Temp Tenant Organizer (Law Project)

GODDARD RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER•New York, NY

5d•$57,680 - $82,238•Onsite

About The Position

The Goddard Riverside Law Project provides free legal representation and organizing support to low-income individuals, families, and tenant groups on Manhattan’s west side. Its work focuses on preserving affordable housing and improving living conditions, including addressing eviction, harassment, rent overcharges, illegal lockouts, lack of heat or hot water, and other poor building conditions. The Law Project’s staff includes tenant organizers and attorneys who assist tenants, educate them about their rights, and work with community groups on citywide campaigns. The Tenant Organizer organizes tenants in SROs and apartment buildings, advocates on housing issues, supports tenants facing social-work-related barriers to maintaining housing, and contributes to building-wide organizing and affordable-housing campaigns. The role also includes court-case support, policy advocacy, community outreach, and administrative recordkeeping. This is a temporary, full-time position expected to last three to six months, scheduled Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (35 hours per week).

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice work.
Ability to manage an individual caseload, building-wide organizing, and campaign work.
Good writing and research skills.
Familiarity with housing issues.

Nice To Haves

Organizing experience, preferably in tenants’ rights.
Fluency in spoken and written Spanish, French, or Mandarin.

Responsibilities

Organize SRO and apartment tenants on Manhattan’s west side, including Harlem, and assist and advocate for them on housing issues.
Negotiate with landlords and mobilize tenants for demonstrations, rallies, and forums.
Advocate with and on behalf of low-income tenants before governmental agencies and other entities.
Assist in developing organizing strategy and address social-work issues that hinder tenants from maintaining their housing.
Organize tenants at the building-wide level through outreach, know-your-rights trainings, and facilitated meetings to address landlord-related issues.
Take leadership roles with tenant members in citywide campaigns related to affordable housing, housing-code enforcement, rent increases, and other affordable-housing issues.
Support court cases by preparing reports, testifying, assisting in tenant representation, providing translation assistance where appropriate, and helping tenants file pro se actions concerning poor building conditions.
Testify before legislative bodies, conduct outreach to community leaders and elected officials, and participate in housing-policy reform efforts.
Complete administrative work, including reporting on organizing efforts and results and preparing records of intake, case disposition, inspections, meetings, and personnel matters.