We're launching a new project to help people keep and achieve stable housing in Fayette Count. Join our team! This is one of three new positions. Explore our blog to see them all.
Eviction Prevention Resource Coordinator
Kentucky Equal Justice Center seeks an energetic, organized, and experienced community leader to spearhead our new Eviction Prevention Coalition in Lexington-Fayette County. This role will bring together multi-racial, multicultural, multidisciplinary organizations that serve tenants facing eviction. The Resource Coordinator will also be responsible for scaling up the educational resources available to tenants and will support peer education initiatives.
This is a dynamic position that blends harm reduction case management, coalition building, and community organizing. It will require a motivated individual who is internet savvy and has lived and/or professional experience in navigating social service systems as a person facing eviction.
The Resource Coordinator will be a pivotal part of KEJC’s versatile outreach and advocacy team and will work in collaboration with our partners at Legal Aid of the Bluegrass and our own immigration law program at Maxwell Street Legal Clinic. The goal: to keep Kentuckians safe and housed.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Resource Coordinator will:
Support tenants through harm reduction case management services both before and after their Court hearings, by connecting KEJC Housing clients with services including: rental assistance, other safety net programs like SNAP, WIC and KTAP, mental health care, legal aid representation, crisis intervention, and other appropriate community referrals.
In conjunction with the Housing Justice Attorney, cultivate a robust Lexington Eviction Prevention Coalition that includes all vested community partners, city offices, non-profit service providers, housing case managers at other organizations, community health workers, and MCOs who may have programs and benefits available for tenants.
Develop deep partnerships with other organizations and individuals around the City to 1) promote greater outreach to Lexingtonians facing eviction, 2) ensure Lexingtonians get the rental assistance for which they are eligible, and 3) prevent unnecessary evictions.
Develop detailed and up-to-date knowledge of rental assistance programs available, including eligibility rules and where and how to apply, and a comprehensive, current resource guide in both print and digital formats for public consumption.
Establish connections and set up regular channels of communication with all community partners directly involved with the rental assistance programs, particularly groups focused on centering impacted persons in solutions.
Work with our Communications Director to develop and target social media messages that encourage and empower people to get rental assistance and legal help
Assist Kentucky Equal Justice Center’s Director, Housing Justice Attorney, and Resource Organizer in reporting on project activities and outcomes
Participate in professional development in communication, trauma informed advocacy, organizing, or other skills related to the above job duties and responsibilities, attend Consumer & Housing Task Force meetings coordinated by Housing Justice Attorney
Qualifications
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Two years or more relevant education or experience, either in case management or social work
Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with a focus on clear communications to public audiences
Comfort speaking in front of groups
Comfort working in a multicultural setting, with sensitivity to language, race, ethnicity and cultural issues
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
Ability to use office and computer technology, including case management, spreadsheets and word-processing software
Facility with social media and web-based communications tools
Ability to work within a team but also to be a self-starter in developing and carrying out primary objectives of the Resource Coordinator
Knowledge of low-income issues
Commitment to racial justice, diversity, equity and inclusion
Strong internet searching and fact-finding skills; ability to problem solve when information is not close at hand
A proven track record of working with purpose and integrity while self-directed in a remote work setting, self-motivated to complete tasks as assigned
Project management experience including the ability to work independently, prioritize tasks in order of importance, follow through with commitments, ensure proper documentation, and report back to team members
Proficiency in a second language, especially Spanish, is strongly preferred. Working knowledge of Fayette County social services landscape preferred, and social work experience is a plus.
Salary and Benefits
Salaries for attorneys or paralegals are based on experience and our salary scale. (Organizers are paid on the “Professional” scale.)
Generous fringe benefits include health and retirement, dental, life, and disability coverage. KEJC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, but we provide health and retirement benefits through participation in state and county employee plans.
Grant Funded Position with Potential Renewal
This position is funded by a grant from LFUCG Housing Stability Services through December 2024, with a strong likelihood of renewal for additional years. Over time, sustainability will depend on locating new sources of support.
Starting Date: June 16, 2023 or ASAP.
Application Instructions
To apply, please use our app (https://bit.ly/work-at-kejc) to upload as a single .pdf document:
a cover letter
your resume
three references (with their phone numbers and email addresses)
If these materials are available online, you may provide them by linking to them in the cover letter or in a separate document in the single .pdf upload.
If you need an accommodation or assistance to submit your application and materials, please email ben@kyequaljustice.org. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
For more information
Contact Stefanie Ebbens Kingsley, Housing Justice Attorney, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, 201 West Short Street, Suite 310, Lexington, KY 40507. Email: stefanie@kyequaljustice.org.
Diversity Statement
KEJC welcomes your application. As an organization, we are committed to anti-racism and are working to build a racial justice framework into our programming and policy initiatives. We acknowledge our history as a predominately white organization and are committed to ending white supremacy. Doing so is essential to our objective of full equality for all people.
KEJC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Women, people of color, transgender individuals and members of other underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply. KEJC also supports and encourages people who were formerly convicted to be active in their community. Background checks results that indicate a conviction do not necessarily disqualify you from employment. KEJC reserves the right to request further information to fully assess an applicant’s candidacy in relation to the job duties associated with the position.