We are a historically women-led organization with an intergenerational membership making an impact that exceeds our small staff size. We work at the intersection of racial, gender and economic justice to advance a vision of de-commodified housing for people, not profit and a city where everyone has a right to decent, stable, and affordable housing. We educate and organize tenants directly affected by the housing crisis to be the driving force behind changes that will make housing a human right.
Working at Met Council means making a big impact on the city and building a movement. Recently, we helped mount a vocal and vibrant fight against the Inwood rezoning through the Northern Manhattan is Not for Sale Coalition. We occupied a Council Member’s office for 24-hours and blocked traffic on Dyckman St. and we were able to win significant changes to the plan including the protection of residential buildings and small businesses on major commercial corridors from Upzoning. This year, working at Met Council will mean the ability to play a major role in the biggest and most important fight for the City’s 2.5 Million rent stabilized tenants – the renewal and strengthening of Rent Stabilization.
Tenant Organizer:
We seek a Tenant Organizer to strengthen the ability of low-income and working class tenants to advocate for improvements in their own buildings as well as changes to housing policy in our city and state. The organizer will work in Northern Manhattan, the area of the city with the greatest concentration of still-affordable, rent regulated apartments under threat by the recent rezoning passed by the city. The Tenant Organizer will work in partnership with legal service providers and will have the ability to work from both an Inwood satellite office and our main office downtown. This position will be supervised by the Executive Director.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Develop 12 tenant associations in Inwood and Washington Heights per year by building the capacity and leadership of low-income rent stabilized tenants in buildings at risk of speculation.
- Represent Met Council in the Northern Manhattan is Not for Sale Coalition and assist with campaign strategy and developing capacity of member to base-build.
- Train a group of Inwood residents to assist with tenant organizing.
- Build a base of member leaders to work on the Real Rent Reform Campaign to win stronger renter protections in 2019.
- Assist with organization-wide activities, communications strategy and fundraising including monthly membership meetings, weekly email blasts, annual member assembly and gala
- Provide leadership development to tenants through our Bess Stevenson Leadership Academy
- Supervise interns and volunteers including our summertime Housing Justice Internship Program
- Run our Uptown Mutual Aid Clinic to provide tenants with information on their basic rights and political analysis of the housing crisis.
- Build relationships with key players in uptown politics including clergy, community board members, leaders of other organizations, elected officials, journalists, artists, bloggers, etc.
Qualifications:
- You are a risk-taker and a problem solver who doesn’t take no for an answer.
- 1-2 years experience working as a full-time organizer or equivalent experience
- Fluent in English and Spanish
- Excellent people skills: ability to quickly build relationships, to listen to and persuade people, and to engage people effectively around a common goal.
- Strong understanding of community organizing, including managing campaigns, developing leadership, and recruiting members.
- Strong communication skills, including public speaking and writing.
- Ability to work nights and some weekends
- Familiarity with Inwood and Washington Heights a plus
Benefits: Health, dental and four weeks paid vacation. Excellent training in community organizing and professional development opportunities.
Level of Language Proficiency: Fluent in Spanish and English
Professional Level: Professional
Minimum Education Required: No requirement
How To Apply
Send a cover letter, resume and three professional references to Jobs@metcouncilonhousing.org Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
