Mobile Home Project, Statewide Housing Services Division,
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity

Mobile Home Project (MHP) Advocate/Organizer

Position to serve mobile home park residents. Successful candidate will regularly travel to mobile home parks in Vermont. Must be able and willing to commute to the MHP office in Burlington six or more days/month. Responsibilities include: work with residents/agencies concerning park sales, closings, rent increases, infrastructure and habitability issues; organize and support resident associations; provide housing counseling/advocacy re home sales, lending practices, personal debt, home and park habitability issues; public policy advocacy re mobile home related issues; submit regular written reports. Need well-organized person able to effectively prioritize tasks and juggle work schedule; excellent verbal and written communication skills required; self-motivated individual must work well with minimum supervision. Good computer skills. Some evening and weekend work required. Valid driver’s license and reliable private transportation required. Job requires practical commitment to addressing social and economic justice issues.

32 hours per week, $12.00/hr. Good benefit package.

Applications from minorities and diverse cultural groups encouraged. EOE.
No phone calls please. Send letter of interest, resume, and three references
by 9/24/03 to:

Organizer Hire, MHP/CVOEO, 294 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 05401

Job Description
Mobile Home Project Advocate/Organizer

BASIC FUNCTION
To assist residents of mobile home parks with issues arising from park sales, park closures, and/or health, habitability, and park infrastructure problems. Provide mobile home park residents with organizing, advocacy, and housing counseling services including information, planning, and referrals with regard to mobile home rehabilitation needs, foreclosure, debt/credit issues and home financing options. Advocate publicly for the rights of mobile home residents in the policy and enforcement arena. Work with various State, local and non-profit agencies on mobile home park issues.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primary

• Provide direct service to residents of mobile home parks who are having problems with their landlord.
• Assist in organizing residents’ associations and coordinating efforts of different associations.
• Assist residents in parks who face a park sale, closure or rent increase covered by Vermont’s Act 252, explain resident options, assist in rent mediation and assist in resident relocation when necessary and appropriate.
• Work with residents of mobile home parks to resolve health, habitability and infrastructure problems.
• Work with residents of non-profit owned mobile home parks to increase resident involvement in management.
• Provide trainings to new and established residents’ associations on such topics as organizational structure, self-advocacy methods, and sustaining organizations and leadership over time.
• Provide Housing Counseling Services (housing needs/status assessment, information, planning, referrals) to individual mobile home park residents who face possible eviction, foreclosure, debt and credit issues, home rehabilitation needs, or desire to purchase a new home.
• Assist with production and distribution of regularly published newsletter and other information for mobile home residents
• Timely and regular reporting of activities especially as relate to grant funding, maintenance and organization of work records, prompt billing.
• Will assist with research and preparation of grant proposals.
  
  

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Supervision is received from the Director of Statewide Housing Services division of CVOEO.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA degree in an appropriate discipline plus two to four years of relevant community services/housing development, legal and financial training or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
• Knowledge of or ability to quickly learn and maintain a solid base of technical knowledge related to mobile home park and landlord/tenant law.
• Knowledge of the needs and problems faced by mobile home residents.
• Ability to deal effectively and tactfully with a broad range of diverse individuals, groups and organizations.
• Must be well organized and adept at prioritizing tasks and planning efficient daily work schedules.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, public speaking ability, analytical and problem solving skills.
• Highly self-motivated with an ability to work well with minimum supervision both independently and as a team member.
• Good computer/information technology skills.
• Interest in and commitment to the mission of the agency.
• Ability to keep accurate, confidential narrative and quantitative client services records and to submit reports as needed on a timely basis.
• Able and willing to attend some evening and weekend meetings.
• Have valid drivers license, clean driving record and access to private transportation, be willing and able to travel extensively in state.