Housing Advocate

COUNSELOR/ADVOCATE Travel to Great Barrington and North Adams offices Responsibilities: Work with survivors on their housing, financial, and personal goals - Help survivors find safe and affordable housing that meets their needs - Help complete housing applications and gather needed documents - Advocate with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, and other housing programs - Help survivors with budgeting, financial assistance, employment, goal setting, and building skills for long-term stability - Offer support in a trauma-informed way that respects each survivor's choices and goals - Meet with survivors to understand their housing, safety, and other needs - Develop and offer housing workshops at least once a month - Plan and help lead educational and peer support groups for survivors - Build and maintain relationships with local landlords, housing programs, and financial education programs - Connect survivors with other EFC and community resources when needed - Participate in outreach and awareness efforts; Distribute outreach materials and staffing information tables at events - Maintain strong professional boundaries and ensure client confidentiality at all times - Keep timely and accurate records using the agency database - Attend and actively participate in team meetings and agency-wide staff meetings - Support the overall mission of EFC by performing other duties as needed to ensure survivors receive safe, compassionate, and high-quality services in compliance with legal and grant requirements Qualifications: - At least 2 years of experience working with survivors of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, or in community-based programs - Understanding of trauma-informed support and the impact of domestic violence, trauma, mental health, and substance use on individuals and families - Experience with housing programs, including public housing, rapid rehousing, or homelessness prevention, is helpful Strong advocacy, problem-solving, and crisis support skills - Able to stay organized, manage several priorities, and work well under pressure - Able to work independently and as part of a team - Strong communication and basic computer skills - Experience working with community systems such as housing, courts, legal services, and child protection is helpful - Committed to working respectfully with people from different backgrounds and experiences. - Bilingual English/Spanish or other language skills are a plus. - Excellent organizational skills - Bachelor or Associate Degree (may be waived for relevant, comparable level of work or life experience) - Must successfully pass Criminal Record Check-CORI, be found suitable to work with children, and have valid Massachusetts driver's license and reliable transportation. Work Hours: 40 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work required for outreach and counseling activities Compensation and benefits: Elizabeth Freeman Center believes in offering all staff: competitive salary and benefits, engaged and dedicated colleagues, training and education in best practices, career development opportunities, openness to innovation, and the opportunity and resources to do meaningful, impactful work. This position begins at $25.00 per hour ($52,000 annually). EFC pays 85% of health insurance premiums and contributes to an FSA. EFC has generous paid leave as well as other benefits. Applying: To apply, please send cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Deadlines are rolling until position has been filled. EFC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Survivors of domestic or sexual violence, people of color, people with disabilities, people who are bilingual/bicultural, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.