Senior Staff Attorney/Senior Policy Advocate Housing and Homelessness

Justice in Aging seeks a housing attorney or policy advocate with at least seven years of experience to join our Economic Security and Housing Team in California. The successful candidate will lead Justice in Aging’s work to respond and advance solutions to the housing challenges facing low-income older Californians, including housing instability and/or homelessness. This is an exciting opportunity to advocate for solutions to systemic problems at the state level for housing issues impacting low-income older Californians, and to provide legal or other training and technical assistance to advocates across the state. All of our work is grounded in our Advancing Equity Strategic Initiative.  

Justice in Aging uses the power of law and our expertise in economic security, housing, health care, and elder justice to fight senior poverty. We pursue systemic change in law and policy to improve the lives of low-income older adults who experience inequities rooted in historical, persistent, and structural racism, ageism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and xenophobia. Founded in 1972, we have a rich tradition of successful, high-impact, and strategic advocacy on behalf of the more than 7 million seniors living in poverty nationally. We also run the National Center on Law and Elder Rights through a federal contract with the Administration for Community Living. In California, we act as a support center for California’s qualified legal services programs.

Our Economic Security and Housing team engages with local advocates in California and across the country to identify and address legal issues that impact low-income older adults. A successful candidate will also play a key role in continuing Justice in Aging’s systemic advocacy to advance the housing goals in California’s Master Plan for Aging that promote Housing for All.

Our staff work primarily remotely, with most California staff located in the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. The organization also has an office in Washington DC and staff across the country. This position can be based remotely from anywhere in California. Justice in Aging requires COVID-19 vaccination for all staff, with exemptions available in accordance with federal law.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Candidates are encouraged to send in their materials by October 4, 2024. Questions about the position can be directed to hiring@justiceinaging.org.

Responsibilities:

• Work with the Managing Director of the Economic Security and Housing Team to promote our housing advocacy for low-income older adults in California, including identifying key housing issues affecting low-income older adults, developing project work plans, designing training programs and pursuing systemic advocacy.
• Engage with coalitions and partners to advance project goals and build ties with the California housing, aging, and disability communities.
• Develop and present in-person and online trainings on housing issues for the legal services and aging and disability networks, and respond to questions and inquiries from persons in those networks.
• Advance policies at the administrative and legislative levels that solve systemic housing problems in California, including reviewing and commenting on proposed regulations or legislation at the state level, and providing testimony.
• Produce written materials (issue briefs, policy papers, advocacy guides, email alerts, etc.) identifying and offering recommended solutions for housing issues affecting low-income older adults in California.
• Identify opportunities for our litigation team to address systemic housing issues through litigation.
• Work with other Justice in Aging team members to advance organizational objectives, including cross-team collaboration and working with our new Advancing Equity Strategic Initiative.
• Work with other Justice in Aging team members, including our federal housing attorney in Washington, DC, and our Director of California Government Affairs, to advance organizational objectives, including our Advancing Equity Strategic Initiative. Limited travel outside of California for meetings and conferences will be required, approximately 2-4 times per year.

Requirements:

• Any combination of applicable educational/professional credentials and experience that will enable you to perform the above duties successfully, including but not limited to a JD, Master’s degree, or Bachelor’s degree.
• At least seven years of legal, advocacy, or policy experience, including at least three years of experience in housing advocacy or policy in California.
• Strong communications skills, including ability to write clearly and communicate effectively about equity, particularly racial equity.
• Ability to work independently and with others, meet deadlines, and produce a high-quality work product.
• Passion for social justice, including interest in working on behalf of older adults of color, older women, LGBTQ+ older adults, older adults with disabilities, and older adults who are immigrants or have limited English proficiency.

Desired:

• Familiarity and passion for civil rights protections and public benefits applicable to older adults (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, Social Security, or the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act).
• Experience working collaboratively with others, including building internal and external relationships, and working with coalition partners.
• Experience conducting California-based policy analysis and advocating with state administrative agencies.
• Understanding of California’s legislative process and experience working on state-level legislative proposals.
• Professional or personal experience working with aging populations, communities of color and/or advancing racial equity.
• Experience representing or advocating for tenants in evictions, tenants’ rights, homelessness or other housing-related advocacy.