Tenant Organizer

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families.

Program Description:  

• The Goddard Riverside Law Project provides free legal services and organizing support to low-income individuals, families, and groups of tenants in the west side of Manhattan. Our mission is to empower tenants and preserve affordable housing through advocacy, legal representation, relationship building, and grassroots education. 

• We aim to protect tenants’ rights and hold bad actors accountable while working towards establishing pro-tenant laws and sound housing policy through city and statewide coalition work. To these ends, we integrate tenant voices and collaborate with the community, particularly SRO tenants and marginalized populations. 

Schedule: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm 

Salary Range: $56,000 - $79,843 (compensation based on experience and Local 2320 union scale).

• Community organizing: 

• Organize tenants at a building-wide and neighborhood-wide level to address housing-related issues, including conflicts with landlords, harassment and discrimination; 

• Educate community residents on tenants’ rights, fair housing, gentrification and anti-displacement strategies; 

• Conduct outreach events in the community, including workshops and trainings; 

• Assist tenants in forming tenant associations and developing organizing strategies; 

• Mobilize tenants for demonstrations, rallies and forums; 

• Develop and support community leaders through regular tenant committee meetings. 

• Advocacy & case management: 

• Assist tenants with housing-related issues and concerns; 

• Advocate on behalf of tenants with landlords, government agencies and other entities;  

• Help tenants with complaints and applications to government agencies; 

• Assist unrepresented tenants with filing court cases and accessing resources; 

• Support legal staff in court cases and assist in the legal representation of tenants; 

• Depending on language ability, provide translation assistance.

• Campaigns & coalitions: 

• Represent the tenant community and take leadership roles in citywide campaigns and coalitions to advance and reform policies consistent with our mission, including preservation and production of affordable housing and safe living conditions; 

• Advocate for stronger legislation and policies to empower and protect tenants; 

• Develop and maintain relationships with community leaders and elected officials. 

• Fulfill administrative responsibilities as required, including maintaining notes on individual cases, buildings and campaigns and reporting on organizing efforts and results. 

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice work. 

• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish required. 

• College degree in related area. 

• Familiarity with housing issues and community organizing experience preferred. 

• Ability to manage workload comprising building-wide organizing, and participation in campaigns/coalitions and some casework. 

• Strong writing and research skills. 

Computer Skills: 

• To perform this job successfully, an individual should be comfortable operating Microsoft Office programs, especially Outlook, Word and Excel. 

Physical Requirements:

• Organizers are expected to visit tenants in their homes, conduct outreach in buildings, and attend events outside the office. 

Work Environment:

• Most work will be conducted at our office site; in addition, work may be required at buildings, other offices, and outdoors. 

How to Apply:

• Applicants are required to submit an online application, along with a cover letter and resume, at https://www.goddard.org/grcc/jobs/.  

• Questions about the position may be directed to Alejandro Coriat, Lead Organizer, at acoriat@goddard.org (no telephone calls, please). 

• No telephone calls, please. 

• Applications are due June 30, 2023, but all applications will be considered on a rolling basis. 

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center are equal opportunity employers and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.