Homeless Persons Representation Project
Executive Director
Baltimore, MD

ABOUT HPRP:
The Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) works to end homelessness in Maryland by providing free legal services, including advice, counsel, education, representation, and advocacy, to people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. HPRP’s staff and volunteers pursue this mission by offering legal services in shelters, soup kitchens, welfare offices, community centers, and on the street. HPRP’s direct representation informs broader-based systemic advocacy and impact litigation to address the root causes of homelessness.

With a budget of $1.8M and offices in Baltimore City and Montgomery County, HPRP’s staff of nineteen are relentless advocates for people experiencing homelessness. They offer an unparalleled depth of knowledge, experience, and compassion in the fight for housing and economic justice. HPRP also operates a robust pro bono program with hundreds of pro bono attorneys, paralegals, and law students. Each year, HPRP handles nearly 1,000 legal matters targeting the primary solutions to homelessness – housing and income – by providing high quality legal representation in the areas of subsidized housing, public benefits, veterans’ benefits, and criminal record expungement.

Since its founding in 1987, HPRP has pursued impact litigation to achieve significant victories and settlements for its clients, including cases to remedy delays in government processing of subsistence benefits, and long-standing housing discrimination and residential segregation. It has also led or co-led landmark policy initiatives such as the HOME Act, the Ending Youth Homelessness Act, and legislation to reform Maryland’s expungement and public benefit programs. Driven by the belief in the power of people to determine their own solutions to systemic issues affecting their lives, HPRP actively engages persons with lived experience in advocacy efforts to improve tenant rights, end housing discrimination, end youth homelessness, and decriminalize homelessness.

Learn more at www.hprplaw.org.

POSITION SUMMARY:
HPRP seeks a passionate, visionary, and strategic leader to serve as the organization’s next Executive Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working in close partnership with a highly dedicated team, the Executive Director will lead HPRP’s strategic direction, ensure its long-term financial sustainability, and develop new and existing partnerships. In addition, the Executive Director will have an unwavering commitment to advancing racial and gender equity, ensuring these principles are reflected in the organization’s strategy, lived values, and culture.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated executive and leadership abilities, a deep passion for ending homelessness and pursuing housing and economic justice, the ability to serve as an advocate on issues related to HPRP’s constituents, and the demonstrated ability to raise funds and generate support for HPRP’s work. Additionally, they will be a committed team leader and a proven developer of strategic partnerships who is comfortable speaking with diverse stakeholders, including people experiencing homelessness, community leaders, funders, elected officials, media, and other partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Vision and Leadership:

Set the vision for HPRP’s next chapter, working in close collaboration with the Board of Directors and staff to design and implement the organization’s next strategic plan
Ensure the continued innovation, delivery, and evaluation of HPRP’s services consistent with its mission, values, and budgetary considerations
Lead HPRP’s local and state legislative and policy advocacy agenda and maintain active engagement of current issues related to homelessness and housing justice to advance the organization’s mission
Build and maintain diverse, multi-faceted relationships and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to expand HPRP’s network and impact

Organizational Development:

Ensure HPRP centers race and gender equity and its commitment to intersectional antiracism, including support of the TLGBQIA+ community, in all of the organization’s work internally and externally
Continue to build strong and equitable systems and policies which support HPRP’s culture and align with its organizational values
Effectively partner with the Board to ensure the growth and sustainability of HPRP and lead ongoing board development efforts to ensure an active, diverse, and engaged Board
Promote diverse public representation of HPRP, mentoring and developing the capacity of staff and others to serve as effective spokespeople for the organization

Team Leadership:

Provide inspirational, supportive, and empowering leadership for a diverse, deeply passionate, committed, and high-performing team, investing in the staff’s continued leadership development and empowering them to serve as effective advocates
Champion HPRP’s commitment to being an antiracist organization and support staff-led initiatives and committees, such as the race equity team and the training committee
Support and promote an inclusive, positive, and progressive organizational work environment that applies a race equity lens to all aspects of HPRP’s strategy, systems, policies, and organizational decision-making
Facilitate collaboration across the organization and seek opportunities to strengthen internal communications and cultivate trusting working relationships at the staff and Board levels
Ensure trauma-informed practices are promoted internally with staff and Board and in all external interactions with clients and community advocates

Fundraising and Financial Management:

In collaboration with the Director of Development and Communications, and the Board of Directors, steward existing funder relationships and implement expanded funding strategies that generate new revenue from diverse sources including law firms, corporations, foundations, individual donors, and government agencies to build organizational capacity
Lead and sustain a culture of philanthropy among Board and staff to ensure that donors are recognized and appreciated for their support of HPRP
In collaboration with the Director of Finance and Operations, lead overall financial management and accountability for HPRP, including establishing financial priorities and budgets, to ensure the organization meets the highest standards in stewarding its financial and other resources

REQUIREMENTS:

Demonstrated passion for and commitment to HPRP’s mission and organizational values, including prioritizing the perspectives and voices of individuals with lived experience, and the ability to serve as an advocate for people experiencing homelessness or impacted by housing insecurity
Bachelor’s degree required; J.D. strongly preferred
Proven success in a senior leadership role with a demonstrated ability to manage the strategic, financial, team leadership, and operational needs of a dynamic organization
A committed and collaborative team leader with a record of empowering, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams through growth and change
A well-developed race equity and inclusion competency and ability to serve as a champion for HPRP’s commitment to becoming an antiracist organization
Ability to authentically communicate and build trust with HPRP’s diverse constituencies, including individuals at risk or currently experiencing homelessness, staff, community leaders, volunteers, elected officials, and funders
Demonstrated aptitude for cultivating and stewarding funding relationships required; experience diversifying funding streams strongly preferred
Strong professional ethics, transparency, integrity, and accountability
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Innovative, action-oriented, entrepreneurial, and flexible leadership approach
Unwavering commitment to quality services and data-driven program evaluation
Understanding of and commitment to trauma-informed practices and leadership

COMPENSATION: The compensation range for this position is $125,000-$135,000 and includes a generous benefits package, including full health coverage (medical, prescription, dental) for employee plus contribution toward family coverage; long-term disability; life; ability to contribute to HPRP’s 403(b) plan; vacation (20 days), sick leave (10 days), personal days (3 days), and holidays. Occasional evening hours required to attend Board of directors’ meetings; HPRP provides for a flexible work schedule. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HPRP has created special family/dependent care leave and is primarily teleworking, with limited use of office space as determined by the position and the organization’s current COVID re-opening phase.

TO APPLY: HPRP has retained the executive search firm LeaderFit to lead the search. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit inquiries and nominations to Shaina Amaya, Vice President, at samaya@leaderfit.org.

HPRP requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccine exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis on religious grounds and in accordance with reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

HPRP is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture and believe that having staff, Board, and volunteers with diverse personal and professional backgrounds and lived experience enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from Black people, Indigenous peoples, people of color, immigrants, persons with disabilities, members of the TLGBQIA+ community, people with lived experience of poverty and/or homelessness, and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.