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs’ Neighborhoods Now! community organizing program
- VISTAs are allowed to have a part-time job or take part-time courses with supervisor approval
This program is available to all, without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, public assistance status, marital or parental status, and physical appearance. Reasonable accommodations provided upon request for interviews and service activities.
To APPLY: Please send a cover letter and resume to Angela Bonfiglio, Lead Housing Justice Organizer, at abonfiglio@hjcmn.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as soon as they are submitted. Priority submission is July 8, 2024.