Priority applications are due by May 27, 2019 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About the Community Empowerment Fund CEF supports people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness to gain employment, secure housing, and build financial stability. CEF trains and pairs volunteer “Advocates,” many of whom are undergraduate students, to work one-on-one with Members. We are valued by Members and partners alike for our ability to meet people where they are and walk alongside each individual to achieve personal goals, as well as our collaborative approach to address systemic gaps in our local communities. We are passionate about sustaining transitions out of homelessness, and first launched the Unlocking Doors Initiative in 2016 in order to create greater housing access for Durham residents ending their homelessness. Learn more about CEF at www.communityef.org

Position Summary This new position will direct, grow, and hold vision for the Unlocking Doors Initiative in Durham, with the goal of cultivating partnerships with private landlords and property managers, Durham residents ending their homelessness, and housing/homelessness Continuum of Care agencies. The Housing Access Coordinator will collaborate extensively with partner agency staff, as well as with a parallel position in Orange County.

Responsibilities

Lead relationship-building with private housing providers to support Durham’s homeless/housing system:

• Actively building relationships with landlords and property management companies
• Serving as a central point of contact for landlord-tenant challenges for Durham’s homeless/housing system, fielding questions and concerns with a listening-based approach, and connecting landlords and tenants with relevant resources and contacts
• Convening and coordinating events, trainings, and meetings to increase dialogue and collaboration, such as the annual Mayor’s Landlord Roundtable, monthly Housing Results/Unlocking Doors Advisory Group meetings

Grow collaborations and build capacity for service providers supporting housing-seekers:

• Stewarding collaborations with non-profit and government housing providers (e.g. the Durham Housing Authority and the Durham VA) to address barriers to housing access for people experiencing homelessness and increase the accessibility of housing options
• Coordinating landlord outreach efforts with partner agencies through facilitating monthly Landlord Engagement Team meetings

Develop inter-agency tools and resources to support community-wide housing navigation:  

• Developing and managing a centralized database of units available to people experiencing homelessness and area case managers

• Developing and implementing landlord engagement incentive tools, including:
  • Setting up and coordinating the new landlord financial incentive program, and providing training to partner homeless/housing programs
  • Stewarding the risk mitigation fund pilot program
• Collecting and analyzing data to meet ongoing reporting requirements for related projects
• Maintaining and improving resource guides on best practices and navigating a housing search process, and deliver trainings as needed to partner organizations and volunteers
• Supervising 1-3 volunteers/interns dedicated to housing resources

Additional Responsibilities:

• Working regularly with Members as a CEF Advocate with a focus on securing housing
• Participating actively in 1-on-1 supervision, CEF staff meetings, and retreats/trainings

Qualifications  

• Direct or equivalent experience in building partnerships and coalitions including:
  • Ability to collaboratively engage multiple stakeholders in partnership
  • Strong problem-solving skills, demonstrating creativity and negotiation ability
  • Experience facilitating participatory meetings and event coordination, or willingness to learn
  • Person-centered, relational, and listening-based approach
• Basic understanding of the housing market, housing vouchers, homeless systems, rental processes, and/or housing policy, with a willingness to learn
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to manage multiple complex projects
• Competency in program development and evaluation, including data collection/analysis
• Facility with technology, and willingness to learn new technologies
• Commitment to equity and social justice
• Bilingual Spanish/English skills (preferred)

To Apply

Please submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a resume, and (3) contact information for three references to hiring@communityef.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of Monday, May 27, and we encourage interested candidates to submit applications ASAP. Your cover letter should speak to: why you are interested in working with CEF; why you are interested in this particular role; and the experiences and qualities that will make you a great fit.

Position Details

This is a full-time salaried position based in CEF’s Durham location, with a start date of July 1, 2019. The starting salary range is $35,000-37,000. Benefits include PTO and an annual Defined Contribution Health Plan stipend of $6,000. A detailed description of Employee Benefits can be viewed here. The status of the position is pending Durham City Council approval. As an organization committed to diversity and equity it is CEF’s policy to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to age, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, or status in any other group, protected by federal or local law or for any other reason.

Applications are due by April 22nd, 2019

About the Community Empowerment Fund:

CEF is a non-profit organization in Durham and Orange Counties that supports people experiencing homelessness or financial insecurity. We work alongside approximately 250 Advocate volunteers and 1,100 Members in their pursuit of employment, secure housing, and financial stability. Our approach combines relationship-based support with innovative matched savings accounts, referral networks, and programmatic support to help Members achieve long-term dreams. Learn more at communityef.org

About the Advocate Program Coordinator (APC) position:

This position leads recruitment, training, and coordination and support for the activities of 80-100 volunteer Advocates and 4+ volunteer leadership teams for CEF’s Orange County programs. In close collaboration with other staff, the APC serves as a key leader for overall programming.

In-office Staff Support for Members & Advocates (25%):

• Serve as a strong in-person support for members, volunteers and other staff
• Staff 5-10 office hours per week, supporting quality service delivery and handling complex or crisis situations that arise
• Promote policies and boundaries, especially regarding physical and emotional safety
• Provide support to Advocates & Members in situations when policies are broken
• Co-facilitate weekly case-conferencing to ensure quality Member services and Advocate learning, growth and retention

Relational Support to Advocates (20%):

• Provide one-on-one emotional support and empowering mentorship to Advocates
• Collaborate closely with the Chapel Hill staff team to maintain and strengthen support structures for Advocates and leadership
• Empower and facilitate Advocate leadership in the development of a strong volunteer-led organizational vision

Advocate Training & Management (20%):

• Shape and manage curriculum development and delivery for all Advocate training programs
• In collaboration with volunteer leaders, thoughtfully shape recruitment of students and community members to train as Advocates
• Manage annual summer internship hiring and selection process
• Manage annual volunteer leadership recruitment process

Advocate Leadership Support (20%):

• Train and support teams of Advocate leaders who drive the organization’s operations, including outreach, communications, and resource development
• Cultivate Advocates’ analysis of structural inequities, oppression and trauma by fostering ongoing opportunities for reflection and active learning
• Onboard and train volunteer leaders in using multiple technology platforms including Google Suite, Slack, Asana, and Salesforce
• Facilitate extensive program visioning and development alongside staff and volunteer leaders
• Communicate key organizational vision and strategy between staff and volunteer leadership

CEF Team Member (15%):

• Work regularly with Members as an Advocate, an expectation of all staff
• Collaborate with Chapel Hill staff team, attending weekly staff meetings and supporting operations, strategic visioning, and community-building
• Lead the organization towards racial equity, trauma-informed care, & social justice frameworks
• Iterate on and design programs to improve outcomes, impact and methodologies
• Support growing collaborations with partner organizations in Orange County
• Embody CEF’s values and guiding principles and participate meaningfully in meetings

Relevant Skills & Qualifications:

• Welcoming, outgoing, and approachable personality
• Experience working with people from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and religious backgrounds
• Engaging and collaborative leadership style with empowering mentorship for volunteers
• Strong skills as an engaging trainer and facilitator
• Availability for regular evening and weekend hours to accommodate volunteer schedules
• Exceptional organizational abilities and attention to detail; ability to follow-through on simultaneous projects; experience with project management duties preferred
• Facility with technology, including willingness to learn new technologies
• Creative, comfortable taking initiative, and works well independently

To Apply:

Please submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a resume, and (3) contact information for three references to hiring@communityef.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of April 15th. Your cover letter should speak to: your interest in working with CEF; one goal you would have for your first year in this position; and the experiences and qualities that will make you a great fit.

Position Details:

Salary is commensurate with experience and education, with starting salary in a range from $30,000 – $32,000. The position includes leave benefits and an annual Defined Contribution Health Plan (DHCP) stipend of $6,000. A detailed description of Employee Benefits can be viewed here. CEF is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants. Thank you for your interest! Please contact hiring@communityef.org with any questions.

Priority applications are due by April 22nd, 2019 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About the AmeriCorps VISTA Workforce Development Fellow (Chapel Hill):

 The Workforce Development Fellow will focus on 1) building capacity in workforce development services, 2) integrating financial capability into CEF’s services and partnerships, and 3) supporting special projects. Areas of work will include the following:

• Improve the employment services provided by CEF’s Advocates by creating new partnerships, enhancing advocate training, and building new resources
• Strengthen relationships with area employers to promote hiring of CEF Members, especially those who are justice-involved
• Provide support across other areas of CEF’s work, including legal and housing services
• Support CEF’s strategic priorities through work on special projects in partnership with CEF’s Co-Directors
• Build the capacity of a countywide coalition of workforce development service providers in Orange County
• Support partnerships integrate CEF’s financial coaching and matched savings accounts with workforce development providers, as well as build collaborations with partner organizations
• Train volunteers and student leaders to support CEF Members in securing employment and accessing CEF’s matched savings accounts
• Work regularly with members as an Advocate, an expectation of all CEF staff members
• Engage actively in program design to improve CEF’s outcomes, impact and methodologies
• Embody CEF values and guiding principles, participate meaningfully in meetings, work collaboratively with co-workers, and engage in the organization in ways that are informed by racial equity and social justice frameworks

 

Position qualifications:

• Exceptional organizational abilities and attention to detail, with ability to follow-through on many simultaneous projects
• Engaging and collaborative leadership style, with an ability to inspire and motivate volunteers
• Experience and comfort working with people across abilities and neurological differences, and from diverse racial, socioeconomic, educational, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds
• Clear analysis of structural racism and socioeconomic inequity, and willingness to learn and grow
• Experience navigating inter-agency partnerships and collaborations
• Bilingual/ bicultural skills desired but not required
• Facility with technology, including willingness to learn new technologies
• BS/BA degree required by Americorps VISTA
• Shared commitment to CEF’s mission

 

To Apply:

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for two references to hiring@communityempowermentfund.org. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of Monday, April 22nd. Your cover letter should speak directly to why you are interested in working with CEF and why you are a great candidate for the position. The Americorps online application will be available early summer, but for purposes of recruitment and placement, CEF is seeking applications prior. We will ask selected candidates to complete the online application for Americorps at a later date.

CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.