The National Right to Housing Network is seeking a full-time Legal Education Coordinator to join our team! Their mission will be to increase access to legal education, ensure that community members, tenants and those with lived and living experience of homelessness can meaningfully engage with housing-related access-to-justice frameworks. Applications will accepted until February 12, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.
About Us
In 2019, Canada legally committed to the human right to housing in its National Housing Strategy Act (NHSA). The National Right to Housing Network (NRHN) is a broad-based and grassroots civil society network established to fully realize the human right to housing in Canada. The goals of the Network are to:
- To advise and strengthen Canada’s infrastructure for the implementation and growth of Canada’s commitment to housing as a fundamental human right, and;
- To build a community-based movement and culture that supports the meaningful implementation of the right to housing.
As the connective tissue for the housing justice movement, our Network is guided by the NHSA and international human rights law and is informed by first voice advocates and rights holders (more on our values here). We are focused on amplifying the voices of historically marginalized populations including women and gender-diverse persons, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and racialized persons.
About the Opportunity
Reporting to the NRHN National Director, the Legal Education Coordinator will bridge legal expertise and community engagement by developing resources and initiatives that translate complex legal principles, particularly those enshrined in the 2019 National Housing Strategy Act (NHSA) and international human rights law, into actionable knowledge for tenants, advocates, and communities across Canada (and particularly in Ontario) to claim their right to adequate housing.
The Legal Education Coordinator will:
- Developing and delivering tailored resources, in collaboration with the NRHN Communications Lead, that meet the specific needs of tenants, advocates, and communities. This can include plain-language guides, toolkits, and workshop materials.
- Supporting tenants and marginalized groups in understanding how their rights under the NHSA can translate into practical recommendations for review panels to present to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities.
- Partnering with legal clinics, civil society organizations, and rights claimants to align legal education initiatives on the right to adequate housing with community needs and priorities.
- Convening and facilitating working group meetings and other spaces for knowledge exchange. In particular, supporting a youth-led initiative that fosters meaningful dialogue between youth and adjudicators as it relates to a submission made to the Federal Housing Advocate, including developing resources, and facilitating workshops in Ontario.
- Along with the NRHN National Director, drafting of the NRHN’s submissions to United Nations treaty bodies on implementation of recommendations from review panels and the Federal Housing Advocate.
Other responsibilities include:
- Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of public legal education initiatives and working alongside NRHN’s Strategic Development Manager to incorporate feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement.
- Participating in the Right to Housing Stream conducted by the NRHN for the annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness.
** In addition, other duties and special projects, as assigned, to advance the mission of realizing the right to housing in Canada.
The Legal Education Coordinator will work independently from a home office. They will be supported by the NRHN National Director through regular online video conferencing and conference calls.
This full-time role offers a salary of $75,000 to $79,500 per year plus benefits.
Work Environment
- This position can be located anywhere in Canada with preference for candidates in Ontario, and a location that is easily accessible to an international airport
- This position requires the ability to work from a virtual/home office location without the standard support available at a traditional office. Certain costs associated with setting up a home office will be reimbursed, including the provision of essential equipment such as a laptop.
- We value work-life balance and offer flexibility in scheduling when possible.
Candidates with lived experience of homelessness and/or who self-identify as being from a marginalized community, including Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, are encouraged to apply and will be prioritized. We ask that these candidates indicate their relevant identities in their cover letters. We are committed to equitable and fair opportunity in the recruitment, selection, training, compensation, promotion, and benefits of all employees.
Download the Full Role Description Here (PDF)
How to Apply
If you wish to be considered for this role at NRHN, please submit a resume and letter of interest via misha@housingrights.ca. Feel free to include up to two writing samples demonstrating experience with developing public legal education materials with your application.
Applications will be accepted until February 12, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET and will be reviewed all at once following the application closing date. Applications will be held in strictest confidence, and we will try our best to follow up promptly to inform you if your candidacy moves forward.
At all points throughout our hiring process, disability-related accommodation is available on request.
Please contact misha@housingrights.ca with your needs or any questions you may have.
Here’s what to expect during our interview process. At any stage, feel free to ask questions about our team, organization, or the role:
- Interview (60 minutes): A deeper discussion with the hiring manager and other team members. This interview will focus on your technical skills, experience, and work style. We will discuss your alignment with our mission and the key responsibilities of the role. We’ll also cover logistics, such as work location, hours, and compensation. Questions will be provided to candidates in advance.
- Second Interview or Work Sample (if applicable): For some roles, we may ask finalists to complete a work sample (no more than 2 hours of preparation). A stipend will be provided.
Anticipated start date mid-March 2025.