NLIHC Seeks ERASE Project Coordinator

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) seeks a project coordinator for its ERASE (End Rental Arears to Stop Evictions) project to ensure that the historic emergency rental assistance ($46 billion) appropriated by Congress reaches the lowest-income and most marginalized renters it is intended to help. This is a one-year position with the possibility of extension, depending on funding. The position will report to the ERASE senior project director.

Project Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused two unprecedented developments affecting low-income renters. The first is ominous and potentially catastrophic: it has caused many millions of people to fall behind in their rent, placing them at risk of ultimate eviction. The second is more promising: unprecedented emergency rental assistance to eliminate and avoid rental arrears. 

This project, led and coordinated by NLIHC, is designed to ensure that the historic aid enacted by Congress reaches the lowest-income and most marginalized renters in need. The project – which would End Rental Arrears to Stop Evictions (ERASE) – seeks to eliminate rental indebtedness caused by the pandemic and to prevent evictions by: tracking and analyzing emergency rental assistance utilization; documenting and sharing best practices and toolkits; influencing and shaping program design at federal, state, local levels; developing key partnerships for outreach and education; and assessing the remaining needs to inform advocacy for long-term investments to end housing instability and homelessness in the United States. A key part of ERASE will be to develop and nurture a cohort of state partners working to ensure equitable ERA programs.

Job Description: 

The ERASE project coordinator, working closely with the senior project director, will:

  • Work with the senior director to support the activities of a team of NLIHC staff and consultants dedicated to the ERASE project:
    • Work closely with the senior director to develop and implement all aspects of the ERASE project plan
    • Support the ERASE advisory council, made up of model program administrators, CBOs, representative tenant organizer networks and impacted people
  • Work with and support the NLIHC ERASE team to build upon and advance the ERASE Research and Learning Network:
    • Translate research into action base tools to support program implementation 
    • Prepare and broadly disseminate materials designed to ensure that ERA advances racial equity and reaches the lowest-income and most marginalized renters
    • Track and highlight developing trends related to landlord participation, self-attestation (of need, income, rental payments, etc.), and direct-to-tenant assistance, and ensure language translation and other accessibility features
    • Develop and disseminate tools
    • Assist with the development and dissemination of toolkits, model forms, model programs and case studies to support jurisdictions in implementing key features in their ERA programs
    • Identify, document, and share best practices, lessons learned, challenges and success related to emergency rental assistance with a specific lens towards equity
    • Support opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, through a listserv, peer calls, and other mechanisms, to allow for program administrators to share lessons learned and useful tools/information with each other
    • Organize and host webinars and other trainings for activists and non-profit organization leaders, as well as relevant state and local agency officials
  • Ensure effective grants management and support to the ERASE grantees to achieve program goals:
    • Working closely with the senior director, administer and support grants to state partners and ensure effective partner grants management: ensure grantees are carrying out the terms of their grants and are effectively and appropriately using the grants provided to achieve intended outcomes
    • Review grantee project plans and reports to determine ongoing effectiveness and course correct as needed
    • Provide technical assistance and support to assist grantees in engaging in robust advocacy at the state and local level needed to ensure ERA funds are utilized effectively and efficiently and assist the lowest-income people in need
    • Ensure that state and local grantees have the materials, tools, best practices, and other supports needed to support the ERASE Call to Action including engaging in effective outreach and sign-up efforts of low-income households, especially for programs or assistance that did not exist before.
    • Virtually convene grantees, plan and facilitate webinars to facilitate for peer learning, problem solving, and strategy-sharing
    • Track and share the impact of ERASE through data collection, storytelling and other methods
  • Coordinate with the senior director and policy team to identify areas for national advocacy and to ensure effective integration of state and local efforts into national efforts
  • Support the senior director in preparing reports for NLIHC donors on activities, outputs, and outcomes of ERASE, including summaries of activities undertaken by state and local grantees, the project steering committee, and other relevant progress
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: To receive serious consideration for this position, an applicant should have the following attributes and background:

  • Bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred). Relevant life experience may be substituted for years of education
  • Minimum of five years previous experience working in, coordinating, or leading efforts on one or more complex, multi-faceted projects or campaigns
  • Demonstrated commitment to the alleviation of poverty (affordable housing experience is a plus)
  • Experience successfully building partnerships among organizations
  • Demonstrated excellence in organizational skills
  • Excellent communications skills, both orally and in writing
  • Experience in grant management, providing technical assistance, and in reporting to donors, a plus
  • Ability to work in a diverse, fast-paced environment

Compensation and Benefits:  An equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, NLIHC offers a competitive salary and benefits package. This is a full-time position which can be remote or located in Washington, DC. 

Status: Full-time (exempt)

Reports To: ERASE Senior Project Director

Job Application Process: Candidates for this position should send a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to: Sarah Gallagher, ERASE senior project director at [email protected]. The cover letter should describe the candidate’s interest in, and relevant experiences for, the position, and it should include salary requirements and the names and contact information for at least three people serving as candidate references, two of which should be current or former supervisors (NLIHC will not contact references before consulting with the candidate).