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Chicago Coalition for the Homeless · 19 hours ago

Staff Attorney-Public Benefits

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$72K/yr - $74K/yr

Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness is a systemic advocacy organization focused on addressing the causes of homelessness. They are seeking a mid-level Attorney to advocate for people experiencing homelessness in Illinois through direct representation and policy advocacy, particularly in public benefit programs.

CharityCommunitiesNon ProfitSocial Assistance

Responsibilities

Provide civil legal services to people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness. Areas of focus include access to public benefits, including initial applications, appeals and redeterminations. Public benefits areas of focus include Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”). In particular, assist clients in navigating recent changes to public benefits programs such as work requirements and assist clients in obtaining exemptions to such requirements (if eligible). Other areas of law may include access to identification documents, family and housing law, consumer and credit issues, education, criminal records relief and other civil legal services

Conduct weekly community outreach at various shelters and drop-in centers, schools, health centers, street-based and other community locations, including maintaining at least two regular legal clinic sites. Attorneys are expected to provide outreach in the community at least three times per month

Co-manage the Street Medicine Legal Clinic on behalf of CCH

Participate in the Law Project’s impact litigation to address systemic issues related to homelessness, including civil rights cases

Develop and implement strategies to identify systemic barriers to public benefits and access to physical and mental health care that are identified through direct services

Monitor changes to public benefits programs at the federal and state level and communicate those changes to CCH staff, external partners and people experiencing homelessness

Collaborate with the CCH Policy Department and local and state-level coalitions and campaigns to create and promote policies and laws that increase access to public benefits for people experiencing homelessness

Developing relationships with caseworkers IDHS and SSI as needed, including attending meetings with IDHS and SSI and other public benefit advocates

Assist Law Project staff on other projects as needed, including providing support, training and supervision to Law Project interns

Develop and conduct training for attorneys, interns and other professionals on access to health care and public benefits for people experiencing homelessness

Create and maintain outreach materials on public benefits, including updating the Illinois Homeless Youth Handbook

Work in collaboration with all CCH departments—CCH believes strongly in interdepartmental collaboration and expects all staff to work in close partnership with the other departments at the organization

Qualification

J.D. degreeMid-level legal experiencePublic benefits experienceLitigation skillsResearch skillsCommunity outreachWriting skillsLegal ServerSelf-directionComputer literacyFluency in SpanishTeam collaboration

Required

J.D. degree and currently licensed or eligible to waive into practice law in Illinois

Mid-level legal experience in a legal aid organization or other setting providing direct representation

Experience and an interest in public benefits and other areas of law that impact our clients. In addition to professional experience in these areas, experience can include personal experience with homelessness, poverty and other issues affecting our clients

Experience working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds

Experience working in communities impacted by poverty and a desire to spend a significant amount of time out in the community, including on the street and in encampments, providing legal services and engaging in outreach

Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and work to advance racial equity

Self-direction and self-motivation and the ability to work independently

Demonstrated strong litigation, research and writing skills

Computer literacy, including experience with Microsoft Office and case management systems