Statewide Housing Organizer (Rent Is Too Damn High Coordinator)

Detroit Action is a union of Black and Brown, low and no-income, homeless and housing insecure Detroiters fighting for housing and economic justice. Our organization is a grassroots and member-led, multigenerational, community-based organization fighting for real political power. Detroit Action provides opportunities for individuals and families to develop as full human beings through our leadership development workshops, organizer internships, nonpartisan voter education and mobilization drives, direct action, and collaboration with allied organizations locally, statewide, nationally, and even internationally.

POSITION SUMMARY: Detroit Action, a project of Tides Advocacy, is seeking a full-time Statewide Housing Organizer. We are hiring an experienced organizer who can organize people impacted by our housing crisis, people who live in affordable housing, tenants unions and other people experiencing housing instability or homelessness, to bring their lived experience to the state Capitol to create meaningful and lasting change. Detroit Action seeks to build statewide power for working-class Black and Brown Michiganders to win key housing and economic justice policies through our statewide vehicle for power, Michigan Action and the Rent Is Too Damn High coalition (RITDHC). Through the RITDHC, we aim to establish a coalition of organizations across Michigan working together around housing justice. The Statewide Housing Organizer will be responsible for building and coordinating statewide housing and economic justice organizing. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to foster coordination and cooperation among diverse and intergenerational groups.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Build a statewide base of residents of affordable housing communities and people with personal experience of homelessness through community organizing, advocacy, and civic engagement to advance local, state, and federal policy solutions under Rent Is Too Damn High banner.
• Build a democratic bottom-up grassroots network across Michigan for housing justice in collaboration with Detroit Action staff and key statewide leaders
• Help develop and implement leadership development opportunities and trainings with and for residents of affordable housing, Detroit Action or Michigan Action members, housing advocates, and others coalition partners;
• Support new and developing members to engage with elected officials;
• Support new and developing members to participate in agenda setting process, policy development, and strategy to pass legislation;
• Support the creation of a resident-led workgroup to participate in the statewide priority setting;
• Help develop and implement RITDH events; conduct and coordinate outreach to ensure strong participation in RITDH or Detroit Action/Michigan Action events;

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Help in managing member communications, including email newsletter, website, and social media;

2. Participate in staff meetings, training, and retreats;

3. Participate in organizational efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and

4. Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Four plus years of experience in community organizing;
• Some familiarity with affordable housing advocacy and policy;
• Experience in creating and facilitating democratic decision-making processes
• A commitment to racial, gender and social justice;
• Experience working with and in diverse low-income communities and communities of color;
• Experience working with communities or individuals who experience (currently or previously) housing instability;
• Strong commitment to and understanding of equity and inclusion work;
• Experience with leadership development programs, facilitating meetings and trainings, developing educational materials, and organizing community events;
• Proficiency in another language is a plus; and
• Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to handle multiple sensitive assignments in a timely manner.
• Valid driver’s license required for statewide travel;
• Must have access to reliable transportation.
• Commitment to social and racial justice
• Knowledge of Votebuilder/VAN is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel is a plus.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to organize complex ideas for others to understand
• Ability to quickly learn new skills and tools
• Be able to think creatively and outside the box
• Bilingual in Spanish, Arabic or other languages preferred
• Access to a reliable transportation is preferred
• Experience in campaign communications a plus

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: The Statewide Housing Organizer reports to the Statewide Coalitions Director and the Organizing Director and works collaboratively with staff, contractors, vendors and other partners on a weekly basis to maintain program efficiency. Detroit Action and the Detroit Action Education Fund are projects of Tides Advocacy and Tides Center.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Must be able to lift boxes of training materials. Able to attend conferences throughout the United States. Must be able to travel domestically on an airplane 4-8 times a year.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The position is a full time position. This position is based in an office building in Detroit, MI - The position will be required to work weekends (Saturday and Sunday). The assigned workspace is a cubicle in an open and shared work area with a moderate level of noise and interruptions.

About the Organization:

Detroit Action and its sister organization, Detroit Action Education Fund, are hosted projects of Tides Advocacy and Tides Center. We are affiliate partners of the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD), PowerSwitch Action and the Alliance for Youth Action. The salary will be determined according to a salary scale which takes into account years’ experience, location, job category, and other factors, but is expected to be $45,000- $60,000 per year.

Detroit Action is an equal opportunity employer. We assure equal treatment in hiring selection,

promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, training, discipline and other personnel practices

and terms or conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national

origin, height, weight, marital status, genetic testing status, veteran status, disability, sexual

orientation, gender status, or any other protected class established by all applicable federal,

state and local laws and ordinances.