National Homelessness Law Center: Development & Communications AmeriCorps Vista

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Recruiting Organization: National Homelessness Law Center

OVERVIEW

Founded in 1989, the National Homelessness Law Center ("Law Center") is the leading national organization using the power of the law to advocate for the millions of people experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the United States. Our work has put unhoused children back in school, won new resources for affordable housing, prevented homelessness for renters, overturned laws that criminalize homelessness, and built support for the human right to housing, now a major component of federal domestic policy. We play a critical role in protecting, defending and promoting the rights of unhoused persons to ensure they can lead national, state and local efforts to end homelessness.

This VISTA project will increase the number of communities using right to housing solutions to end and prevent homelessness, promote understanding among audiences of the harm of policies that criminalize homelessness, and uphold the educational rights of children currently experiencing homelessness. Dozens of communities, in at least 10-15 state and/or local jurisdictions, will benefit from our campaign goals related to housing and education issues. VISTA volunteers will contribute to the goals of the project by performing activities such as database design and tracking, developing our network and building organizational capacity to extend beyond the campaign.

This is a one-year, full-time AmeriCorps VISTA position, hosted at the Law Center. AmeriCorps VISTA provides a modest living stipend, as well as an education award or a post-service stipend upon completion of service. For information specific to the AmeriCorps VISTA program visit https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-programs/americorps-vista.

VISTA RESPONSIBILITIES

The Development & Communications VISTA member will expand the Law Center’s tools and capacity to communicate with and actively engage diverse stakeholders, supporters, and donors including the capacity to strengthen relationships and engage donors, and building protocols and procedures to support the planning and preparation of virtual events.

• Identify, design, and implement creative engagement and communications strategies for our constituencies, utilizing trending technologies and best practices.
• Integrate communications strategies between program/Campaign interests and development interests, and create a sustainability plan.
• Support planning of Law Center events, conferences, and meetings to further the Law Center’s work and goal including: webinars, donor development events and fundraisers, and the annual McKinney-Vento Awards, which honors leaders in homelessness advocacy.
• Continue to expand the capacity of databases and resources developed by previous VISTAs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to social justice and anti-poverty issues; desire to protect the civil and human rights of people experiencing homelessness, to end the criminalization of homelessness, and to support the human right to housing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Event planning experience preferred.
• Very strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Problem-solving ability, creative thinking, and ability to recognize opportunities to strengthen partnerships and systems.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and communicate effectively and professionally with diverse populations.
• Experience working on issues related to homelessness is a plus; experience with grassroots organizing, advocacy, campaign management, or movement-building strategies is a plus.

Benefits

There are numerous other benefits associated with AmeriCorps, including travel stipends, health coverage, and special hiring status for federal employment after the completion of the service year. The VISTA volunteer located in Washington, DC will also receive a free on-site fitness center membership through the Law Center.

Read more about AmeriCorps VISTA service benefits at http://www.vistacampus.gov/in-service/benefits-service.

Stipend Provided

Training Provided

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair Accessible

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring