Staff Attorney, Housing Justice / Community & Family Justice

Organizational Description: The Shriver Center on Poverty Law fights for economic and racial justice. We litigate, shape policy, and train and convene multistate networks of lawyers, community leaders, and activists to advance opportunity for all — not just the few. Over nearly 60 years, we have secured hundreds of law and policy victories with and for people experiencing economic instability in Illinois and across the country.

Our country is rife with laws and policies that systematically disadvantage certain groups while advantaging others based on their race, gender, and other facets of their identities. We believe laws and policies — and the institutions that apply them — should be designed to support people. Together, we’re turning this ideal into reality.

We are building a future where all people, families, and future generations have equal dignity, respect, and power under the law. Through our advocacy initiatives, we work to win positive change and provide a range of professional development resources that build and support the national network of advocates engaged in those efforts. Join the fight at povertylaw.org.

Position Overview: This position is for a staff attorney who is experienced in housing law and policy. They will focus on the Shriver Center’s local, state, and national advocacy efforts to enhance access to quality housing for people with arrest and conviction histories. The position will also support interventions that alleviate family separations due to housing instability. The attorney will help to enact and enforce policies to end housing discrimination against people with criminal records, as well as families investigated for child maltreatment due to the strain from inadequate housing. To achieve these objectives on a local, state, and national level, the attorney will use a variety of tools, including legislative advocacy, coalition building, and litigation. The position is currently funded for two years and is subject to renewal based on necessary funding.

Responsibilities:

· Lead and participate in diverse local, state, and national coalitions advocating for policies to increase housing access and equity for people with arrest and conviction histories.

· Engage in administrative advocacy with agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Department of Child and Family Services, and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights.

· Support the agenda of the Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People and Families Movement, the Chicago 400, and other organizations led by people with arrest and conviction histories.

· Organize and conduct outreach and trainings on fair housing law, consumer protection law, and advocacy skills.

· Lead and support impact litigation challenging barriers to housing faced by people with arrest and conviction histories.

· Support the scalability of housing interventions for child welfare-involved families.

· Coordinate monthly coalition meetings.

· Travel to Springfield, Illinois, and national conferences and meetings as needed.

· Oversee volunteers and law student interns.

· Support fundraising for advocacy activities, including assisting with grant proposals, attending site visits, and identifying new funding sources.

· Participate as needed in various administrative tasks and Shriver Center committees.

Salary/Benefits: This full-time exempt position offers a competitive public interest salary of $75,470 to $97,355. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, generous paid leave, flexible work schedules, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, and a 401(k) plan.

Opening/Closing Date: Open immediately; we will accept applications until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website. We hope that one of those applications is yours.