Family Advocate Attorney

About the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative:

The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity with the vision of advancing the social determinants of health and racial equity through healthy housing. With an emphasis on black and brown communities, GHHI delivers improved health, economic and social outcomes. GHHI supports housing, environmental health, and energy efficiency services for families in communities around the country, as well as conducting direct services in Maryland. GHHI?s delivery model is based on its data-driven philosophy that public and private social investments are optimized and social program outcomes are maximized when the energy, health, and safety needs of an occupied home are addressed comprehensively, efficiently, and simultaneously. GHHI?s employees are all expected to work by the organization?s operating values of assuming good intent, operate with transparency, deliver on time with excellence, and ensure racial equity and diversity are part of all policies, practices, and actions.

Mission Statement:

The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative is dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health and the advancement of racial and health equity through the creation of healthy, safe and energy efficient homes. By delivering a standard of excellence in its work, GHHI aims to eradicate the negative health impacts of unhealthy housing and unjust policies for children, seniors, and families to ensure better health, economic and social outcomes for low-income communities of color.

Our Model:

GHHI effectively integrates funding from private and public sources to deliver results for low-income residents.

GHHI Delivers:

• Public health innovation in service delivery of housing interventions and cost savings
• Measurable improvements in health, economic and social outcomes for children and families
• Development of community-based green jobs and social enterprise
• Healthy, safe, stable, and affordable homes
• Increased family economic security including wealth retention and reduced family displacement

Our organization seeks an impactful self-starter who shares our core belief that every child deserves to grow up in a healthy and safe home, and that every aging adult deserves to age in place with dignity. The Family Advocate Attorney will be an experienced and highly motivated licensed attorney with demonstrated client advocacy and mediation skills. This individual will effectively protect tenants? rights and advocate for the remediation of home-based environmental health hazards, such as lead-based paint and other housing defects. Additionally, they will represent clients in court, provide statewide training, and conduct home visits with families throughout the Baltimore region and occasionally elsewhere in the state.

The Family Advocate Attorney will report to the Senior Vice President of Maryland Programs. The position will be supervised by the organization?s in-house General Counsel on all legal matters and legal services conducted by the Family Advocate Attorney.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Services Responsibilities:

• Represent lead affected families facing environmental justice issues and home-based health hazards issues in courts throughout Maryland. The position will represent tenants primarily in Maryland District Courts in pursuit of rent escrow actions and Failure to Pay Rent Actions for the repair of lead hazards, asthma triggers, safety hazards and other environmental health hazards.
• Represent tenants in defense of retaliatory eviction cases, as well as in potential appellate work involving substantive mission related issues.
• Serve as a liaison between lead affected families and appropriate agencies when seeking services and assistance.
• Conduct home visits and in-home consultation as needed to assist families and work closely with the Family Advocacy Services Program team to provide wrap-around services.
• Manage legal services programs and activities.
• Provide compliance assistance to rental property owners including telephonic assistance and in person education on Maryland Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Law, federal Title X, EPA RRP Rule, District Court Rent Court proceedings and other lead related laws and resources.
• Provide trainings statewide on lead and healthy homes related laws to rental property owners, tenants, homeowners, contractors, realtors, attorneys, insurers, government agencies and community organizations.
• Generate housing enforcement referrals of non-compliant properties, where appropriate, to federal, state, and local agencies.
• Coordinate lead enforcement actions with the Maryland Department of the Environment and local health and housing departments.
• Develop relationships with new legal and direct service provider partners to expand the reach of the organization's legal services and prevention policy impact statewide.
• Conduct legal research and prepare reports or amicus briefs among other projects.
• Oversee staff and organization responses to legal discovery requests.
• Enter client information and status updates in client database.
• Supervise legal interns.
• Assist with outreach projects and participate in community events on an a periodic basis.
• Complete annual, monthly and other periodic reporting.
• Provide the highest level of integrity, legal ethics, teamwork, and professionalism in conducting duties.

Advocacy and Education Responsibilities:

• Support advocacy and public policy education activities in Maryland including providing public testimony as requested by agencies and legislators on lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes.
• Draft research papers on lead poisoning prevention public policy issues in Maryland where public policy issues are of interest and relevant to impact in Maryland.
• Draft public comment on proposed regulations or regulatory actions as requested by state agencies.
• Assist in the drafting and development of strategic action plans for lead poisoning prevention and healthy housing.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned to support improving health and racial equity, reducing health disparities and advancing GHHI's mission.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the Maryland Bar.
• Excellent advocacy, trial, case management, computer, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work with low-income communities and/or families.
• Ability to conduct trainings and effective public speaking.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Power Point.
• Highly organized and self-motivated.
• Detail oriented.
• Possess a passion for making a difference in the lives of children and families.
• This position will be assigned duties that require the operation of a motor vehicle. The incumbent must maintain ready access to a motor vehicle, possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license in the State of Maryland, and required auto insurance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS (not required)

• Spanish speaking skills beneficial;

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, exempt position based in our Baltimore, Maryland headquarters. Position includes full benefits package and competitive salary commensurate with experience. The organization is an equal opportunity employer.

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative is Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act) with respect to employment opportunities. GHHI embraces diversity, excellence, and mission forward professionalism.