Kentucky Equal Justice Center seeks one to two energetic Housing Outreach Workers to:
help low-income residents of Kentucky who are facing eviction apply for rental assistance, get legal help with evictions, and get referrals to other community resources
provide intake support to the Housing Justice Project clients
work with community partners across the state to prevent Kentuckians from being evicted and to stabilize housing for low-income and marginalized Kentuckians
The Housing Outreach Organizer & Intake Coordinator will join our versatile outreach and advocacy team in a collaborative effort with all four regional Kentucky legal aid programs and with our own immigration law program at Maxwell Street Legal Clinic. The goal: to keep Kentuckians safe and housed during the pandemic and beyond.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Housing Outreach Organizer will:
Establish connections and participate in communications with all community partners directly involved with the rental assistance programs statewide
Help staff and support community outreach through pandemic-safe channels, including presentations, tabling at community events, potential radio appearances, and distribution of flyers in locations where volunteer organizations and individuals can be recruited to support the ongoing efforts of the rental assistance program
Promote and make referrals to rental assistance application clinics and other resources provided by Legal Aid Program staff or KEJC Housing Justice attorneys
Field incoming housing-related inquiries by phone, web, and email and provide appropriate information, intake, or referral to rental assistance application clinics and other resources provided by Legal Aid program staff
Meet with people who are being evicted or who are in danger of eviction to assess their needs and provide them with information about housing resources
Address barriers that interfere with clients' ability to effectively participate in saving their housing and conduct activities to connect clients to wrap-around community services
Provide hands-on application assistance for a limited number of cases; help identify what works and what doesn't; and advocate for continuous improvement in application and approval processes through the channels established with the community partners
Help and support the Housing Outreach Lead to create housing-oriented outreach materials in consultation with our Senior Counsel and Housing Justice Attorney, including flyers, webinars, presentations, and blogs
Work with other KEJC staff to develop content and target social media messages that encourage and empower people to get rental assistance and legal help
Work closely with our Housing Justice Attorney and Senior Counsel to understand and improve the functionality of our online apps to connect people with rental protections, assistance, and legal help
Coordinate and collaborate with KEJC and legal aid program staff through Zoom calls and meetings, including development of a language access plan, referral pathways for direct representation, and continuous improvement of systems and support
Assist Kentucky Equal Justice Center's Director, Housing Justice Attorney, and Resource Organizer in reporting on project activities and outcomes
Participate in professional development in communication, organizing, or other skills related to the above job duties and responsibilities, attend Consumer & Housing Task Force meetings coordinated by Housing Justice Attorney
Location
KEJC has offices in Lexington and Louisville, but we seek to hire the most outstanding candidate for this position. We consider geographic diversity within Kentucky both a strength and a challenge. We will explore it with candidates invited to interview for the positions.
Salary and Benefits
Salary based on experience and our salary scale. Illustrative examples: $39,304 at two years, $44,260 at five years. Generous fringe benefits include health and retirement, dental, life and disability coverage. KEJC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, but we provide health and retirement benefits through participation in state employee plans.
Grant Funded Position with Potential Renewal
The Housing Outreach Organizer and Intake Coordinator position is funded through a subgrant from the Kentucky Housing Corporation from American Rescue Plan, Emergency Rental Assistance 2 (ERA2) funds. Over time, sustainability may depend on new sources of support.
Starting Date
November 1, 2021, or as soon as possible.
Diversity Statement
KEJC welcomes your application. As an organization, we are committed to anti-racism and are working to build a racial justice framework into our programming and policy initiatives. We acknowledge our history as a predominately white organization and are committed to ending white supremacy. Doing so is essential to our objective of full equality for all people.
KEJC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Women, people of color, transgender individuals and members of other underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply. KEJC also supports and encourages people who were formerly convicted to be active in their community. Background checks results that indicate a conviction do not necessarily disqualify you from employment. KEJC reserves the right to request further information to fully assess an applicant's candidacy in relation to the job duties associated with the position.
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with a focus on clear communications to public audiences
Comfort speaking in front of groups
Comfort working in a multicultural setting, with sensitivity to language, race, ethnicity and cultural issues
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
Ability to use office and computer technology, including case management, spreadsheets and word processing software
Facility with social media and web-based communications tools
Ability to work within a team but also to be a self-starter in developing and carrying out activities
Knowledge of low-income issues
Commitment to racial justice, diversity, equity and inclusion
Proficiency in a second language, especially Spanish, is strongly preferred.
Kentucky Equal Justice Center
Lexington, KY