President

FamilyAid Boston, a vital 501-C-3 nonprofit organization, is seeking an experienced leader to serve as President. FamilyAid Boston provides homelessness prevention, shelter, affordable housing, and supportive services including employment counseling and housing search to nearly 800 families every year, working together with the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a growing number of private partners. Please see www.familyaidboston.org.

The Organization

FamilyAid Boston began in 1916 as Travelers Aid, one of hundreds of volunteer organizations around the country responding to the needs of new immigrants arriving in the US each day. FamilyAid Boston has evolved throughout the century to respond to changing social needs.  Today, due to the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing. FamlyAid Boston serves homeless and at-risk families.

Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness, one family at a time. We embrace a comprehensive approach that focuses on the individual strengths of each family and provide services to meet their unique needs at all stages of the journey from homelessness to housing.  Programs include:

Shelter – The Community Based Shelter program (funded by the MA Department of Housing and Community Development) provides shelter to 123 families in apartments throughout the city. Our social workers conduct an initial assessment and provide crisis intervention for each family. Skilled case managers and housing specialists help identify and address the problems that led to becoming homeless with the goal of having families housed or in the process of obtaining housing as quickly as possible.

Housing – Rapid Rehousing helps families with sufficient resources transition quickly back into permanent housing.  Families enrolled in the Housing Access Collaborative receive a rental subsidy which allows them to focus on saving money and becoming self-sufficient.  HOMES, FamilyAid Boston’s supportive affordable housing program, provides permanent affordable housing and support services in small multi-family buildings in neighborhood settings, including 16 units owned by FamilyAid Boston.

Stabilization – Families who have moved from shelter into permanent housing receive supportive case management, tenancy support, connections and community resources to maintain and build upon the progress they made while in shelter, increasing their chances of remaining housed over the long term.

Homelessness Prevention – Case managers work with families to resolve problems that are putting their housing at risk and to help them connect with services they need through the Family Stability Fund and other programs.  In July of 2017 FamilyAid Boston increased its prevention services by acquiring the Family-to-Family Project, a privately-funded nonprofit that provides parents and children at risk of homelessness with one-time financial assistance.

Employment Services – Unemployed/underemployed parents receive an immediate needs assessment, intensive employment counseling, customized job search support, and career development services from professionals trained to work with homeless families and low-income workers.

There are 40 full-time and 40 part-time staff plus a strong cadre of volunteers.  Funding sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations, events, government contracts, and program revenue.

The Position

The President reports directly to the 21-member Board of Directors. S/he creates and executes the organization’s short and long-term strategy and oversees the successful management of all programs and administrative systems.  S/he leads the agency by fostering constructive relationships with staff, volunteers and the Board of Directors while promoting FamilyAid Boston with public officials, community leaders, donors and the media.  

Responsibilities

Work with the Board of Directors

• Interact with the Board of Directors on all key issues and events;
• Work with Board Committees (currently Finance, Fundraising, Programs and Personnel, and Housing);
• Work with the Board Chair and Vice Chair on governance issues including board membership

Advocacy, Public Policy and Public Relations

• Collaborate with area nonprofits engaged in similar work, representing FamilyAid Boston in external subcommittees, advisory boards, task forces, partnerships and other collaborative opportunities;
• Actively engage with public funding agencies;
• Testify at Legislative and City Council hearings;
• Develop and maintain positive relations with media outlets.

Programs

• • Assess and evaluate program effectiveness. Support data collection and quality assurance;
  • Oversee all of the agency’s primary contracts with the City of Boston (Dept. of Neighborhood Development) and State (Dept. of Housing and Community Development);
  • Lead in the strategic development of new programming;
  • Ensure clinical, programmatic and administrative supervision and support for all Program Managers including hiring, supervision and training, professional development and performance evaluations;
  • Ensure coordination of service delivery efforts internally and externally;
  • Manage and report on the use of various funds including Family to Family Project, Family Stability Fund, United Way Special Fund and other foundation grants.

Financial Oversight

• With the CFO, prepare, present and monitor the annual operating budget (currently $8 million);
• Ensure proper management of all contracts/related invoicing, benefits programs, and insurance plans;
• Ensure receipt of clean outside audit with no material findings.

Fundraising

• Work closely with the Board Fundraising Committee and Director of Development on a robust fundraising program and on messaging.

Qualifications and Characteristics Desired

• Passionate commitment to FamilyAid Boston’s mission;
• In-depth knowledge of the issues affecting family homeless, affordable housing and related matters;
• Management skills to direct a committed staff of skilled professionals;
• Successful fundraising experience;
• Commitment to quality programs and program evaluation;
• Ability to set and achieve strategic financial objectives and manage the budget;
• Ability to acquire and manage affordable housing;
• Experience working with a nonprofit board of directors;
• Persuasive communicator with strong written and verbal skills;  
• Ability and desire to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.

FamilyAid Boston is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation or age.