The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition (RTCNYC) is made up of tenant organizing groups, tenant advocates, homeless advocates, senior advocates, disability advocates, academics, legal services organizations and more! We are a unique coalition with a significant breadth of skills and expertise provided by coalition member organizations. The groups that make up the coalition bring years of experience in tenant organizing, legal and legislative advocacy, and litigation expertise.

We led the campaign that resulted in the passage of Local Law 136, the first law of its kind in the nation, establishing a right for low-income tenants to have an attorney in eviction cases when they defend their rights and their homes. The Coalition is actively organizing and advocating for a just implementation during the next four years of implementation, running a campaign to strengthen and expand the law and coordinating with other cities across the country to pass similar legislation.

We know that laws are only as powerful as our ability to uphold them and enforce them and we know that right to counsel won’t solve the housing crisis or end displacement and gentrification—but we believe it’s a powerful tool that can help build the power of the tenant movement, unleash organizing potential and power and help inspire bold tactics to reclaim our city.

We are looking for an experienced, bold, passionate, hard-working, and dedicated person with demonstrated organizing and campaign experience to join our team and help move our cutting edge and exciting work forward.

POSITION DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Guided by the Coalition Coordinator and in coordination the Steering Committee, the Coalition Campaign Organizer will support the work of a just implementation. Because we believe that the most effective form of implementation of RTC is through community based organizing, most of the funds we raise is re-granted out to community based organizing groups to conduct neighborhood based outreach, education and tenant organizing work, keeping our central staff thin. The Coalition Coordinator coordinates and supports the work of the organizers across the city. In addition, the Coalition has four main working groups: the tenant organizing and education working group; the tenant attorney pipeline working group; the RTC 2.0 working group; and the court-based implementation working group. As we expand, the Coalition Campaign Organizer will support the general work of the working groups, the citywide organizing and the overall work of the coalition.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Coordinate a campaign to expand and strengthen the current legislation. In September, we introduced legislation that will double the income threshold for RTC (from 200% of the poverty line to 400% or about $100,000 for a family of four), and expand the types of cases that are covered. In addition we are working on introducing legislation that would mandate funding for community organizing, recognizing that the cost of RTC must include this. This is what we call RTC 2.0. This campaign would include coordinating the coalition’s working group on this, coordinate a legislative strategy, etc.
• Help coordinate the work of the tenant attorney pipeline group and the court-based implementation working group. While these working groups are chaired by members of our steering committee, they could use some additional support, maintenance and direction.
• Help develop a strategic communications and media strategy for all of the work of the coalition.
• Support the overall work of the coalition.
• This includes preparing for, facilitating and attending monthly coalition meetings and steering committee meetings, building relationships with coalition members, including developing potential members, keeping accurate notes, maintaining and creating systems to document and track our work, etc.
• Fundraise, evaluate and report on our work, as necessary.
• Develop trainings and materials to support the capacity of the member groups as necessary.