The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being, and stability of those it serves.

 

Our Philosophy of Service: We believe all people have the right to adequate housing and health care. We work to remove the barriers that restrict access to these rights. Society benefits when adequate housing and health care are available to everyone. We create lasting solutions to homelessness by: 

·         Honoring the inherent dignity of those we serve, affirming their capabilities and fostering their hope that a better life is possible. 

·         Building strong, caring and trauma-informed communities through the integration of housing, health care and supportive services. 

·         Advocating for social and racial equity, inclusion and diversity, and challenging the status quo in partnership with our workforce members and those we serve. 

·         Achieving excellence through continuous quality assurance, innovation and professional development. 

·         Using resources judiciously and effectively.  

The Policy and Research Associate will support the Education & Advocacy Team with developing and implementing advocacy strategies that engage policymakers and key stakeholders and build coalitions around CCH’s core issue areas including homelessness, housing, healthcare, and economic justice. They will be responsible for tracking, developing, and analyzing policy proposals and legislative activities; preparing advocacy materials; supporting the development and maintenance of policymaker, coalition, and stakeholder relationships; and complete diverse tasks to expand multisector partnerships and drive advocacy engagement at every level of government. This role will also coordinate and manage special projects, research and report writing, and grant-funded activities. 

 

 

Research, track, analyze, and provide regular assessments of legislative and policy activity relevant to our issue areas. 
•    Attend and support regular meetings, calls, and communications with stakeholders. 
•    Organize meetings with various Colorado elected officials and key community members.  
•    Track local ordinances and funding that could impact CCH business operations and opportunities in the Denver Metro area and beyond as needed. 
•    Support staff and client involvement in advocacy activities through the Advocacy and Public Policy Committee. 
•    Draft, design, and edit policy, advocacy, and presentation materials. 
•    Create and update issue briefs, reports, and research products as needed.   
•    Provide administrative support to the Education & Advocacy Team including notetaking, materials development, project activities, and scheduling.  
•    Assist with or manage special projects and grant-funded activities including but not limited to voter registration drives, coalition management, and pilot programs. 
•    Craft outreach materials to advance policies at every level of government, including the design and production of such items as fact sheets and media platform postings, and advocacy tool kits.  
•    Coordinate operations and communications related to coalition building such as scheduling, creating agendas, taking notes, giving presentations, managing committee follow-up communications, etc. 
•    Present on policies, programs, and projects, including in working groups, at community educational events, and in any other relevant settings.  
•    Ensure outstanding customer service is provided to individuals, groups, businesses, etc. that come in contact with the department. 
•    Track various data points to provide reporting of mission advancement through community, team and/or individual metrics. 
•    Ensure timely & accurate use of all company systems as required while maintaining complete up-to-date records and any future upgrades as directed. 
•    Performs other duties as assigned. 

•    High school diploma or equivalent education required.  
•    Bachelor’s degree in social work, government, communications or any other related field is preferred.
Experience
•    Previous experience in a business or professional setting is required.
•    Prior involvement in volunteering and/or working to assist those experiencing instability through housing issues, homelessness, economic hardship and/or medical needs is preferred.
•    Excellent organizational, planning, project management and composition skills preferred. 

•    Sound critical thinking and decision-making skills. 
•    Consistently demonstrate superb customer service skills; excellent interpersonal/assertive communications skills demonstrating a high degree of emotional intelligence. 
•    Knowledge of homeless issues and demonstrated sensitivity to and a desire to work with underserved populations. 
•    Must have a valid Colorado Driver’s License and meet CCH automobile insurance eligibility. 
•    Exceptional time management, organization and prioritization skills. 
•    Must be able to analyze and understand complex documents, such as public policies, legislative proposals, and other documents of in-depth analysis.  
•    A strong ability to sort out the most important problems when faced with voluminous amounts of information.  
•    Ability to develop feasible options/alternatives to systematic roadblocks and anticipate possible unintended consequences. 
•    Communicate effectively to explain complex problems to a diverse range of professional and lay audiences to aid in fostering a public consensus.  
•    Excellent research skills including synthesizing information from secondary sources and producing original data and research.  

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is committed to delivering services, making employment-related decisions, selecting volunteers, and selecting vendors without regard to age over 40, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, military status, or any other applicable status protected by law.