AmeriCorps Housing Counselor

Asian Community Development Corporation Service Description LISC AmeriCorps Member The Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) is a community-based organization, committed to high standards of performance and integrity in serving the Asian American community of Greater Boston, with an emphasis on preserving and revitalizing Boston's Chinatown. The Corporation develops physical community assets, including affordable housing for rental and ownership; promotes economic development; fosters leadership development; builds capacity within the community and advocates on behalf of the community.

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to helping community residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity — good places to work, do business and raise children. LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help community-based organizations revitalize underserved neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has invested more than $9.7 billion that has leveraged an additional $31.3 billion to build or rehabilitate 271,000 affordable homes and develop 40 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide in efforts to Build Sustainable Communities. This strategy extends to the LISC AmeriCorps program where we support placing AmeriCorps Members with local non-profit partners to assist in local efforts to revitalize underserved neighborhoods across America creating vibrant places for people to live, work, and play. LISC’s AmeriCorps program seeks to attract talented individuals to serve for one year to help build organizational capacity and is committed to providing opportunities for people to serve where they live. www.lisc.org AmeriCorps Member Activities The member at ACDC will serve as a Housing Counselor as part of ACDC’s Comprehensive Housing Opportunities Program (CHOP) team, and will provide aspiring homebuyers-- especially low-income families and the growing Asian communities in Greater Boston-- with the skills, knowledge and information to seek, buy, and maintain a home. In particular, the Housing Counselor will work with community partners to develop and implement the “second classroom”—a series of workshops on critical housing issues to be held on site at community agencies with content tailored to the needs of their constituents. The “second classroom” is intended to provide participants with housing information relevant to their lives, whether homebuying is imminent or a long-term goal, and also help increase participation in CHOP’s housing and counseling and education services.

The AmeriCorps LISC Housing Counselor will additionally assist with delivery of other CHOP services as necessary, including facilitating the monthly first-time homebuyer course and/or providing one-on-one housing counseling.

The member serving in this capacity will be responsible for: • Outreach to organizations serving Asian American populations about CHOP services • Collaborate with organizations serving Asian American populations to design and deliver “second classroom” workshops and trainings on critical housing topics relevant to their constituent populations (e.g. affordable rental housing, affordable homeownership, fair housing, foreclosure prevention).

• Track program outcomes of the “second classroom” series, including numbers served, satisfaction with content and speakers, and number of workshop attendees converted to CHOP clients • Assist in coordination and facilitation of monthly first-time homebuyer classes in English and Chinese • Build relationships with real estate professionals who can serve as guest speakers for first-time homebuyer classes and the “second classroom” series and update and expand roster of volunteer guest speakers

• Create and distribute monthly mailing of affordable housing opportunities to CHOP clients • Where caseload demands, provide one-on-one housing counseling • Maintain accurate client records using online client management system • Assist in phone and electronic communication with CHOP clients • Maintain relationships with community partners and volunteers through consistent communication • Other related duties as necessary Minimum Qualifications • High school degree, GED certificate or agree to achieve GED within the year • Minimum of 18 year of age, US citizen or permanent resident status • Commitment to mission of the Asian Community Development Corporation • Good public speaking, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills • Good organizational skills, and attentiveness to detail • Interest in working with immigrant populations and people of diverse backgrounds including limitedEnglish speakers and low to moderate income individuals and families • Strong customer service orientation to assist clients and students • Ability to maintain accurate records and reports • Self-starter; independent and adaptable work style • Friendly, professional, and patient manner • Good computer skills in word processing, data base and with Microsoft Office Suite • Bilingual in English and either Cantonese/Mandarin is highly preferred as primary audience will be limited-English Chinese speakers; ability to read and write Chinese a plus • Flexibility to work some nights and weekends • A CORI background check is required Member Benefits Full time members are required to serve for a minimum of 1,700 hours and a full year at ACDC starting on September 1, 2011 and ending August 31, 2012. Members will attend a national orientation the week of October 22nd and monthly meetings and trainings hosted by the local LISC office. ACDC will also make additional training opportunities available. Members will earn a stipend of $18,000 and are eligible to participate in the AmeriCorps health insurance program and may apply for childcare benefits. Upon successful completion of the service year, members will be eligible for a $5,350 education award to pay off existing student loans or return to school.

Please send resume and cover letter to: Vivien Wu Director of Programs vivien.wu@asiancdc.org Asian Community Development Corporation 38 Oak Street, Boston, MA 02111 617-482-2380

LISC & ACDC promote equal opportunity in selecting AmeriCorps members. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in the selection process.