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DASH Seeking New Housing Program Director for Cornerstone

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Housing Program Director (Cornerstone Program)

Program Description: The District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. (DASH) is a nonprofit agency that works to ensure access to safe and sustainable refuge for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through the development and management of safe housing and housing resources. The Cornerstone Program is one of DASH’s newly developed and largest safe housing programs.

Report to: Deputy Director

Responsibilities: Provide support and management expertise to the operations of a 47-unit safe housing program and the holistic supportive services to be offered. This is a first line supervisory position involving planning, programming, and management responsibilities. Duties are as follows:

Provide oversight of participant advocacy services, including: Develop and implement supportive programs and activities; Monitor adherence to the voluntary service model, organizational commitment to low barrier services and universal accessibility; and, Solicit participant feedback in on-going program development and evaluation.
Identify areas for program improvement and innovation, and work with staff to revise or refine policy and protocol to enhance program functioning, incorporating participant feedback and best practices as often as possible.
Assist in resolving problems which may arise with staff, residents and community members.
Develop collaborations with other community-based organizations.
Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Residential Advocate staff, in close collaboration with the TA Team, assuring accurate documentation in participant files; adherence to confidentiality policies; and providing on-going staff support, evaluation and feedback.
Manage the 24-hour, 7-day a week, staffing schedule.
Coordinate with the Clinical Director to facilitate ongoing training and clinical supervision to the Resident Advocates and for technical assistance on issues requiring clinical support and analysis.
Coordinate with the Addictions Specialist to facilitate ongoing training and support to Resident Advocates on addiction issues and for technical assistance on issues requiring expertise in addiction services and support.
Work with the Property Manager to: Promptly address facility issues; Maintain clear boundaries between facilities and program roles and assist staff and residents in understanding and maintaining these boundaries; and Ensure prompt unit turnover through clear and timely communication with the Property Manager regarding new intakes and unit vacancies.
Work with the Development Specialist to: Communicate in-kind program needs; Provide program information for grant reports in a timely manner; Assist with site visits from funders; and, Collaborate to ensure volunteer events and activities for the program run smoothly.
Perform other duties which contribute to the running of the worksite, including ordering equipment and supplies.
Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications: A Master’s Degree and five years work experience in residential programs required (work experience may be substituted for education requirement). Experience in program development and implementation. Experience managing a housing program. Fluency in a foreign language a plus. Knowledge of domestic violence and related and intersecting issues, voluntary service model and harm reduction model a plus. Comfortable managing a large housing facility.

To Apply: Email cover letter plus resume to info@dashdc.wpengine.com (please put title of position on subject line). No phone calls please. No fax please.

DASH Featured on Channel 9 News

Note: Some content may be triggering due to graphic descriptions.

Last night, DASH was featured in a lead story on Local Channel 9 news (CBS) about safe housing for survivors of domestic violence, a story that was prompted by the murder on Tuesday in Kensington, MD of Heather Lynn McGuire by her estranged husband, who then committed suicide.

Journalist Gary Nurenberg interviewed DASH Executive Director Peg Hacskaylo, as well as three residents of DASH’s Cornerstone Program, to learn more about safe shelter and how victims of domestic and sexual violence can escape abuse to establish safe, independent lives. The story, which also included footage of the safe housing apartments DASH provides its residents at Cornerstone, was the centerpiece of the feature, which also highlighted the story of the tragic murder/suicide, an interview with Dr. Phil McGraw, and an interview with Yvette McCade, a local survivor of an attempted murder by her estranged husband.

Click here to view the broadcast and read the accompanying story, click here: WUSA 9 DASH Story

If you would like to learn more about DASH and support the work we do to help women and children in our community, our 2nd annual DASH Allies in Change Luncheon is March 28 (2012) at 12:00pm at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. The lunch is open to the public and tickets can be purchased here: Allies in Change. You can also visit www.dashdc.org for more information or to make a secure donation online.

DASH extends its gratitude to WUSA Channel 9 and Gary Nurenberg for its attention to and coverage of this important issue and the work that DASH does to help survivors and their families.

DASH Recently Cited in HUD Paper

DASH is proud to report that we were recently cited in a paper from HUD about what public housing authorities across the U.S. are doing to address domestic violence. The paper, found here, notes programs and strategies in a number of different regions. The DC Public Housing Authority was mentioned. The report notes that when meeting with them, a representative of the District Alliance for Safe Housing reported on the dilemma of a public housing resident who had moved several times due to threats of domestic violence. The victim’s ex-husband managed to find her after each move, and she wanted to move to another city, but could not afford to leave public housing.

By staking a claim in the national debate on homelessness, DASH is furthering the voice of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We continue to remain interested in partnering with government officials, corporations, and the public at large to strategize about eliminating domestic and sexual violence.

Reports of DC Rate Rape Increase Highest in the Nation

Last week, the FBI released crime statistics for each state. While DC’s rate for homicide and violent crime on the whole decreased, the rate of forcible rape increased, up to 187 from 2009’s 150. This 24.7% increase is the highest of any state (cities are not documented), with the second highest increase being an 8.9% rise in Nebraska. As a whole, the nation’s forcible rape rate went down 5% last year.

Clearly, these numbers point to the urgent need in our community to address sexual assault. In 2010, the District Alliance for Safe Housing decided to add sexual assault survivors to those for whom it provided service. Domestic violence and sexual assault are often interrelated. Many survivors are assaulted within intimate partner relationships. Additionally, many of those who survive a sexual assault also face the potential for homelessness, especially if the assault occurred in the survivor’s home or the assailant learns the victims’ address. In these situations, it is imperative for victims to have safe housing, much like those escaping domestic violence.

DASH’s housing and services provide critical space and support for survivors of sexual violence to recover from the trauma of victimization and rebuild their lives on their own terms. While the path to healing may look somewhat different from domestic violence, the need for access to safe, affordable housing is a reality for survivors across the spectrum – whether recovering from domestic abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, stalking, or other threat. Providing housing access to sexual assault survivors in our constituent base is yet another way in which DASH aims to be agile, responsive, and innovative in serving those impacted by violence.

Survivors of sexual assault in the District can also access these resources for support.

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