Senior Program Associate, Housing Specialist

The Center is a reentry resource hub offering trauma-informed coaching, skill-building workshops, case management support, and community connections for people recently released from incarceration. It promotes long-term housing stability and personal growth through programming and individualized care.

Using the sharing economy model, the Homecoming Project (THP) at Impact Justice (IJ) pairs individuals returning home from prison with welcoming community residents (hosts) who have a room in their homes to spare. The Homecoming Project pays each host a daily stipend for housing the participant for up to 6 months. And, THP participants are provided a community navigator that works to connect them to the resources, supports, and wraparound services necessary for community re-entry. This innovative reentry housing project began in the Bay Area in 2018 and to date has housed nearly 200 returning individuals into homes within the community. The Homecoming Project is currently in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and Los Angeles County. We have plans to expand to San Francisco County in the Summer of 2025.

Check us out here. Learn more about The Center and the Homecoming Project.

Together, The Center and THP create a powerful ecosystem of support for individuals navigating reentry.

Who You Are

You believe that housing is a human right and that justice-involved individuals deserve dignity, opportunity, and lasting stability. You have experience navigating the complexities of the rental housing system, particularly as it relates to people with criminal records. You’re compassionate, detail-oriented, persistent, and deeply committed to walking alongside people as they pursue safe, long-term housing.

We value lived experience and recognize that people most impacted by the systems we work to transform often bring the greatest insight. And if you’re a formerly incarcerated individual, someone who has a family member who is or has been incarcerated, or otherwise have direct experience with the criminal legal or juvenile legal systems, we will be particularly excited to hear from you.

What You Will Do

The anticipated start date for this position is September 1, 2025. You will report to the Program Manager for The Center. As a Housing Specialist, you will lead the design and execution of individualized housing strategies for Homecoming Project participants, ensuring long-term housing stability and systems-level impact. You will drive housing outcomes by developing networks, engaging stakeholders, and removing systemic barriers through advocacy and collaboration. While you will report to the Program Manager of The Center, you will work in close coordination with Homecoming Project staff. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Housing Navigation – You will independently lead housing strategy and placement for clients by identifying and securing long-term housing solutions. You will assess client goals and barriers, co-develop strategic housing plans, and guide participants through all stages of placement—from documentation to lease-up. You may directly represent participants in landlord meetings and prepare them for success in competitive housing environments.
• Case Coordination – You will manage a dedicated caseload with autonomy, coordinating directly with Community Navigators to deliver holistic reentry support. You will track key housing metrics, including time-to-placement, lease retention, and post-program stability, and report insights to inform program strategy and funding deliverables. Your case documentation and evaluation will contribute to system-level improvement across IJ’s housing programs.
• Landlord & Community Partner Engagement – You will identify and maintain relationships with housing providers, landlords, transitional housing programs, and government agencies. You will also create a network of fair chance landlords for participants to access. You’ll advocate with landlords and property managers on behalf of clients, helping to reduce stigma and create pathways to lease acceptance. You'll also monitor and assess local housing resources and waitlists, ensuring clients are connected to up-to-date opportunities.
• Housing Systems Advocacy & Problem-Solving – You will serve as a subject matter expert on housing rights and reentry barriers, providing advanced problem-solving, crisis navigation, and policy-informed advocacy. You will challenge systemic denials, connect participants to stabilizing resources, and escalate complex issues through organizational and legal channels when necessary. You will also contribute strategic insight to internal learning and system design conversations across programs.

Education / Experience Level

Successful candidates will bring at least 4 years of progressively responsible experience in housing navigation, reentry services, or systems advocacy. Candidates must demonstrate a track record of independent program implementation, client advocacy, and stakeholder relationship-building in complex social service contexts.

Required Qualifications

1. Housing navigation experience – Familiarity with Bay Area housing systems and barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals.
2. Case management skills – Experience tracking participant progress, managing caseloads, and coordinating referrals.
3. Interpersonal communication – Excellent verbal and written communication, conflict resolution, and motivational interviewing skills.
4. Cultural humility and trauma-informed care – Deep understanding of how race, incarceration, and poverty intersect to affect housing access.
5. Technological fluency – Proficiency in Google Workspace and case management platforms including Salesforce.
6. Values-driven – Demonstrated a commitment to serving and working with the reentry or other vulnerable populations.
7. License and Vehicle – a valid Driver’s License with a clean and reliable vehicle, with current registration and proof of insurance.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Professional Experience working with or within the criminal legal system
2. Knowledge of Fair Housing laws and housing rights advocacy
3. Existing relationships with property managers, housing providers, or transitional housing providers in the Bay Area
4. Background in social work, public health, or housing justice
5. Lived Experience with the criminal justice system (personal or family) and/or significant experience working with people impacted by incarceration or other systemic barriers
6. Demonstrated leadership in cross-sector housing initiatives or justice reform coalitions
7. Experience designing or evaluating housing-focused interventions with measurable outcomes
8. Multilingual capacity (e.g., Spanish) is a plus

Additional Requirements:

• Hybrid position based in Alameda/West Contra Costa County.
• Frequent fieldwork and weekly office meetings. Successful candidate must have and maintain a valid California drivers license and proof of insurance.
• Requires frequent local travel within Alameda, West Contra Costa and San Francisco County; mileage reimbursement provided.

The compensation range for the Senior Program Associate -Housing Specialist role is $74,568 to $82,025. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, our starting salaries are established to represent strong compensation in the marketplace and to maintain internal equity. The starting salary for this position is $74,568, with annual increases defined by the current collective bargaining agreement. This is a bargaining unit position with Impact Justice United represented by OPEIU International.

The benefits that come with working at Impact Justice include medical, dental, and FSA plans, significant vacation and wellness leave, and immediate vesting in our 401K with a generous match. This is a full-time, salaried position. The candidate is required to work a hybrid schedule out of the Oakland office at least 2 times per week.

We are NOT considering remote staff for this position.

If this all sounds like a good fit for you, please send your resume and cover letter to help explain your qualifications and interest in the position.

We plan on making decisions on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply the better.