Tenant Education & Support Coordinator, Bilingual

Community Alliance of Tenants • Portland, OR

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) is Oregon’s only statewide, grassroots, tenant-led membership organization. Founded in 1996, CAT’s mission is to educate and empower tenants to demand safe, stable, and affordable housing. Our membership base includes low-income tenants, predominately low-wage workers, families with children, people living with disabilities, seniors, and tenants from diverse backgrounds. CAT builds tenant power through education, organizing, and advocacy. We operate a renters’ rights hotline, host community workshops, and organize tenants to lead a culturally humble, equity-driven housing justice movement. We are committed to long-term systems change led by those most impacted by Oregon’s housing crisis. The Tenant Education & Support Coordinator plays a key role in the Tenant Protections Team (TPT), a specialized sub-department within CAT’s Tenant Education and Support (TES) Department. This position supports culturally specific communities through strategic partnerships, education workshops, hotline and in-person support, letter-writing clinics, and eviction counseling. The ideal candidate is emotionally intelligent, culturally competent, bilingual, and passionate about housing justice.

Requirements

• Fluency in Vietnamese, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Swahili, or other languages relevant to service provision, in both verbal and written.
• Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Lived experience or understanding of race-based disparities.
• Experience in public speaking or training.
• Commitment to social and restorative justice.
• Ability to support people in crisis with empathy and calm.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and database systems (e.g., HMIS Community Services).
• Reliable transportation and ability to transport materials.
• Commitment to anti-racism and equity.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with BIPOC communities impacted by housing instability.
• Knowledge of Renters’ Rights and Landlord-Tenant Law.
• Experience with immigrant and refugee communities.
• Personal experience with housing instability.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and support cohort groups based on building, language, culture, or geography.
• Collaborate with the Tenant Advocacy & Engagement Department to implement community education models.
• Assist renters with building-based organizing, including canvassing, meetings, workshops, and crisis navigation.
• Develop and update educational materials and social media content.
• Support program development and funding efforts in collaboration with the TES managers.
• Maintain and expand partnerships with culturally specific organizations and legal service providers.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives aligned with CAT’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan.
• Maintain and update tracking systems of program activities and participation.
• Provide translation/interpretation as needed.
• Plan and facilitate online and in-person workshops for tenants and partner organizations.
• Draft MOUs with community partners.
• Maintain and update workshop materials and presentations.
• Manage participant outreach, registration, and logistics.
• Track attendance and workshop data.
• Lead bilingual and/or monolingual workshops in a non-English language.
• Provide multilingual tenant support via hotline and in-person consultations using Landlord-Tenant and Fair Housing law.
• Train and supervise hotline volunteers and staff.
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry into HMIS and stay current on Oregon housing laws.
• Coordinate referrals and provide technical support for hotline systems.
• Organize and host clinics, including outreach and one-on-one tenant support (possibly weekly).
• Develop sample letters and maintain tracking systems.
• Translate and draft letters to a non-English language as needed.
• Identify tenants facing eviction and provide outreach and support.
• Maintain a presence at eviction court to assist tenants in crisis.
• Work at least one evening per week and one Saturday per month.
• Attend community events with flexible scheduling.
• Utilize standard office software and reporting tools.

Benefits

• 100% paid medical and dental coverage for employee, spouse/domestic partner, and children.
• Oregon Sick Leave.
• Personal Time Off (minimum of 120 hours per year).
• Family Leave after 180 days of employment.
• Opportunity to participate in the Oregon Saves Roth IRA program.
• Flexible hours and scheduling offered pertinent to your team's requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees