WASHINGTON D.C. STAFF:

Bring America Home Now Campaign Director

INTERNSHIPS

NCH is accepting applications for the following unpaid internships on an ongoing basis. All work is currently be done remotely due to pandemic restrictions. To apply, email your resume, dates of availability, and a letter of interest to mhustings at nationalhomeless.org.

• Special Events and Conferences
• Racial Equity
• Homeless Civil Rights & Organizing
• Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureua

Position Duration: Summer Semester through Fall/Winter 2021
Reporting to: Brian Davis, Director of Grassroots Organizing
This is a non-compensated internship unless your college/university is offering fellowship assistance.

Internship Summary:  The Homeless Civil Rights Intern will work remotely until after at least 75% of the population is vaccinated.  This individual will participate in the Homeless Civil Rights workgroup to implement the goals of reducing criminalization of homelessness and monitor and report on hate crimes directed at homeless people. The intern will assist with a monthly civil rights newsletter, and work to organize homeless led groups. Assist with outreach to advocates throughout the United States.  The intern will assist with updating information on the “You Don’t Need a Home to Vote” campaign to increase access to the ballot box for those experiencing homelessness.  By tracking data across the country and at various locales, interns will be expected to produce reports, summaries, and articles on particular efforts to criminalize homelessness, trends, successes, or model efforts to reduce law enforcement in the distribution of social services. This intern will work to highlight the negative impacts of making it illegal to be homeless, and work to get that message out to elected officials, community leaders and the general public. Finally, the intern will work to track and report on the impact of the pandemic on those experiencing homelessness as a Civil Rights issue.

Specific Position Activities:

• attend weekly meetings with staff and national committee around homeless civil rights
• collect news stories from around the county about hate crimes and laws being enforced on people because of their inability to secure housing.  
• contribute articles to the weekly newsletter, social media and website on civil rights, outstanding success to eliminate criminalization efforts or voting activities.
• gather information for a yearly report on hate crimes directed at homeless people.
• track local/state/federal legislation related to homelessness and poverty.
• highlight unsung heroes in the homeless community.
• track vaccinations and the impact of the pandemic on homeless people across the United States.
• update manuals to be used by community leaders around voting and anti-bias training materials. 

Required Skills:

• superior research and written communication skills
• working in a diverse setting with all kinds of people
• ability to work remotely and without daily supervision
• ability to research news and interview individuals 

Preferred Experiences:

• direct service with homeless/low income populations
• experience in writing high-level research papers
• experience in digital and social media writing. 

Application Process: Please send a resume or background information including the school you are enrolled in and a cover letter explaining why you would like to join the NCH team as well as if you will be receiving course credit for this internship. Please respond by September 15, 2021 via email to bdavis@nationalhomeless.org.

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Mission Statement:  The National Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1982, is a national network of people who are currently experiencing homelessness  or who were once homeless, activists and advocates, community and faith-based homeless service providers, and others committed to a single mission.  That mission, our common bond, is to end homelessness. We are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of people who are either currently homeless or at risk of homelessness.  We take as our first principle of practice that people who are currently experiencing homelessness or have formerly experienced homelessness must be actively involved in all of our work.

Organizational Goals:   The National Coalition for the Homeless remains a substantive voice in the federal legislative process for people who are experiencing homelessness.  In our policy advocacy, we work diligently to ensure that mainstream resources and opportunities are available to families and individuals who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness. To end homelessness in the U.S., we use the following strategies to accomplish our mission:  lobbying, policy analysis, litigation, public education, community organizing, research and technical assistance.

Position Location: Washington DC

Mission Statement:  The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) is a national advocacy network of people who have experienced homelessness, activists, service providers and others. We envision a world where everyone has a safe, decent, accessible and affordable home. Our mission is to end and prevent homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights are respected and protected.

NCH affirms the following Guiding Principles/Values:  

1. We can end and prevent homelessness.
2. People who are currently experiencing or have experienced homelessness must be leaders in all the work of NCH and in the movement to end homelessness.
3. NCH believes in the dignity of all people:  housing, healthy food, quality health care, education and livable incomes as basic human rights. 
4. It is morally, ethically, and legally wrong to discriminate against and criminalize people struggling to meet their basic needs. 
5. Public policy makers and elected officials at all levels must be held accountable to end the systemic and structural causes of homelessness. 
6. Structural racism and discrimination are root causes of homelessness and violate human dignity.
7. Collaboration between NCH and its diverse stakeholders is critical in directing NCH’s work.

About the Bring America Home Now Campaign: The National Coalition for the Homeless is spearheading The Bring America Home Now Campaign: A Comprehensive Grassroots Campaign to End Homelessness in the U.S. Led by people who have experienced homelessness, the campaign will focus on the passage of federal legislation aimed at addressing the interconnected solutions to the decades-long epidemic of homelessness in the United States. The campaign focuses on five major policy areas: Housing; Health; Livable Income; Education: Civil Rights/Anti-Racism.

About the Position: NCH is seeking a Campaign Director who is experienced with grassroots movement building and canvassing to launch a new national canvas program in partnership with NCH partner organizations nationwide. The campaign will initially run out of NCH’s Washington, DC office, and will oversee the expansion to grassroots field offices. The Director will work to build membership and raise money for homeless-led organizations building power in low-income communities of color, and will be at the forefront of piloting new technologies and techniques in grassroots organizing. This position is an excellent opportunity for someone who seeks to create social change, revolutionize how nonprofits raise money and win campaigns, and move up in both pay and position in a fast-growing operation.

Job Requirements: We seek a seasoned leader and organizer with solid references, interested in growing a small operation into a credible powerhouse for organizing, fundraising, member engagement, and mobilization. The ideal candidate should have at least 3 to 5 years of fundraising and membership experience. Candidates should also have:

• A demonstrated commitment to social justice, robust analysis of systemic oppression based on race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and an understanding of challenges facing people experiencing homelessness, immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-and moderate-income families.
• Excellent organizational skills and good attention to detail.
• A high level of self-motivation and a proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Ability to work well with diverse groups and populations.
• Dedication and ability to work flexible hours.
• Capacity to engage and inspire a variety of audiences
• Willingness and ability to travel within the U.S. 

Specific Duties Include:
Canvass and Raise Money

• Train new staff in the field
• Raise money
• Identify and activate members
• Educate the public on the issues

Office Management

• Oversee administrative functions related to campaign goals, staff management, fundraising and membership development, and general office management
• Ensure that funds raised, and member information collected is accurate
• Track staff hours for payroll.

Recruit, Train and Manage Staff

• Recruit, hire and manage a campaign staff 5 canvassers per site
• Train staff on effective canvassing and campaigning techniques
• Run staff meetings and skills trainings
• Evaluate staff performance and give ongoing feedback
• Identify strong staff, teach them leadership skills, and promote from within

Locations: The initial position will be based in Washington, DC, and will travel to set up field offices in other communities.

Pay and Benefits: The target annual compensation for Campaign Director is $50,000 in the first year. Benefits include Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Long and Short term Disability, Vacation starting at 10 days per year.

To Apply: Applications are accepted currently and we will close the application process on August 20, 2021.  Please submit your resume highlighting previous canvass or sales background, as well as cover letter to dwhitehead@nationalhomeless.org.

NCH is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits formerly homeless individuals, people of color, women, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community