Posted: February 25, 2021
Job Opening
Program Manager: Chosen Family Justice
CloseKnit seeks a passionate and detail-oriented person to start up our new policy
project: Chosen Family Justice. This leading edge project will develop practical resources
for the public while also creating policy proposals to overcome barriers that impede
caring adults from hosting the young people they know who are facing housing
instability, especially if those adults are renters. Because, due to longstanding systemic
racism, 3/4s of Minnesota youth facing homelessness are BIPOC and the majority of
BIPOC households in Minnesota are renters, Chosen Family Justice is key to creating a
racially equitable response to youth homelessness.
Job duties include:
• Engage youth and informal hosts to create factsheets on legal issues in informal
chosen family hosting arrangements for minors, young adults, homeowner hosts
and renter hosts
• Engage Minnesota social service providers to create a handbook on how to
navigate the legal and policy issues in informal hosting, including the issues of
hosts living in subsidized housing
• Engage Minnesota landlords to develop standards for how best to stabilize
informal hosting arrangements, including how to bring arrangements
aboveboard that have been under the radar
• Develop policy recommendations to better support informal hosting
arrangements at the local, state, and federal level
• Cultivate relationships with potential allies among government, housing, policy,
and youth homelessness stakeholders
Required qualifications:
• A strong desire to create system change, the requisite patience to see it through,
and a sense of humor in addressing inevitable resistance
• A highly creative “can-do” mindset; must be able to look beyond perceived
obstacles to formulate possibilities
• In-depth knowledge of housing, criminal, and youth law and policy:
J.D. preferred but not required
• Deep commitment to racial equity; skilled at navigating differing cultural
contexts
• Highly detail oriented
• Superb written communication skills: Ability to explain policy issues clearly to the
general public, as well as convey complexity in more technical contexts
• Excellent oral and public presentation skills
• Ability to run an efficient meeting in which all voices are respected and heard
• Knowledge of systems currently serving vulnerable youth would be helpful!
People who are BIPOC, who have lived experience of youth homelessness, and/or have
served as a host, either in a formal program or informally, are especially invited to apply.
This part-time position is currently grant funded for one year. We are seeking additional
funds to extend the position.
Interested? Email CloseKnit executive director Jacqueline White (jw@closeknit.us)
a cover letter, a resume or link to your LinkedIn profile, and two writing samples:
one geared to the general public and one addressing a policy issue.
Applications accepted until position is filled.
About CloseKnit
CloseKnit conducts research, pilots new programming, develops policies, and advocates
for investment in an upstream service-delivery model that stabilizes informal chosen
family hosting arrangements between youth and their natural supports.
Our Vision
We see all youth facing homelessness as already loved,
especially youth from underestimated and under-resourced communities.
Our Mission
CloseKnit catalyzes system change,
building a holistic response that overcomes racism
to honor and invest in existing “chosen family” arrangements
that prevent youth homelessness.