We Are LA- Community Health Worker

Organizational Mission: Esperanza Community Housing Corporation is a social justice non-profit in South Central Los Angeles that achieves long-term, comprehensive community development. We recognize that Indigenous, Black, and Latino immigrant communities are disproportionately impacted by historical oppression, health disparities, disinvestment, and displacement. Therefore, we develop and preserve affordable housing; elevate health equity and access to care; mobilize for environmental justice; create and protect local economic opportunities; expand engagement in arts and culture; and advocate for policies protecting human rights. Esperanza works collaboratively to strengthen South Los Angeles. In all of our actions, Esperanza builds hope with the community. 

Position Purpose: The We Are LA Community Health Worker aids LA's most at-risk tenants by preventing evictions, combatting homelessness, and ensuring they have access to essential public benefits, programs, services and resources they’re entitled to but may not be aware of. We Are LA, an initiative of the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, is focused on preventing evictions and connecting families to resources that can help them stay in their homes. The We Are LA Community Health Worker provides one-on-one assistance with accessing government and charitable services so that individuals are not left to navigate complex bureaucracies on their own. They facilitate access to services like CALFresh, MediCal, Section 8, and more, all while providing compassionate assessment and guidance. This position involves holding one-on-one interactions including appointments and walk-ins, data collection, entry, and reporting, and assisting tenants in responding to eviction notices. Join us in bridging the gap between available resources and those who need them most, to make a tangible difference in our community of South Los Angeles.

Key Responsibilities:

●        Assist tenants in responding to their unlawful detainers using an online tool.

●        Facilitate client registrations for workshops on tenant rights and other relevant topics.

●        Use a benefit navigator to identify if individuals may be eligible for any social benefit programs

●        Assist clients in applying for benefit programs including Medical, CalFresh, CalWorks, and General Relief.

●        Utilize platforms, including benefitscal.com (for benefit registration), Imagine LA, and others, to streamline service enrollment and benefit access.

●        Connect clients to essential resources such as shelter/housing, food/clothing, and health and mental health services.

●        Provide guidance to clients on low-income housing applications 

●        Maintain ongoing case management services to foster long-term support and success

●        Canvassing 

 

Qualifications and Requirements: 

●        Education: High school graduate (or combination of training and experience).

●        1-3 years of casework experience.

●        Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.

●        Commitment to Esperanza's mission, principles, and goals with a racial and social justice lens.

●        Computer literacy and familiarity with MS Office, MS Teams, Zoom, Google Suite, electronic medical records, and statistical analysis software. 

●        Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, detail-oriented, follow-through, and verbal and written communication skills.

●        Willingness to serve persons with limited access to healthcare and from different cultures.

Supervision/Accountability: The We Are LA Community Health Worker works under the direction of the We Are LA Team Manager, and the Director of Health Programs as part of the We Are LA program.

●        Ability to lift/move up to 35 pounds, for example, files and promotional materials.

●        Ability to travel for in-person meetings and events in South Los Angeles.

Employment Type and Term: The We Are LA Community Health Worker is a temporary, hourly / non-exempt, contract position of between 30-40 hours per week depending on the needs of the program. Esperanza Community Housing offers benefits that include: unemployment, sick time and workers compensation insurance. As a temporary position, the position will not be eligible for any other benefits including, but not limited to, medical insurance, paid time off or paid holidays.

Term: The position shall be from May 2025 to December 31, 2025 

Compensation: For the complete, satisfactory, and timely performance of services, the We Are LA Community Health Worker will be paid $25.00 per hour. Mileage related to travel and project-related supplies will be reimbursed at the standard IRS mileage reimbursement rate. 

To Apply: Please express your interest in this opportunity via email to [email protected] with a subject line: We Are LA Community Health Worker.