Lead Tenant Organizer/ VISTA and Civic Engagement Project Supervisor

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 Lead Organizer. 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. HUD has recently awarded MAHT, jointly with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a $10 million grant to subcontract with Section 8 tenant organizing groups to build tenant capacity 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 Lead Organizer will help build MAHT’s membership, power, and effectiveness to sustain the organization for the long haul. MAHT anticipates an award of three VISTA Volunteers in fall 2026 to build MAHT’s tenant organizing capacity.

Responsibilities Include:

Tenant organizing and outreach:

• Assist tenants in organizing successful tenant groups and campaigns at the building level to save and improve federal and state-assisted multifamily housing, including LIHTC only buildings
• Provide training, leadership development, and technical assistance to tenants
• Help tenants negotiate with owners and agencies to obtain repairs, services and affordable rents
• Coordinate door-knocking drives
• Prepare fliers, minutes, fact sheets, newsletters and other materials, including posting to MAHT website and social media platforms
• Assist in organizing MAHT Membership meetings and activities, including MAHT newsletter and social media
• Help recruit, train and supervise Social Work interns

Coordinate VISTA and Civic Engagement Projects

• Assist MAHT in recruitment, on-boarding, training and supervision of three VISTA Volunteers in tenant organizing, communications and social media
• Coordinate VISTA quarterly reports
• Help coordinate MAHT’s participation in the Mass Voter Table/MassVOTE Civic Engagement project
• Recruit, train and coordinate MAHT volunteers and part-time stipend workers to doorknock voters for increased turnout in September Preliminary and November Final Elections, using MiniVAN database; integrate with tenant group databases
• Assist in distributing targeted literature to HUD and MassHousing developments in Boston area

Help represent MAHT in state, city and national coalitions

• Assist in representing MAHT in city, state and national advocacy campaigns
• Help mobilize tenants and allies for MAHT Lobby Team, hearings, actions, and meetings, including digital advocacy and petitions
• Help mobilize Mass Rental Voucher Program tenants and allies for Statehouse lobbying to increase MRVP funding and codification
• 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 provide support to LOFTE Network and National Alliance of HUD Tenants
• Help select and provide training and support to HUD Tenant Education and Outreach (TEO) subawardees, after grant is activated

Qualifications

• Commitment to social change and empowerment of lower income people
• At least two years organizing and training experience in low income communities and communities of color, preferably in the housing field
• Experience in planning and conducting meetings, campaigns, strategies
• Experience in organizing large events, direct actions and/or lobby campaigns
• Ability to supervise and train part-time staff and VISTA Volunteers
• Experience with VISTA Volunteer, Americorps or Peace Corps helpful
• Knowledge of federally-assisted housing issues or ability to learn
• Flexibility, ability to work with small office team, adjusting to fast-paced, multi-tasking environment
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong computer and social media skills, experience with website design/maintenance helpful
• Experience with Voter Action Network (VAN) database or ability to learn
• Availability to work evenings and weekends, ability to handle flexible work schedule
• Ability and willingness to travel; access to a car

Reports to: MAHT Director Michael Kane

Supervises: Three VISTA Volunteers and Part-time Civic Engagement team

• 100% health and dental insurance
• Two weeks paid vacation first year, more thereafter

Bi-lingual capacity (Spanish, Creole, Russian, Vietnamese and/or Chinese) helpful