Tenant Organizer and Caseworker

Tenant Organizer and Caseworker

West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center, Inc. (West Bronx Housing) has worked since 1978 to preserve and protect the affordable housing stock of the Northwest Bronx. West Bronx Housing takes a problem solving approach that incorporates both landlords and tenants and empowers its clients along the way, up to and including building organizing when necessary.

West Bronx Housing is currently looking to add a Tenant Organizer and Caseworker to its team. Guided by the Executive Director and the Housing Specialists, the Tenant Organizer and Caseworker will spend their time divided between organizing and housing rights related casework.

The program goal of the Tenant Organizer portion includes the following: 1)

• Researching buildings to organize
• Distributing materials in multiple languages
• Door knocking and canvassing buildings
• Assisting buildings with forming and maintaining tenant associations
• Conducting Know Your Rights seminars to tenant associations

The program goal of the Caseworker portion includes the following:

• Assisting clients with filing complaints for repairs, such as 311, NYSHCR, and including HP Actions in housing court
• General guidance on housing court and eviction prevention
• Tenant-landlord mediation
• Renewal of certain benefits.

Position Requirements:

West Bronx Housing clients are majority monolingual Spanish speakers, so Spanish speaking ability is a must. Candidate must be a self-starter with experience in community organizing, public benefits, and/or rent stabilization and housing law. Candidate must have good interpersonal skills, comfort with public speaking, the ability to communicate with a wide variety of individuals, and cultural competence. Importantly, the candidate should have a passion for housing justice.

Candidate must also be computer literate with knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, and have the ability to quickly learn city agency online platforms. The position allows for some remote work, but does require field work and office work. The candidate must have a flexible schedule that allows for evening meetings, as well as occasional weekend events.

The position includes climbing multiple stairs inside Bronx buildings.

Opportunities & Goals:

This position gives the opportunity to create positive change for tenants on a fundamental level. The candidate will have the opportunity to interact with elected officials of multiple levels of government. The goal of this position is to create a self-sustaining tenant organizing campaign, so that as we grow the organizer can transition out of casework to focus on organizing.

Salary: $50,000 - $55,000 plus generous benefits, including fully covered health insurance.

EOE Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Medical, Dental, 2-4 weeks paid vacation depending on length of employment, short term disability.

Most of West Bronx Housing clients are monolingual Spanish speakers, therefore fluency in spoken and written Spanish is preferred.