Chhaya seeks an energetic and dynamic Tenant Advocate to spearhead and lead its tenant organizing, counseling, and advocacy efforts around tenant rights and other issues impacting local residents throughout the borough. The Tenant Advocate will focus on multiple Queens’s communities, build a leadership body of community residents within the organization, and participate and represent Chhaya in city-wide campaign efforts.

Based in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, Chhaya Community Development Corporation (Chhaya) – meaning “shelter or shade” is dedicated to creating more stable and sustainable communities by increasing civic participation and addressing the housing and community development needs of New Yorkers of South Asian origin and their neighbors. Its work encompasses community organizing, education and one-on-one counseling as well as research and advocacy around tenant rights, financial education, homeownership, foreclosure prevention, immigration and civic engagement.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Organize South Asian, Immigrant, Low-Income, and other marginalized tenants and allies to build power and address issues related to (but not limited to) tenant harassment, neglect, predatory equity, rent hikes, and other tactics that lead to community displacement;
• Provide one-on-one counseling to tenants facing harassment, eviction, illegal rent increases, or other related issues;
• Educate tenants and neighborhood residents on tenant rights, fair housing, gentrification, and anti-displacement strategies, through community organizing, one-on-one counseling, workshops and legal clinics;
• Build, support and develop community leaders by facilitating Chhaya’s Shakti Community Ambassadors Program;
• Direct Chhaya’s organizing, outreach and advocacy efforts on tenant rights, predatory equity, and other emerging issues in South Asian immigrant communities;
• Manage Chhaya’s relationships with clients/ tenants, partner organizations, and community members;
• Participate in coalition efforts on housing rights;
• Support Advocacy and Organizing Team with projects related to immigration and civic engagement;
• Prepare and manage reports relevant to Chhaya’s housing, organizing, and civic engagement work;
• Assist with other related task as need.

Qualifications:

• Bilingual in English and a South Asian language (Bangla, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, Tibetan or Hindi) is required;
• Experience in community organizing and outreach required;
• Experience with public policy analysis and advocacy preferred;

Key Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills;
• Strong public speaking, writing, and analytical skills;
• Experience or willingness to work on base building, door knocking, and organizing;
• Desire to learn and open to challenges;
• Experience working in diverse, multicultural and immigrant communities;

Values and Perspectives:

• Commitment to immigrant and housing rights;
• Strong interest in community and social justice issues;
• Respectful and supportive of multi-ethnic, multi-faith, and multilingual organization.

Schedule: This is a full time position, 40 hours per week. Must be available to work flexible hours (evening and weekends).

Reports to: Director of Programs

Salary: Commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits including generous vacation, health & dental benefits, 403B and TransitChek.

To apply: Send a resume, a cover letter and a list of two references to careers@chhayacdc.org with the title Tenant Counselor in the subject line. No phone calls please. Applications accepted until position is filled.

Chhaya CDC is an equal opportunity employer.

Details at a glance

• On-site Location
• Full Time Schedule

Level of Language Proficiency

Bangla, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, Tibetan or Hindi

How To Apply

william@chhayacdc.org

Location

37-43 77th Street, 2nd Floor, Jackson Heights, NY 11372