MCAH Introduction
The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) is a nonprofit membership based organization formed in 1991 as an association of emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, nonprofit housing and service programs, government programs, and concerned citizens from across the state.
MCAH empowers over 650 Michigan homeless service agencies through public awareness activities, advocacy at the state and federal levels, and support services that bring in national expertise and best practices. Our understanding of homelessness is driven by extensive and varied experience in the field and on-going primary and secondary research and analysis. The mission of MCAH is to serve as an inclusive statewide voice to improve systems and support communities to prevent and end homelessness in a way that leaves no one behind.
What We're Looking For
MCAH is seeking a talented Manager of Authentic Engagement committed to helping end homelessness through the design and implementation of new programming, initiatives and policies that build power and opportunity for people with lived experience of homelessness and further MCAH's priorities as outlined in the organization's strategic plan.
We're seeking a candidate with their own lived experience of homelessness. The Manager of Authentic Engagement is a new role at MCAH, and will guide the organization in efforts to center people with lived experience of homelessness in MCAH's work, helping to create an environment that focuses on diversity, growing racial equity, inclusion and promoting housing justice. They will manage related initiatives, relationships, cohorts and volunteers. We week someone with proven organizational skills, who has substantial experience building relationships with diverse stakeholders (non-profit organizations, local government and system partners, advocates and community groups), and has a creative and self-motivated spirit.
What You Will Do
The Manager of Authentic Engagement will work with the CEO and other members of the leadership team to develop internal capacity/practices and external initiatives in partnership with MCAH staff and persons with lived experience of homelessness. This will include the areas of policy, advocacy, research, equity and inclusion, and community-based capacity building.
Responsibilities will include:
Research & Strategy (Internal Capacity)
- Developing and implementing an agency-wide plan to strategically engage with people with lived experience of homelessness.
- Evaluating and increasing capacity for MCAH's programs, policies, and values to infuse lived experience into the organization's culture and operations.
- In partnership with MCAH's leadership team, designing and implementing strategic initiatives, identifying opportunities to create new solutions, and developing mechanisms and partnerships necessary in meeting MCAH's goals.
Authentic Engagement & Partnerships (External Initiatives)
- Developing and providing tools and supports to foster authentic engagement with persons with lived experience throughout the homeless service delivery system.
- Relationship building with other organizations, including homeless service providers.
- Assist in building/leading a cohort of advocates with lived experience of homelessness. This will be done, in conjunction, with the leadership team, through:
- Participant recruitment.
- Related training and education (i.e. preparing persons with lived experience to testify at legislative hearings).
- Developing a related advocacy agenda.
- Cultivating the authentic narratives of people with lived experience and creating media and communication channels to share more widely, in partnership with the communications team.
Anticipated Year-One Outcomes Include:
- Develop mutually agreed upon metrics for success to guide this role's work.
- Continued development of MCAH's on-going Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion action plan and initiation of the implementation stage. This action plan will include an evaluation of MCAH's programming, advocacy and communication efforts toward plans for inclusion of lived experience into the organization's culture and operations.
- Effective outreach to new agencies, tenant organizations and other partners to build collaborative relationships.
What a Successful Candidate Will Need
Minimum Qualifications
- Lived experience of homelessness and/or housing instability.
- Experience engaging with partnerships and/or collaboratives, and/or with initiating and maintaining professional relationships.
- Commitment to the goal of ending homelessness and understanding of the homeless services delivery system.
- Strong personal initiative and motivation to bring insight about the changes necessary to the homeless services delivery system.
Desired Knowledge, Skills and Characteristics
- Demonstrated positive relationships with marginalized individuals different from oneself (for example, people who are different based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity and other positionalities).
- Demonstrated experience and ability to recognize and respond to the ways race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity intersect to further promote racial equity and social justice.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with strong networking skills.
What We Can Offer You
The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness has a strong, dedicated team of professionals that work together to achieve the collective mission of preventing and ending homelessness. We offer a collaborative and supportive work environment that values and prioritizes empathy and equity. We lead with dignity, use our voices to speak up and create spaces for others, strive to continuously learn and improve, and stay data-informed as we move our work forward.
- Hybrid work environment available.
- $52,000 - $58,000 annual salary, based on experience.
- Benefits, including health, dental, life, short-term disability insurance; health savings account, parental leave and other optional benefits.
- Materials and supplies, training, software and technological support necessary to perform the role.
- Travel expense reimbursement for work on behalf of the organization.
- 403(b) retirement plan.
- Generous paid holiday, vacation, and sick leave.
How to Apply
Resumes and cover letters detailing professional, lived, and other experience can be submitted to MCAH's Director or Programs and Personnel, Kelli Beavers, at kbeavers@mihomeless.org, by Wednesday, September 20th.
