Housing Stability Advocate

Neighborhood Services Organization is launching a brand-new program called the Stay Housed Tenant Advocacy Center (Stay Housed). This program will support people who are at risk of losing their homes due to eviction. Stay Housed will offer guidance, advocacy, and connections to helpful resources. The Housing Stability Advocate is caring, committed, and great at problem-solving.

The position requires a demonstrated passion for fairness, helping others, and making sure everyone has a safe place to live. It further requires comfort working with people from all backgrounds, especially those who have been underserved and have limited access to opportunities. This role may involve stepping outside the job description as the program grows and changes, so flexibility is key.

As a Housing Stability Advocate, you’ll support renters by:

• Helping tenants understand their housing rights
• Providing one-on-one support
• Helping tenants have conversations with landlords to try to stay in their homes
• Connecting tenants with resources that can help them stay housed long-term

Working hours are primarily Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, some evening, weekend and holiday hours as need dictates. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Tenant Support:

• Talk with tenants in a helpful and respectful way to figure out what’s causing problems with their housing and how to solve them.
• Teach tenants about managing money and provide legal information about their rights and responsibilities.
• Speak to landlords and property managers on behalf of tenants to help stop evictions.
• Respond to tenants and service providers in a timely manner.
• Work with legal service providers, volunteer lawyers, and housing advocates to make sure tenants get the help they need to help them keep their housing.
• Follow up with tenants regularly to ensure continued housing stability and address any emerging issues.
• Maintain communication with landlords to ensure that payment agreements and other arrangements are being upheld by all parties involved.
• Build strong relationships with landlords, legal service providers, landlords, and community groups to support tenants.

Administration of Rental Assistance:

• Gather and organize all the paperwork needed for rental assistance applications.
• Communicate with landlords regarding rental assistance payments.
• Follow policies and procedures to prioritize assistance and to make sure payments are sent out correctly.

Data Collection and Evaluation:

• Keep accurate and current records about tenants and services and make sure the data is well-organized and sent in on time, following Stay Housed rules.
• Keep an eye on how well the program is working, track how clients are doing, and write up reports to meet the requirements of funders and grants.

Other:

• Other duties as a may be assigned to support the program’s mission.
• Maintain confidentiality of client information in accordance with privacy regulations.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Training & Experience 

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is preferred; however, relevant work or life experience will also be considered.
• Experience in working with low-income individuals is strongly preferred.

KEY SKILL SETS & ABILITIES:

• Has a strong commitment to helping vulnerable communities and promoting fair, supportive systems.
• Communicates clearly and respectfully with people from all backgrounds, including court staff, the public, and those with diverse needs or abilities.
• Can solve problems and support clients in tough situations.
• Skilled at managing time and juggling tasks in fast-paced settings without losing attention to detail.
• Great at working with housing providers, legal service providers, and community partners to build strong relationships and improve client outcomes.
• Familiar with affordable housing, rental assistance, and eviction prevention, or able to quickly learn and connect clients to key resources.
• Understands and is sensitive to the needs of diverse and disadvantaged groups.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office and able to use or learn case management software to track clients and improve services.
• Can explain information clearly and supportively, even in fast-paced settings.
• Good at solving problems and thinking clearly in complex situations; comfortable with collecting data and evaluating programs.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Occasional periods of high stress may arise in the course of the role.
• Full-time position, requiring up to 40 hours per week.
• The position is based at NSO’s Stay Housed Tenant Advocacy Center, with occasional work required at other NSO locations.
• The role involves collaboration across various departments, and responsibilities may evolve to meet the organization’s needs.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid driver’s license and automobile insurance with minimum coverage of:
  • $100,000 bodily injury (per person)
  • $300,000 bodily injury (per accident)
  • $100,000 property damage
    
    
• Successful completion of background check and drug screening.
  • This position is designated as Safety Sensitive under the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Act.

The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities.