Community Organizer (Housing Counseling & SRO)

Job Summary : The Community Organizer coordinates and implements the Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Collaborative Programs and provides housing counseling to tenants. This position assists the Community Organizing Team (COT) in achieving objectives related to civic engagement efforts and provides housing counseling to tenants through community education and outreach.

Status: Full-time, Nonexempt, Regular
Location:  Chinatown neighborhood, San Francisco
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00a.m. to 5:30p.m., and some weekends and evenings; flexible work hours needed
Salary: $36.00 - $38.00 per hour; Comprehensive benefits
Schedule: Weekly Schedule. Hybrid (1-2 days remote). 

The Organization : A private non-profit founded in 1977, Chinatown Community Development Center believes in a comprehensive vision of community. We own and/or manage approximately 38 affordable housing buildings serving over 5,000 low-income seniors, single adults, formerly homeless adults, and families of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Tenderloin, Western Addition, and Polk Gulch neighborhoods. We also build housing, develop grassroots leadership, and engage low-income residents and youth. Our employees are passionate about the mission; thrive in a family organizational culture; and embody values of empowerment, teamwork, and compassion. Chinatown CDC serves a diverse population and is committed to hiring practices that provide culturally competent services. We encourage people of color to apply. 

What You Will Do

• Support tenant empowerment and advocacy through housing counseling, education, and outreach related to tenant rights and housing issues by building collective power and encouraging participation in tenant organizing efforts.
• Participate in internal and external partnership-building efforts to engage and expand the broader tenant base, including but not limited to the SRO tenants and families through capacity building, leadership development, and policy and legislative advocacy to strengthen tenant protections and advance housing justice.

Provide housing counseling and tenant rights education

• Perform intake and provide housing counseling to low-income tenants (primarily monolingual Chinese-speaking) by assessing housing problems, giving advice, providing information and education, offering support or translation services, and making referrals.
• Provide housing counseling guidance to the SRO team, attend monthly meetings as needed, and assist with outreach efforts, including but not limited to SRO residents.
• Collaborate with the Department of Building Inspection (DBI), Housing Inspection Services Division, to ensure that tenants live in code-compliant residential buildings.
• Conduct community education (tenants rights, fire prevention and emergency preparedness) and develop outreach materials, including translations of relevant materials, on rent ordinances, tenant rights, proper eviction proceedings, current housing legislation, state initiatives, and related housing policies.
• Provide pre- and post-application assistance to eligible tenants and families seeking affordable housing opportunities through DAHLIA, SFHA, and other rental subsidy programs, and support related outreach and training activities to help achieve housing stability.
• Input, track, and maintain tenant case information in Salesforce and other data tracking systems to generate timely reports and support data analysis and evaluation.

Support tenant organizing, empowerment, and civic engagement efforts

• Identify and develop leadership among SRO tenants and other community members by designing and facilitating annual grassroots leadership development training that empowers participants through capacity building.
• Support the COT’s organizing strategies and advocacy efforts by empowering tenant leaders to actively participate in community planning and decision-making processes that impact housing, tenant rights, and community issues.
• In partnership with community leaders, encourage participation and engagement in decision-making processes and civic activities, including but not limited to meetings, hearings and campaigns, to drive positive changes in the community by providing representation and translation services.
• Participate in cross-team collaboration to represent community perspectives, relay resident feedback, and contribute to the development of initiatives and policy changes related to land use, transportation, public safety improvements, housing development, and community facilities.

Other (all positions)

• Embody organization values (respect & compassion, empowerment, teamwork)
• Contribute to a safe and pleasant work environment
• Follow policies, procedures, and safe work practices
• Other duties as assigned

What You Bring

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong public speaking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to conduct workshops and meetings in English and Chinese.
• Strong creative and comprehensive problem-solving skills.
• Good listening skills and ability to exercise patience.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team structure environment.
• Sensitivity to the needs of low-income, immigrant, monolingual, homeless, and SRO communities.
• Knowledge of the needs of low-income residents in Chinatown and San Francisco.
• Commitment to comprehensive vision of community development and improving the life for low-income community.

Education and Experience (Minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in social services, sociology, psychology, or related field.
• Bilingual and biliterate in Chinese and English; Cantonese fluency required.
• Basic word processing, Excel spreadsheet, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience or familiarity with the Chinatown neighborhood especially pertaining to the low-income immigrant neighborhoods and issues relevant to the community.
• ​​​​​​​Familiarity with Chinese software programs and word processing.
• Experience working with SRO families, tenants, homeless populations, or low-income clients.
• Two (2) years experience in non-profit agency serving low-income clients