[act-ma] Organizing Opportunity at Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants

[kaymathews at saveourhomes.org]

Job Description: Lead Organizer
  Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants
  Jamaica Plain, MA

  The Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants (MAHT), a tenant-controlled
alliance of resident associations in HUD-subsidized multi-family housing,
seeks an experienced Lead Organizer to organize and support tenants
fighting to save and improve their homes in Eastern and Central
Massachusetts. As Lead Organizer, s/he will play a role in supervising the
organizing team, including coordination of two critical MAHT projects: 1)
the integration of voter registration strategies with tenant organizing
goals; and, 2) potential VISTA volunteer program. As the oldest and most
accomplished HUD tenant coalition in the US, MAHT has preserved more than
9,700 apartments through tenant organizing since 1983. MAHT has 38 tenant
association and organizing committee members representing more than 8,000
families. MAHT is the Massachusetts affiliate of the National Alliance of
HUD Tenants, the only national tenants union in the US, with which MAHT
shares office and staff. MAHT and NAHT play a key role in fighting for
policies to save privately-owned, HUD subsidized housing at risk of
conversion to market rents.

  Responsibilities Include:

   * Help coordinate MAHT field organizing efforts, including intensive
door-knocking drives

   * Assist HUD tenants in organizing and strengthening tenant groups at
the building level

   * Assist tenant leadership in setting goals, strategizing and building
campaigns to save and improve at-risk HUD housing, including
resident-controlled ownership where feasible

   * Assist tenant leadership in conducting participatory planning and
training workshops

   * Manage Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization (VREM) and VISTA
volunteer projects, including supervision & field training for part-time
VREM organizers & VISTA Volunteers, grant management and reporting

   * Develop fliers, newsletters, Action Alerts, fact sheets and other
materials and post them to the web

   * Help tenant groups negotiate with owners and agencies for repairs,
services and affordable rents

   * Involve tenants in city-wide, statewide and national activities,
coalitions, and campaigns

   * Assist tenant groups in assembling appropriate technical resources

   * Help coordinate National Alliance of HUD Tenants Annual Save Our Homes
Conference


  Qualifications:

   * Commitment to social change and the empowerment of low and moderate
income people

   * Experience working with racially and economically diverse groups of
people

   * Organizing experience, preferably in the housing field

   * Project-management and supervisory experience; knowledge of A*VISTA
program helpful

   * Knowledge of HUD housing issues or ability to learn

   * Experience with VREM campaigns and integration of voter databases with
organizing campaigns

   * Grassroots leadership-training experience and knowledge of popular
education methods

   * Experience in planning and coordinating large meetings, events and
campaigns

   * Strong administrative, oral and written communication skills

   * Excellent computer skills including all MS applications; database and
web experience helpful

   * Ability to work as a creative contributing member of a strong staff
team

   * Ability and willingness to travel in Eastern/Central Massachusetts and
to Washington DC

   * Must have cell phone, driver’s license, a car or routine access to a
car

   * Bi-lingual capacity (Spanish, Creole, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese)
helpful

   * Grasp of big picture with an eye for detail

   * Possessing initiative, enthusiasm, sense of humor, and a collaborative
approach

   * Available to work evenings and weekends

  Salary & benefits: Mid 30’s to Low 40’s, depending on experience. 2/3
health and dental insurance for individual, family health negotiable. Two
weeks paid vacation first year, more thereafter.

  People of color, women, and residents of multifamily HUD housing are
strongly encouraged to apply.

  Please e-mail your resume and cover letter to maht at saveourhomes.org by
February 5, 2010.
  No phone calls please.
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