Housing Policy Organizer

Housing Action Illinois is a statewide coalition of more than 150 organizations dedicated to protecting and expanding the availability of quality affordable housing throughout Illinois. The great majority of our member organizations are nonprofit direct-service providers who provide shelter, affordable housing, and/or housing counseling to low-income households. 

Through our Policy Advocacy Program, we mobilize our members and allies to advocate for policies that help end homelessness, create affordable rental housing, promote sustainable home ownership and affirmatively further fair housing. For this work, we particularly focus on the needs of people with the lowest incomes and others impacted by systemic inequities in our society. Our complementary Public Education & Organizing Program builds awareness and activates change by sharing information and real-life stories with policymakers, nonprofit service providers, and the media.

Examples of campaigns we have recently worked on have secured $200 million in state capital budget funding for affordable housing, fair housing protections for people with criminal records in Cook County and (with allies around the country) securing COVID-19 emergency rental assistance from the federal government. Current and planned campaigns are focused on preventing homelessness, reducing evictions, reducing the racial wealth gap and other issues.

Housing Action Illinois also has programs that build the capacity and expand the resources of our member organizations through training and technical assistance and as a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Intermediary. Housing Action also manages of a network of AmeriCorps VISTA members working with our member agencies.

Job Title: Housing Policy Organizer

Responsible to: Policy Director

Summary of Primary Job Functions: The Housing Policy Organizer is responsible for implementation and management of portions of Housing Action’s Public Policy Advocacy and Public Education and Organizing Programs, including our advocacy work on local, state and federal spending, as well as our legislative and other policy efforts. An important goal for the Housing Policy Organizer is to lead Housing Action’s work to build the capacity of community-based organizations, particularly our members, to participate in our advocacy campaigns.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Policy Director, assist in the development and implementation of our public policy agenda.
• Help lead attempts to influence public policy at the state, federal and local level.
• Build relationships with members, allies and other stakeholders to gain community support for Housing Action’s advocacy efforts and to solicit input to guide our future work.
• Establish and maintain relationships with elected officials.
• Organize, manage and lead issue-specific working groups and coalitions.
• Work with other staff to plan, coordinate and implement public education and organizing activities, such as our annual conference and membership recruitment and retention activities.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• At least three years of experience with a non-profit, community-based organization in one of the following areas: affordable housing or community development; public policy in housing or a related social justice field; and/or community organizing.
• Strong problem solving and group work leadership skills.
• Ability to interact with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Detail-oriented and organized.
• Strong computer skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Experience in related field may be substituted for educational degree.
• Willingness and ability to do significant travel throughout the state; must have valid driver’s license. For a highly qualified candidate, we will consider that they not be required to work out of our Chicago office.
• Knowledge of current public policies and programs related to our organizational mission is a plus.

Housing Action Illinois is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer offering a competitive salary and benefits package.

Housing Action Illinois believes that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognizes and values the intersectional identities that staff members bring to our organization. People of color and people who have experienced homelessness or poverty are strongly encouraged to apply.