Policy Advocacy and Communications Coordinator

Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants

42 Seaverns Ave. / Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Phone: 617-522-5133/617-233-1885maht@saveourhomes.org

Job Description: Policy Advocacy and Communications Coordinator

July 2025

The Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants (MAHT), a tenant-controlled alliance of resident organizations in HUD and MassHousing subsidized housing, seeks experienced staff committed to tenant empowerment to serve as a Policy Advocacy and Communications Coordinator. Founded in 1983, MAHT has saved and improved more than 13,600 apartments at risk of conversion to market rents, as permanently affordable housing, including 1,400 in resident-controlled ownership, one building at a time, through tenant organizing. MAHT is the oldest and most accomplished local HUD tenants union nationwide.

MAHT has pioneered creative, progressive housing policies at the local, citywide, statewide, national and global levels, by mobilizing tenants to Save Our Homes. MAHT currently staffs Leaders and Organizer for Tenant Empowerment (LOFTE), a national Network empowering federally-assisted tenants in dialogue with the Administration and Congress to advance tenants’ rights. The Policy Advocacy and Communications Coordinator will help build MAHT and LOFTE’s membership, power, and effectiveness and sustain both organizations for the long haul.

Finally, MAHT has recently been awarded a federal grant from HUD to subaward funds for tenant organizing to other tenant groups and tenant-affiliated community-based organizations nationally. The Policy Advocacy and Communications Coordinator will assist with program management and communications responsibilities related to the subawarding and monitoring of other tenant organizing groups in HUD subsidized housing.

Responsibilities Include:

Help represent MAHT in state, citywide and national coalitions and lobbying campaigns

• • Assist in representing MAHT in city, state and national advocacy campaigns and coalitions
  • Assist in developing and tailoring organizational messaging and the articulation of policy positions
  • Coordinate MAHT communications strategy, timing, and frequency
  • Coordinate MAHT lobbying and legislative outreach strategy
  • Mobilize tenants and allies for MAHT Lobby Team, hearings, actions, and meetings
  • Help mobilize Mass Rental Voucher Program tenants and allies for Statehouse lobbying to increase MRVP funding and codification, including Cookie Day for MRVP
  • Help mobilize tenants and allies to increase funding for Boston Rent Subsidy Program and advocate with City agencies, nonprofit and for-profit owners to increase low income set-asides in new mixed income housing
  • Help mobilize tenants and allies to stop federal budget cuts to key social programs including but not limited to HUD Section 8 PBRA, Social Security, Medicaid

Help develop MAHT policy and advocacy recommendations

• Assist in researching policy issues of interest to MAHT membership and in identifying areas for advocacy
• Assist in development of policy recommendations

Help Build MAHT/LOFTE Communications and Visibility

• • Coordinate MAHT and LOFTE social media presence (Facebook, Bluesky, Constant Contact, email lists, electronic newsletters and alerts; maintain and update websites), with MAHT’s part-time Communications/Admin staff
  • Help develop membership materials, meeting notes, Action Alerts, and news
  • Coordinate press and visibility events

Assist with Tenant Education and Outreach

• • Assist with program management and communications for HUD-funded Tenant Education Outreach Program, including outreach to potential subawardees, subawardee performance monitoring, and administrative work as needed
  • Help recruit, train and supervise Social Work interns and VISTA Volunteers

Implement and update MAHT Strategic Plan

• • Assist Director, Board, and membership in updating MAHT’s Strategic Plan, including transition plan for long term sustainability

Qualifications

• • Commitment to social change and empowerment of low- and moderate-income people
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, newsletter/journalism experience helpful
  • Strong social media and computer experience/skills (Facebook, Twitter, website, Constant Contact, Zoom, Voter Action Network (VAN), ThruText, HUB Dialer, etc.)
  • Excellent computer skills (Mac and Android, database management, ACCESS, Microsoft Office, Publisher, etc.)
  • Office and record management, archiving experience/skills
  • Supervisory and training experience helpful
  • Knowledge of federal housing issues or ability to learn
  • Eye for detail
  • Availability to work evenings and weekends
  • Ability and willingness to work with diverse groups of people
  • Ability to thrive in a small staff team, flexible work schedule, fast-paced environment
  • Ability and willingness to travel, car helpful
  • Bilingual capacity (Spanish, Creole, Russian, Vietnamese and/or Chinese) helpful
  • Social Work degree and ability to supervise Social Work students helpful

Salary: $63,000 to $68,000 for FTE employment, depending on experience.

Reports to Michael Kane, MAHT Director

Benefits: Full health and dental insurance; two weeks paid vacation first year, more thereafter

Minimum 2-3 year commitment, subject to annual review