Spanish Speaking Tenants' Rights Hotline Team Member

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Recruiting Organization: Metropolitan Council on Housing

Met Council on Housing is seeking bilingual (English/Spanish) volunteers for our Mutual Aid Tenants’ Rights Hotline team. The hotline serves thousands of tenants all over the city every year. Hotline Team Members answer questions on common tenant issues, inform callers of their rights and help them determine the best course of action to assert those rights. As part of our hotline team you will be directly helping tenants in need fight against their predatory, abusive landlords and stay in their homes. Our hotline operates on the principle of mutual aid: we believe that tenants are the best resource for other tenants.

Currently our hotline is operated completely remotely. There is no specific experience or knowledge base necessary: we provide training in the use of our systems and in the key areas of NYC tenants’ rights. Through training and experience taking calls, Hotline Team Members become incredibly knowledgeable about tenant issues and the housing landscape in New York City.

Team Members must attend a virtual training prior to beginning on the hotline and are expected to attend (virtual) team meetings every other month to stay informed and continue their growth as Team Members.

Responsibilities include:

• Listening to callers & asking questions that help identify the potential root causes & rights being violated
• Providing education about tenants' rights, resources and referrals
• Using the Met Council on Housing website, HPD and HCR websites to research answers while on the phone with callers
• Collecting information on callers and entering it into a database while on the phone
• Accurately summarizing the issue and information given in the database
• Keeping the Hotline Coordinator informed of important calls or issues that are coming up
• Asking callers to join or get involved with Met Council on Housing to help build tenant power

Qualifications:

• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish
• A working phone, computer and good internet connection
• Good listening & communication skills
• Belief in housing as a human right
• Awareness of how intersecting aspects of identity (race, disability, immigration status, etc.) impact one’s access to stable housing
• Primary residence in NYC
• A willingness to learn and the self-motivation to continue studying
• Comfort asking questions when you are unfamiliar with an issue
• Strong sense of compassion and empathy
• Ability to discuss sensitive issues with care
• A calm and open demeanor
• Prior experience dealing with landlord issues or housing court a plus!

We ask that volunteers commit to one weekly shift for a minimum of 3 month (though many stay for years). We currently have availability on the following shifts:

Monday 1:30-5pm

Monday 5:30-8pm

Wednesday 1:30-5pm

Friday 1:30-5pm

Please email katee@metcouncilonhousing.org with a few sentences about yourself, why you are interested in joining our hotline team, and what shifts you are available for. Please include any questions you may have about the position.

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring