Organization Overview: VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization working to create healthy and just communities by building power among people affected by HIV, drug use, mass incarceration, and homelessness. We do this through community organizing, leadership development, participatory research, policy advocacy and direct action with the belief that true social change must come from the bottom up and be led by those most directly impacted.

VOCAL-NY also provides onsite and peer-based syringe exchange, overdose prevention, hepatitis C and HIV education, drug treatment education and other services for people who use drugs. Services are provided in a low-threshold, nonjudgmental and culturally relevant manner.

Position Description: The Housing Campaigns Director is responsible for leading and implementing all of VOCAL-NY’s housing campaigns, with an emphasis on developing the power and leadership of low income people of color who have direct experience with homelessness and housing insecurity. This role will oversee the policy, advocacy, and community organizing components of our campaigns, and supervise the Housing Campaigns Coordinator and Homelessness Community Organizer.

VOCAL-NY’s housing priorities aim to rehouse homeless New Yorkers, break the cycle of homelessness, and remove barriers for people who are experiencing homelessness. Examples of active campaigns include:

• Increasing the Mayor’s affordable housing commitments for homeless New Yorkers
• Ending landlord and broker discrimination against homeless New Yorkers
• Winning a statewide Section 8 style rental assistance program to help New Yorkers exit homelessness and to keep others from becoming homeless.

This role will report to VOCAL-NY’s Political Director.

Specific Responsibilities include (but not limited to):

• Supervise Housing Organizing and Campaign Staff: Supervise and develop the Housing Campaign Coordinator and Homelessness Organizer. Meet weekly for supervision, develop work plans, provide direction and support to ensure staff are meeting work tasks and professional goals. Create and maintain frequent and clear lines of communication around tasks, feedback, and expectations.
• Team Development: Establish and facilitate regular team meetings with housing staff to develop strategy and troubleshoot campaign challenges. Support a results-driven team to build capacity for our housing and homelessness campaigns.
• Campaign Strategy: Support housing staff and VOCAL-NY members in identifying advocacy issues, and developing campaign strategy, and ensuring timely and effective implementation.
• Coalition Building: Support housing staff to represent VOCAL-NY in housing and homelessness coalitions, build relationships with key allies, and move other organizations to action in support of VOCAL-NY goals.
• Legislative & Budget Work: Monitor the city and state budget and legislative processes around housing and homeless issues, identify and/or develop budget and legislative priorities, and lead a grassroots lobbying strategy to pass legislation or adopt budget priorities.
• Campaign Materials: Oversee the preparation of policy & research reports, legislative summaries, talking points for members, hearing testimony,  and other campaign materials as needed. 
• Press: Support housing staff to develop relationships with media contacts; draft and pitch media advisories, press releases, and press statements for events; draft opinion editorials with members and pitch to media.
• Overall Support: The position will also be expected to occasionally provide support for all community organizing and campaigns around the drug war, mass incarceration, and HIV/AIDS within VOCAL-NY as needed.  We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members provide regular support for each other’s campaigns.

Requirements / Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal, public speaking, writing, and problem solving skills. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to housing & homelessness issues and a willingness to approach these issues through a racial justice lens. People directly impacted by homelessness & housing insecurity are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will have:

• A deep commitment to ending homelessness in New York.
• A deep commitment to working with and promoting the leadership of people directly impacted by homelessness & housing insecurity.
• At least 5 years of full-time community organizing, advocacy (or related) experience, and 3 years of experience leading a team.
• Familiarity with the New York City and State housing system – including key players, processes, and practices – and an understanding of why the system is in need of reform.
• A willingness to work in a fast-paced environment, with changing assignments.
• An ability to lead their own projects, and take initiative.
• Excellent ability to facilitate meetings and trainings, coordinate coalitions, and develop partnerships among a wide and diverse array of stakeholders.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail).

This is a full-time position. The position will require occasional attendance at evening and weekend meetings, and regular day trips to Albany, NY during the legislative session.

APPLY HERE