Assistant Director of Organizing

The Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants (MAHT), a tenant-controlled alliance of resident organizations in HUD and MassHousing subsidized housing, seeks experienced staff committed to tenant empowerment to serve as a Lead Organizer. Founded in 1983, MAHT has saved and improved more than 13,600 apartments at risk of conversion to market rents, as permanently affordable housing, including 1,400 in resident-controlled ownership, one building at a time, through tenant organizing. MAHT is the oldest and most accomplished local HUD tenants union nationwide. HUD has recently awarded MAHT, jointly with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a $10 million grant to subcontract with Section 8 tenant organizing groups to build tenant capacity nationwide.

MAHT has pioneered creative, progressive housing policies at the local, citywide, statewide, national and global levels, by mobilizing tenants to Save Our Homes. MAHT currently staffs Leaders and Organizer for Tenant Empowerment (LOFTE), a national Network empowering federally-assisted tenants in dialogue with the Administration and Congress to advance tenants’ rights. The Assistant Director of Organizing will help build MAHT’s membership, power, and effectiveness to sustain the organization for the long haul.

Responsibilities Include:

Tenant organizing and outreach:

Assist tenants in organizing successful tenant groups and campaigns at the building level to save and improve federal and state-assisted multifamily housing, including LIHTC only buildings

Provide training, leadership development, and technical assistance to tenants

Help tenants negotiate with owners and agencies to obtain repairs, services and affordable rents

Coordinate door-knocking drives

Prepare fliers, minutes, fact sheets, newsletters and other materials, including posting to MAHT website and social media platforms

Assist in organizing MAHT Membership meetings and activities, including MAHT newsletter and social media

Help recruit, train and supervise Social Work interns and VISTA Volunteers

Civic Engagement project

Help coordinate MAHT’s participation in the Mass Voter Table/MassVOTE Civic Engagement project

• Recruit, train and coordinate MAHT volunteers and part-time stipend workers to doorknock voters for increased turnout in September Preliminary and November Final Elections, using MiniVAN database; integrate with tenant group databases
• Assist in distributing targeted literature to HUD and MassHousing developments in Boston area

Help represent MAHT in state and citywide coalitions and lobbying campaigns

• Assist in representing MAHT in city, state and national advocacy campaigns
• Help mobilize tenants and allies for MAHT Lobby Team, hearings, actions, and meetings, including digital advocacy and petitions
• Help mobilize Mass Rental Voucher Program tenants and allies for Statehouse lobbying to increase MRVP funding and codification
• Help mobilize tenants and allies to increase funding for Boston Rent Subsidy Program and advocate with City agencies, nonprofit and for-profit owners to increase low income set-asides in new mixed income housing

Qualifications

• Commitment to social change and empowerment of lower income people
• At least 2 years' experience organizing and training in low income communities and communities of color, preferably in the housing field
• Experience in planning and conducting meetings, campaigns, strategies
• Experience in organizing large events, direct actions and/or lobby campaigns
• Ability to supervise and train part-time staff and volunteers
• Knowledge of federally-assisted housing issues or ability to learn
• Flexibility, ability to work with small office team, adjusting to fast-paced, multi-tasking environment
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong computer and social media skills, experience with website design/maintenance helpful
• Experience with Voter Action Network (VAN) database or ability to learn
• Availability to work evenings and weekends, ability to handle flexible work schedule
• Ability and willingness to travel; access to a car
• Bi-lingual capacity (Spanish, Creole, Russian, Vietnamese and/or Chinese) helpful

Reports to: MAHT Director Michael Kane

Supervises: Part-time Civic Engagement team, possibly VISTA Volunteers or interns

Salary: $60,000 to $70,000, depending on experience, for Full-time employment

Benefits: 2/3 health and dental insurance; two weeks paid vacation first year, more thereafter

MAHT is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. People of color and residents of multifamily HUD housing are encouraged to apply.

Please e-mail your resume and cover letter to maht@saveourhomes.org and we will be in touch with you for an interview.