Community Advocate, Housing Rights Program

Asian Law Caucus; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

FSA

401K with match

Paid time off

Dental insurance

Job summary

Asian Law Caucus (ALC) seeks a Cantonese-speaking Community Advocate for its Housing Rights Program. The advocate will support low-income and immigrant tenants facing displacement, providing direct services and coordinating with communities to advance tenant rights.

The role emphasizes in-language service delivery, collaboration with lawyers and community partners, and participation in outreach and policy initiatives to protect vulnerable populations in San Francisco.

Qualifications

• Fluency in Cantonese and ability to read/write Chinese for client communications.
• Experience providing in-language support to limited-English proficient clients.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with diverse communities and manage sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Conduct client intakes and assist with case development, including language access needs.
• Collaborate with attorneys, paralegals and staff to meet advocacy goals.
• Provide administrative support and document management for client files and meetings.
• Offer logistical support to ensure clients can attend appointments, in language clinics as needed.
• Accompany clients to meetings and hearings, in-person or virtual.
• Support clients in exercising their rights and accessing resources.

Skills

Fluency in Cantonese

Chinese literacy

In-language support

Interpersonal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Type: Regular, Non-Exempt, Full-time position. This position is included in the collective bargaining unit represented by CWA Local 9410.

Location: San Francisco,CA. This is a hybrid role that is required to work in the office 2 days a week.

Deadline: Applications are due by Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Reports to: Housing Rights Program, Managing Attorney.

Compensation and Benefits

The Community Advocate’s salary range is between $72,100 and $94,074. The compensation is determined based on relevant years of experience and in accordance with the negotiated salary scale in the union contract for this position.

This position is eligible for language premiums for demonstrated proficiency in a language other than English that is regularly used in their job duties. The annual premium is $1,500 for oral proficiency and $1,500 for written proficiency in each language.

ALC’s comprehensive benefits package includes generous vacation and paid holidays; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents); a flexible spending account (FSA); and a 401K retirement plan with employer non-elective contribution and match.

Travel & Meetings: All ALC staff are expected to participate in regular check-in meetings with their supervisor/supervisees, staff meetings, team meetings, and other organization meetings, as required. This includes two (2) annual retreats, an anniversary celebration dinner, and meetings as needed in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Opportunity

Asian Law Caucus (ALC) seeks a Cantonese-speaking Community Advocate for its Housing Rights Program. The Community Advocate is an integral member of our Housing Rights team, which adopts a multi-pronged approach to housing defense and anti-displacement. The program provides holistic, community legal services and know-your-rights education to low-income and immigrant tenants who face threats of displacement due to gentrification and other economic pressures. The program also works with tenants, tenant associations and groups of tenants to fight back against displacement and harassment. Staff also actively participate in community coalitions and work closely with tenants and grassroots advocates to use policy advocacy and impact litigation to protect and advance the rights of low-income communities of color.

The Community Advocate will specialize in supporting clients and community members at all phases of advocacy, including through clinics and limited and full-scope representation. Many of our clients are limited English proficient Cantonese speakers. Consistent with ALC’s multi-pronged approach, the Community Advocate’s direct services work will be integrated with impact strategies and community empowerment work. Depending on need and capacity, the Community Advocate will support this work by participating in community coalitions and representing ALC in opportunities for community outreach and engagement.This position reports to the Housing Rights Program Managing Attorney.

The Organization

ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Since 1972, ALC has fought for access to affordable housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown, litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color, across our Housing Rights, Workers’ Rights, Immigrant Justice, and National Democracy Initiative programs, and other emerging areas of law. ALC is based in San Francisco, a hub of the Asian American rights movement, progressive politics, and social justice activism. Our location in Chinatown is the first mixed-use, affordable housing co-op in San Francisco, serving as a model for preserving affordable housing in the city and protecting tenants’ rights.

Responsibilities

Client Advocacy and Legal Support:

• Conduct intakes with and interview clients, in particular those who require in-language services, and assist with case development, including with fact-gathering.
• Collaborate with attorneys, community advocates, paralegals, and other staff to achieve client and organizational advocacy goals.
• Provide administrative support with client data and documents and advocacy support at meetings with clients and groups of clients, in particular those who require in-language services.
• Provide logistical support to clients, as necessary to ensure they can attend necessary appointments or appearances, and under the supervision of an attorney, provide legal advice and brief services to clients at ALC’s Housing Rights legal clinics and other clinics as needed.
• Accompany clients to meetings, interviews, and other necessary appointments or appearances, either offsite or virtual.
• Support and assist clients in exercising their rights and accessing needed resources.

Language Support

• Serve as an in-language point of contact and maintain accessible Chinese-language contact services for Housing Rights clients using communication platforms determined by our client communities’ needs.
• Provide interpretation and translation for clients and ALC staff, as needed.

Community Outreach and Strategic Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with community members and community partners as it relates to supporting our clients and client advocacy goals
• Collaborate with allies and organizations in joint community efforts and initiatives
• Conduct community outreach about tenant rights and develop related educational materials

Qualifications

• Fluency in Cantonese
• Ability to read and write at a proficient level in Chinese
• Bachelor’s degree, or combination of equivalent education and work experience
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights of low-income, people of color, immigrant, tenant, or worker communities
• Excellent research, analytical, written and oral communication skills, and strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills
• Ability to think creatively, be strategic, and exercise good judgment
• Ability to work well with diverse groups and individuals
• Ability to work well under time pressure
• Ability to work some weekends and evenings
• Proficient with Google and Microsoft Suite.

Highly Desirable

• Fluency in Mandarin
• Familiarity with San Francisco’s housing rights landscape
• Experience working with community members who are experiencing stressful situations
• Experience with or knowledge about housing, homelessness, land use, or community development

Asian Law Caucus is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including HIV, cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital or domestic partner status, reproductive health decision-making, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions) gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim and survivor status, political affiliation, height, weight, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.