Affordable Housing Coordinator

US Together's Mission:

• To coordinate, organize, and initiate services to refugees and immigrants through education, advocacy, support services, information, referrals, and networking opportunities to strengthen the community that we live in and to promote international understanding through intercultural exchange. US Together, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) mutual assistance agency founded in 2003 as a response to the needs of refugees and immigrants in central Ohio.

• As a Refugee Resettlement Agency and an affiliate of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, we welcome refugees from all over the world who are forced to seek refuge in another country due to the inability to stay in their native country. Services are provided in our Columbus, Cleveland, and Toledo offices. We serve people who came from many countries where their rights and very lives are in danger. They are starting their lives anew in the United States.

Current Position Overview:

• ***This will be a combined position until there is an increase in new refugee arrivals and/or other programmatic need, at which point Us Together hopes to hire another staff person will be hired to either a) share responsibilities of both positions or b) take over the responsibilities of one or the other.

• ***In addition to below responsibilities, this position will also be responsible for assisting with regular, ongoing quality assurance reviews of required case-file documentation.

Housing Coordinator Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

• Identify and secure safe sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees and immigrant individuals/families in compliance with established program core service delivery requirements.

• Coordinate logistics and work with ca se managers, interns, and volunteers towards ensuring successful housing set-ups for new refugee and immigrant arrivals, including security deposit, lease agreements, furniture delivery, household items, utility hook-ups, etc.

• Provide cultural orientation for newly arriving refugee and immigrant clients on affordable housing, including the rights and responsibilities of both client and property managers/landlords

• Maintain and update required case-file documentation related to housing arrangements for newly arriving refugee and immigrant clients in compliance with established program requirements

• Manage and support property manager/ landlord questions/concerns; advocate on behalf of clients for necessary repairs/adjustments and develop solutions to overcome barriers to initial housing placements

• Maintain regular, ongoing communication and conduct outreach with property managers/landlords, community development corporations, and other community partner organizations, building strong working relationships with the goal of increasing access to affordable housing for refugee and immigrant clients

• Coordinate with program development staff towards developing community sponsorship projects/initiatives with local religious and/or civic based groups towards identifying transitional/temporary housing solutions

Position Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree with at least two years of prior work experience in affordable housing and community development within the context of newly arriving refugees and immigrants preferred

• Ability to maintain regular ongoing communication with refugee and immigrant clients and network of community development organizations, landlords, property owners, community partners, local government officials, and other community stakeholders preferred

• Ability to move/coordinate delivery of furniture and donations, complete household set-ups, and lift heavy objects; ability to work with volunteers in an organized, timely manner

• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment

• Self- starter with excellent analytical skills combined with the demonstrated ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and work efficiently

• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; bilingual ability in another primary caseload language is helpful; proficiency in Swahili or

Arabic preferred

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)

• Valid driver’s license, access to a reliable vehicle with current insurance, ability to drive an Us Together passenger van preferred

Interested candidates please send your resume (required) and cover letter (optional) to the following address: rhedrick@ustogether.us