Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center Director

Join our team and make a positive difference in your community! Community Advocates Inc. is committed to ensuring that low-income families and individuals in Milwaukee are able to meet their basic needs. Our belief is that advocacy is more than just helping families and individuals. Advocacy is also about building a community that empowers families and individuals to help themselves.

The MKE RHRC is a collaborative initiative that leverages expertise from many facets of the rental housing system and brings them together under one roof by:

• Serving as a virtual and physical clearinghouse of information and a comprehensive referral network.
• Connecting people to rental assistance, legal and mediation services, and homeless prevention resources.
• Providing consistent, trusted information on tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities in Milwaukee County.

MKE RHRC Co-Partners include the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee, Community Advocates, Hope House, IMPACT, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Mediate Wisconsin, and Milwaukee County. The mission of the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center (MKE RHRC) is to serve as a trusted convener for the rental housing system and to connect people to resources, education, and services that help prevent eviction.

The Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center Director will be housed at Community Advocates, Inc. as the organization serves as the administrator of the physical space and triage team. The Director will work directly with the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin (UEDA), a local intermediary providing project and fiscal management for the effort, Triage Team, and Co-Partners.

The Director of the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center will oversee all operations of the virtual and physical space and triage team ensuring tenants, landlords, and others have the resources to navigate through eviction prevention and housing stability resources that can help them address their current situation.

Specific duties include maintaining communication and enhancing relationships with co-partners and stakeholders, developing and maintaining operational procedures, overseeing reporting and evaluation, and contributing to development activities to sustain advocacy long-term. This position will also serve as a project liaison to the Community Advocates Housing Department and Emergency Rental Assistance team to ensure coordination.

• Monitor the response to inquiries made via the hotline, website, e-mail, in-person; and referral data via Impact Connect to ensure tenants and landlords are directed to services based on need assessment and eligibility (i.e. financial assistance, mediation, and legal services)
• Collect and maintain intake and referral data to determine numbers served, outcomes achieved, needs and gaps
• Oversee robust referral process with RHRC co-partners and IMPACT Connect.
• Provide support to clients and co-partners with initiating and completing rent assistance applications.
• Work with Milwaukee County courts and co-partners to monitor weekly eviction filings and rent assistance applications to ensure parties are informed and connect to available resources.
• Work with co-partners to develop and maintain communications and messaging for the RHRC website and social media to promote resources that help prevent eviction.
• Maintain calendar for MKE RHRC co-partner office hours and daily events.
• Reach out to trusted service providers in the community (i.e. neighborhood groups, social service organizations, etc.) to ensure they are aware of eviction prevention and housing stability resources.
• Work with Coalition members to develop and provide educational resources for tenants, landlords and service providers (i.e. tips for specific situations, videos, podcasts, train-the-trainer, peer support, etc.).
• Participate in RHRC Advisory Group and Courts working group to identify how the Triage Team can provide resource support to emerging eviction diversion and prevention strategies and actions.
• Share information to promote the goals of the collaborative and to support clients.
• Plan and facilitate regularly scheduled co-partner meetings.
• Participate in other working groups or task forces on specific issues as needed.
• Participate in or support MKE RHRC programs, events, and other public engagement activities.
• Support marketing and communication efforts, including coordinating media outreach and response.
• Refer clients to other co-partners as appropriate and respond to inquiries and referrals in a timely manner.
• Contribute and regularly update content for the MKE RHRC website and social media outlets.
• Attend community meetings related to housing and policy to build relationships and cohesion and bring back information to other colleagues and partners
• Work with MKE RHRC Advisory group and Community Advocates leadership and Housing Department to determine additional areas of opportunity to advance housing work around research, and advocacy.
• Share responsibility for fund/resource development to ensure ongoing financial sustainability.
• Provide data and/or periodic reports to track the activities and outcomes of the MKE RHRC.
• Maintain privacy of clients who are served by the MKE RHRC and referred to co-partners for services.

Knowledge & Skill:

• Knowledge of Wisconsin housing law and court processes, particularly as it pertains to rental housing and tenant’s & landlord’s rights
• Excellent management skills related to Project Management
• Customer Focus – Maintaining awareness of and seeking to meet of the needs and wants of the customer
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written
• Leadership Orientation – Actively seeks ways in which to act as a role model, guide, develop and mentor others within the department; Strong team leadership, team building and facilitation skills
• Initiative – Engages in proactive behavior and looks for new project opportunities
• Adaptability – Responds effectively to changes in situation or information
• Strong financial analytical skills including cost control
• Excellent Microsoft Outlook, Project, Excel, Word and Power Point skills
• Passion for helping people and providing resources
• Ability to troubleshoot and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced setting
• Desire and ability to work with a diverse group of people, particularly those living in low-income distressed neighborhoods
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (some night and weekends may be required)
• Highly-Organized with ability to prioritize tasks

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Services or related field or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of landlord/tenant laws

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of previous nonprofit operations, social services or field or field related experience
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience

Hours

This is a Full-time position, 40 hours per week. Typical hours are 9AM-5PM with some night and weekends may be required. Must be available to work on-site at our main office located in Downtown Milwaukee.

Physical Requirements

The position requires driving, navigating stairs, bending, stooping and infrequent lifting up to 15 Lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Milwaukee, WI 53233: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: One location