Bilingual Community Support and Housing Advocate (Spanish) at Transition House in Cambridge

Are you passionate about being in service to others? Do you want to make a difference in survivors' lives? Do you want each workday to look different?

Job Type: Full-Time, 35 hours per week | On-site in Cambridge, MA with one work-from-home day | $65,000–$70,000 annually | Schedule: 35 hours per week with a one hour unpaid lunch. No weekends. Some evening flexibility required.

Role Summary: The Community Support and Housing Advocate provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive advocacy, housing navigation, and case management services to survivors of domestic violence in Cambridge including program participants in Transition House Long-term Housing Programs. The Advocate works collaboratively with participants, housing providers, community partners, and public agencies to help survivors obtain and maintain safe, stable housing while increasing self-sufficiency and ensuring that survivors have access to comprehensive, trauma-informed support.

Advocates carry a caseload of approximately 12-15 active program participants and lead monthly housing searches for long-term housing clients.

Our Culture: Why work with us? Our greatest asset is our employees, encompassing a variety of origins, concepts, viewpoints, and life journeys. We've established a diverse and inclusive atmosphere filled with individuals who share a common purpose. Our leadership is characterized by openness, approachability, genuineness, and a commitment to nurturing our staff. Transition House values diverse life experience and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Bilingual/bicultural applicants, survivors of domestic violence, persons of color, people with disabilities and GLBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Who we are: Transition House's mission is to end domestic violence in our community. Sparking social change in Cambridge, Massachusetts since 1976, we are an innovative organization that develops prevention tools and provides holistic support and a range of housing options for individuals and families surviving domestic and intimate partner violence.

Who you are and benefits to you: In this exciting role, and reporting to the Director of the Community Support Partnership, your strengths will be highlighted as a passionate advocate, effective bilingual communicator, proficient with technology, resourceful, and well-organized. Your visionary mindset, creativity and strong problem-solving abilities will be recognised and nurtured. You work from a philosophy that sees people, not problems and are committed to fostering a workplace culture that is client-centred and trauma-informed. You are an experienced communicator, active listener, and relationship builder.

This role provides:

• Salary range is $65,000-$70,000
• Ongoing professional supervision and clinical supervision. You will not carry this work alone. Clinical supervision is built into the role, alongside regular opportunities for education and training throughout the year.
• Comprehensive benefits package: Health, dental, 3% match 401K retirement plan, and generous paid time off, with over 10 paid holidays off.
• Supportive bereavement policies
• A professional development mindset and opportunities

A day in the life of this role: Every day is different. In this role, you'll support survivors of domestic violence by providing advocacy, resources, and emotional support using a survivor-centred, empowerment-based approach. This is not a shelter-based environment. You will work in shared office space with other zealous and passionate advocates. This role is ideal for someone who is compassionate, adaptable, and comfortable balancing office work with community-based advocacy including accompaniment, benefits navigation, housing navigation, developing and delivering training. Strong communication, problem-solving, and organisational skills are essential, as you'll often be managing multiple clients and responding to changing situations throughout the day.

We're a proud pet-friendly workplace where employees can enjoy the companionship of their furry friends while working in a collaborative and welcoming environment.

Summary of Duties:

• Crisis Response and Safety: Provide crisis intervention and assistance in resolving immediate safety issues related to domestic violence, including safety planning and referrals to community resources. Conduct domestic violence assessments and intakes.
• Case Management and Benefits Navigation: Provide ongoing case management support, and coordination of services that are timely, effective, equitable, and including but not limited to obtaining identification, accessing benefits, and income supports like social security, unemployment etc. This also includes application, recertification, or transferring benefits. Assist participants in identifying goals and accessing resources that promote stability. Identify and develop opportunities for survivors to engage in goal planning, and skill-building programs to support safety, housing stability, and economic independence.
• Housing Search and Advocacy: Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop individualized service and housing stabilization plans and address barriers to housing like issues with past criminal activity and criminal records, loss of essential documents etc. Assist participants with housing search, applications, landlord communication, and lease-up activities. Advocate with landlords, housing authorities, and service providers to remove barriers to housing.
• Housing Stability: Support clients in maintaining housing through tenancy education, mediation, and housing stabilization services. Assist with housing recertifications, inspections, and required program documentation.
• Collaboration and Accompaniment: Coordinate services with healthcare providers, behavioural health agencies, legal advocates, schools, employment programs, and other community partners. Provide accompaniment and support for court, housing, medical and other social services appointments. Alongside the Child and Family Services Team, identify family needs and barriers including education, ESL, parenting support, etc. Arrange and/or connect with interpretation assistance as needed.
• Documentation and Supervision: Maintain confidential and up-to-date records in a timely manner regarding each program participant in a confidential database. Participate in clinical and programmatic supervision, agency and cross-agency meetings.

What we need from you: We recognise strong candidates may not meet every qualification. If you're excited about this role and believe your experience could contribute to our mission, we encourage you to apply.

• Fluency in Spanish, spoken and written is a requirement for this role.
• 2-3 years of case management experience working with survivors of domestic violence, individuals experiencing homelessness, or other vulnerable populations.
• Experience providing safety-planning support and trauma-informed advocacy for individuals and families overcoming violence.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate clearly both in writing and verbally in English, and Spanish.
• Ability to balance competing priorities efficiently, such as: agency and program residency requirements and client needs, agency expectation, need for treatment and individual autonomy, expectations around reporting and maintaining client trust.
• Ability to develop and sustain strong collaborations with colleagues and providers from multiple external community organizations.
• High level of proficiency with the Internet, Google Suite, ZOOM, and Microsoft Office Suite.

These experiences are also highly desired:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts resources.
• Experience working with public housing authorities, Continuum of Care programs, or housing subsidy programs.
• Knowledge of fair housing laws, landlord-tenant issues, and housing stabilization practices.

Physical Requirements and Accommodations: This role involves frequent stair climbing and occasionally moving items up to 30 pounds unassisted. If you need a reasonable accommodation to perform any part of this role, or at any point in the hiring process, we want to hear from you. Requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy.

CORI: It is our policy to complete a Criminal Offense Record Information (CORI) background check prior to hire. Findings will not automatically disqualify candidates.

What to Expect: Screening interview with Riverwalker Talent, the search firm managing this hire. 1st In-Person Interview with Transition House staff. 2nd In-Person Interview with Transition House staff. References before an offer is extended. We aim to keep the process moving and will let you know where things stand at every stage.

AI Policy: We believe AI can be a helpful tool in work and learning and are not opposed to its use in general. We use 100% human review of these applications. For this process, we ask that your responses reflect your own thinking, experience, and communication style. Please do not use AI in this application. This role requires strong independent judgment and problem-solving, and we want to understand how you naturally approach real situations.