Job Description
(Hybrid, Full-Time Position in Los Angeles, CA)
Who We Are
Impact Justice advances safety, justice, and opportunity through boundary-breaking work that honors and empowers people and is changing expectations about what we can accomplish together. We work to reduce the number of people caught up in harmful legal systems by creating alternatives that are responsive, restorative, fair, and effective; to improve living conditions and life outcomes and safeguard fundamental human rights for the millions of people still subject to mass incarceration; and to expand opportunities for formerly incarcerated and other system-involved people to heal, and fully reach their potential.
We are a diverse and allied staff of reformers, transformers, abolitionists, and dreamers who bring a wide range of knowledge, skill, and life experience to the challenging work we undertake together. We’re committed to living our values and to creating the kinds of equitable and inclusive team environments internally that we fight to help create in our broader communities. A majority of individuals on our current executive team identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ. We are committed to workplace diversity and providing equal employment opportunities.
About the Homecoming Project
Using the sharing economy model, the Homecoming Project (THP) at Impact Justice (IJ) pairs individuals returning home from prison with welcoming community residents (hosts) who have a room in their homes to spare. The Homecoming Project pays each host a daily stipend for housing the participant for up to 6 months. And, THP participants are provided a community navigator that works to connect them to the resources, supports, and wraparound services necessary for community re-entry. The Homecoming Project is currently in Alameda, Contra Costa counties, and soon- to be Los Angeles county, with plans underway to expand into additional California counties and nationally.
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The Job/Summary Position Description
THP places released individuals into Community Host homes. Community Hosts are the lifeline of the Homecoming Project. Community Hosts participate in this program and as a result, receive a daily stipend of $30-$45/day for up to six (6) months by allowing a participant to live in an extra room within their home. Hosts who are accepted into the program must be willing to participate in ongoing monitoring of the home by The Homecoming Project, as well as the California Department of Adult and Parole Operations (i.e. Parole Agents).
The Sr. Program Associate position supports each aspect of the Host experience in THP. This position works closely with the Director, and THP staffers to streamline the process of host engagement, processes, support and compliance. This role also serves as the first THP point of contact for the Hosts throughout the entire 6 month period of the participant’s stay with them. In addition the Sr. Program Associate will operate as an external representative of THP by fostering and facilitating relationships with prospective participant and Host referral community-based organizations.
Currently, the majority of the THP is located in Oakland, CA. As the Los Angeles-based project grows, so will the LA team. This position will report to the Director (located in Oakland) and will collaborate closely with the Homecoming Project team.
What You Will Do
Operate as an external representative of The Homecoming Project
- Develop relationships with service providers connected to prospective Hosts and participants in Los Angeles County, with a focus on Long Beach, East Los Angeles, and South Los Angeles
- With THP leadership, act as an external representative to community stakeholders including local and state re-entry and housing providers
- Lead, facilitate, and participate in community meetings including: housing and reentry provider roundtables or meetings, and monthly PACT meetings.
Participate, develop and facilitate community and host outreach efforts within LA County:
- Plan and implement a strategic recruitment and marketing plan to secure hosts.
- Plan and facilitate outreach meetings with the community, including within faith-baith organizations, to share the project goals with target audiences, develop/deepen relationships, and to recruit hosts/participants. Develop and build relationships in Los Angeles County, prioritizing Long Beach, East Los Angeles, and South Los Angeles
- Lead local outreach and marketing efforts, and facilitate workshops and information sessions to secure 5-10 host commitments by December 2023.
As The Homecoming Project in Los Angeles becomes fully staffed, this role will serve as the main point of contact for the Hosts throughout the 6-month housing arrangement:
- Lead Hosts intake process including: application submission, HUD home inspection, neighborhood inspection, and host readiness assessment/interview
- Facilitate bi-monthly host training, provide additional resources as needed, to enhance the hosting experience
- Lead host retention efforts including: exit interviews, monitoring of host-participant experience
- Lead introductory meetings between Hosts and participants as well as internal “matching” conversations to match Hosts with participants
- Input weekly progress notes/reports on the Hosts in Salesforce using appropriate case note formatting
- Oversee host monthly stipend/payment process and bonuses for referrals. This includes liaising with Finance to ensure proper document management and timely payments.
THP Participants Responsibilities
As The Homecoming Project in Los Angeles becomes fully staffed, this role will
- Assume participant recruitment and processing efforts
- Assume case management of participants
Who You Are
The Sr. Program Associate has:
- Project development and management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Public speaking skills.
- Excellent computer skills, ability to use Microsoft Office Suite, Google G-Suite, Asana and learn other information database systems quickly.
- A valid Driver’s License with a clean and reliable vehicle, with current registration and proof of insurance. Driver and vehicle must meet the terms of IJ’s vehicle use policy.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with good relationship-building techniques.
- Adept at time management and highly organized with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Proficient in networking skills with an ability to maintain established relationships.
- Case management experience.
- Relationship management/client management.
- Crisis intervention & mediation for conflict resolution.
- Proactive and independent with the ability to take initiative.
- Adopt and revise standing policies and procedures of an existing program for improvement.
- An orientation and belief that criminal legal involvement should not be an impediment to employment, career, and personal growth opportunities.
Preferred Qualifications
- A comprehensive understanding of the reentry transitional process, including obstacles and barriers that formerly incarcerated people must go through when first released.
- Worked closely with homeowners/renters to assist in housing stability.
- Have experience conducting home/facility inspections.
- Experience working in or with the criminal legal system.
- Experience/comfort with Salesforce or similar CRM tool.
- Professional experience in the human services, social work, psychology or related field and demonstrated experience in rental housing programs for formerly incarcerated populations.
Travel
This position requires a valid driver's license and a car, an offer of employment is conditional upon on a motor vehicle records check. This position will require travel within LA County. Vehicle work travel will be eligible for mileage reimbursement at the Federal rate. In addition, this role may require limited evening and weekend commitments for which the employee will create a modified work schedule with supervisor approval.
Location: Los Angeles, CA or Oakland, CA
Work schedule: Full-time, at 40-hrs per week, under a hybrid model currently requiring at least two full days per week in office.
Compensation and Benefits
- $70,000-$78,000
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Generous benefits package, including medical, dental, FSA plans, and 401k
- Generous vacation and wellness leave
- Flexible work environment
- This is not a remote position. This position will work in the field, and also report in-office twice per week.
To Apply:
To apply, please submit your résumé, and instead of submitting a traditional cover letter, answer the following three questions to help explain your qualifications and interest in the position:
- Why do you want to work for The Homecoming Project at Impact Justice? (100-word limit)
- Provide an example of when you’ve achieved success utilizing creative relationship-building strategies to garner support or recruit/fill a role(s). (150-word limit)
- Using the qualifications listed above, please list the top 5 qualification(s) that you feel you currently excel in and 2 qualifications you feel you will need to work toward proficiency. Please limit your response to no more than 2-3 sentences per qualification.
Please send the required materials to homecomingprojectjobs@impactjustice.org. Please have the subject line of the email read “[Your Last Name], [Your First Name] Application for Sr. Program Associate, Housing and Partnerships” The application deadline is August 11, 2023. The anticipated start date for the position is September 4, 2023.
Equal Opportunity Employment
Impact Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race/ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, criminal history, or disability. We work closely with communities of color, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, gender nonconforming, and transgender communities, the formerly incarcerated, and former foster youth. Those with lived experience in these communities are strongly encouraged to apply.