Tenant Rights Advocacy Specialist

About Us

Inquilinos Unidos (IU) is a Los Angeles-based tenant’s rights organization with over 45 years of

experience advancing safe, decent, and affordable housing for underserved tenants. We

primarily serve low-income, immigrant, and Spanish-speaking communities through direct

tenant services, community education, organizing, leadership development, and policy

advocacy.

Our work is rooted in the belief that tenants should not only understand their rights, but also

have the knowledge, confidence, and collective power to exercise them. We partner with

tenants, public agencies, legal service providers, and community organizations to strengthen

housing stability while advancing long-term housing justice throughout Los Angeles.

As a growing organization, our staff can develop deep expertise, collaborate across multiple

and coordinating tenant outreach, providing tenant navigation and case management, advocating

on behalf of tenants, and leading tenant rights workshops and community education.

Working closely with the Tenant Rights Program Lead, the Specialist will help implement

assigned tenant rights programs and carry out program priorities, outreach strategies, and

tenant engagement activities. The Specialist will independently manage assigned cases and

responsibilities while drawing on the Program Lead for programmatic guidance, complex case

consultation, and tenant-rights expertise.

The Specialist will spend significant time in the communities IU serves, connecting with tenants

through door-knocking, canvassing, flyarering, property visits, community events, phone and text

outreach, workshops, and other direct engagement. The position will work with tenants from

initial assessment through resolution or appropriate referral, helping them understand their

rights, navigate housing and public systems, address barriers, and advocate for themselves

while providing direct advocacy when needed.

The Specialist will build relationships that extend beyond individual outreach or service

interactions, creating pathways for tenants to move from receiving information and assistance

to greater engagement, leadership, and collective action.

Core Responsibilities

Field Outreach & Tenant Engagement

• Coordinate and conduct field outreach activities in collaboration with the Tenant Rights Program Lead, including identifying target areas, developing canvassing and door-knocking routes, coordinating outreach schedules and assignments, and implementing effective approaches for reaching tenants.
• Plan and coordinate phone banking and text banking efforts, including outreach lists,

scripts, assignments, follow-up, and tracking.

• Conduct regular field outreach, including door-knocking, canvassing, flyering, property

visits, tabling, community events, and other in-person outreach throughout Los Angeles.

• Recruit and engage tenants for workshops, tenant meetings, clinics, and other program

and community activities.

• Identify tenants who may need assistance and connect them to IU services, resources,

and appropriate follow-up.

• Build trust and sustained relationships with tenants and maintain a visible, professional

presence in the communities IU serves.

Tenant Navigation, Case Management & Advocacy

• Manage an active caseload involving tenant rights and housing concerns, providing

ongoing navigation, advocacy, and follow-up.

• Conduct tenant assessments, identify immediate and longer-term needs, and help

tenants understand their rights, options, responsibilities, and next steps.

• Help tenants navigate public agencies, housing programs, legal services, and community

resources, and identify practical strategies when barriers prevent a case from moving

forward.

• Empower tenants to advocate for themselves through education, coaching, and

practical guidance while recognizing when direct advocacy or intervention is needed.

• Communicate with public agencies, landlords/ property managers, legal service

providers, and other stakeholders as appropriate to clarify issues, address barriers,

obtain information, and advance tenant matters.

• Coordinate internal and external referrals and follow up to help ensure tenants

successfully connect with needed services and resources.

• Maintain consistent communication and case documentation, including assistance

provided, referrals, follow-up, barriers, and case progress.

Workshop Leadership & Community Education

• Lead tenant rights workshops and educational presentations from planning through

facilitation and follow-up.

• Coordinate workshop scheduling, outreach, and recruitment, registration, materials,

interpretation, partner/ vendor participation, logistics, and other needs.

• Facilitate accessible and engaging workshops that help tenants understand and exercise

their rights and build confidence advocating for themselves and their communities.

• Follow up with participants who need additional assistance, referrals, or opportunities

for continued engagement.

Tenant Leadership, Mobilization & Power Building

• Identify and build relationships with tenants interested in becoming more involved in

their buildings, communities, and tenant rights efforts.

• Support tenants in developing the knowledge, confidence, and skills to advocate for

themselves and their communities.

• Create opportunities for tenants to move from individual participation toward greater

involvement and leadership.

• Support tenant mobilization, campaigns, community actions, and other efforts to

strengthen tenant voice and build collective power.

• Bring tenants together around shared housing concerns and support collective problem-

solving and tenant-led action.

Partnerships & Program Support

• Build and maintain active relationships with government agencies, legal service

providers, community-based organizations, social service providers, and other partners

to strengthen the support and resources available to tenants.

• Coordinate effectively with program vendors and external partners as assigned, clearly communicating program needs and expectations and working collaboratively through

challenges when something is not working as intended.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of outreach, workshops, tenant

engagement, referrals, and other assigned program activities.

• Track assigned deliverables and submit required documentation within established

internal timelines.

• Work closely with the Tenant Rights Program Lead to implement assigned tenant rights

programs, coordinate outreach and tenant engagement activities, address case and

service barriers, and carry out program priorities and deliverables.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred or equivalent

experience, with at least three years of relevant experience in tenant rights, housing

advocacy, case management, community organizing, social services, or related

community-based work.

• Tenant Rights & Case Management: Strong knowledge of tenant rights and

demonstrated experience managing an active caseload, navigating housing and public

systems, coordinating referrals, providing follow-up, and advocating for tenants.

• Outreach & Community Engagement: Strong field outreach and community

engagement experience, including door-knocking, canvassing, property-based outreach,

or comparable direct engagement. Experience building sustained relationships with

community members and supporting continued engagement and leadership.

• Workshops & Community Education: Experience leading workshops, trainings,

community meetings, or educational presentations and communicating information in

an accessible and engaging manner.

• Initiative and Judgement: Demonstrates initiative and sound judgment, takes

ownership of responsibilities, identifies what needs attention within their role, and

follows work through to completion.

• Constructive Problem-Solving: Approaches challenges with curiosity, communicates

concerns directly and constructively, and works collaboratively to improve what is not

working rather than focusing on fault or assigning blame.

• Professionalism & Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates emotional intelligence,

accountability, adaptability, and openness to feedback, and maintains productive

working relationships through challenges and disagreement.

• Communication & Relationship Building: Strong written and verbal communication and

relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with tenants,

public agencies, legal and social service providers, community organizations, vendors,

and other partners. Bilingual English/ Spanish required, with the ability to communicate

effectively verbally and in writing in both languages.

• Organization & Technology: Strong organizational, documentation, and time-

management skills, with the ability to balance case management, field outreach,

workshops, and changing priorities. Proficiency with or ability to quickly learn CRM

systems, databases, spreadsheets, and common office software.

• Other Requirements: Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof

of automobile insurance required.

Working Conditions

This is a field-based position requiring regular travel throughout Los Angeles for door-to-

door outreach, property visits, tenant meetings, workshops, community events, and

partner meetings. Field work may involve extended walking and standing outdoor work

in varying weather conditions, including direct sunlight and heat. Occasional evening

and weekend work is required.

program areas, and contribute meaningfully to improving the lives of the communities we serve.

We offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

Bilingual English/ Spanish required, with the ability to communicate

effectively verbally and in writing in both languages.