Tenants receiving federal Section 8 rental housing subsidies face the possible loss of their homes due to the expiration of subsidy contracts. As a result, tens of thousands of low-income seniors and families could be displaced, as well as desperately needed affordable housing lost. The organizer's job is to help establish HUD tenant associations to involve affected residents to utilize existing laws to improve living conditions and preserve this affordable housing.
The Los Angeles Center for Affordable Tenant Housing (LACATH) is a non-profit community organization created and controlled by HUD tenants. LACATH is a project of the Coalition for Economic Survival (CES). CES, a leading L.A. tenants' rights organization, has been organizing people for economic and social justice for over the last 40 years. The work and the organizers on this project are under the supervision of CES.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
* Identifying, developing and supporting tenant leaders, including:
a) training leaders in skills such as meeting facilitation, and negotiating with owners, management companies and government officials.
b) helping leaders learn how to choose winnable goals, and how to strategize
and implement campaigns to win concrete victories.
c) providing day-to-day strategic advice and basic administrative supportincluding typing, research and writing.
* Organizing and supporting tenant associations, including:
a) door-to-door canvassing, leafleting and speaking at outreach meetings.
b) organizing initial building meetings and ongoing tenant association meetings.
c) preparing meeting notices, agendas, educational materials.
* Training tenant leaders and their members HUD regulations and laws, including.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required (If you don't have these qualification, please don't apply)
1) MUST have the ability to communicate in English and Spanish or Korean.
2) Good writing, speaking and research skills.
3) A valid driver's license, insurance and a dependable car is a must.
4) Ability to work evenings and weekends. On some occasions work will require irregular and long hours.
5) Must be able to maintain accurate records and have the ability to write require reports on work.
Desirable
1) Experience in building tenant, community or labor organizations.
2) Experience in community activism.
3) Working knowledge of word-processing and basic computer graphics.
4) Knowledge of landlord/tenant law and housing issues and financing.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Depends on experience, plus medical and dental insurance.
TO APPLY
To apply, send resume and cover letter to: Tenant Organizer Position, c/o Coalition for Economic Survival, 514 Shatto Place, Suite 270, Los Angeles, 90020, or fax to (213) 252-4422. For more information, call (213) 252-4411,
www.CESinAction.org, or email,
contactces@earthlink.net.
The Coalition for Economic Survival is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We strongly encourage people of color and women to apply.
