Director of Housing Stabilization
Job Description
October 20, 2026
Healing Abuse Working for Change, Inc., creates social change by taking action against personal and
societal patterns of violence and oppression. Since 1978, HAWC has provided free services and support to
victims of domestic abuse on Massachusetts’ North Shore to help them make informed, independent decisions about their futures. More information is available at www.hawcdv.org.
General Description
The Director of Housing Stabilization Services is a critical senior-level position responsible for leading, strengthening, and expanding HAWC’s housing stabilization services for survivors of domestic abuse. Reporting to the Executive Director and collaborating closely with agency leadership, the Director provides strategic direction for programs that help survivors and their
families obtain and maintain safe, stable, and affordable housing.
The Director oversees HAWC’s housing stabilization continuum, including emergency shelter, housing advocacy and navigation, homelessness prevention, emergency housing assistance, safety planning, and connections to community-based resources. The Director ensures that services are trauma-informed, survivor-centered, culturally responsive, and grounded in safety, choice, empowerment, and self-determination.
A central responsibility of this position is to increase HAWC’s capacity to address housing instability for survivors. The Director researches emerging housing needs, identifies public and private funding opportunities, develops and evaluates innovative program models, and cultivates strategic partnerships that expand housing resources and opportunities for survivors. The Director works closely with the Executive Director, Development and Finance teams, and external partners to pursue sustainable funding and develop new initiatives in response to changing community needs.
The Director supervises housing stabilization staff and provides leadership, coaching, and support to ensure high-quality, consistent, and effective service delivery. In addition to providing program and staff leadership, the Director maintains direct engagement with survivors by providing regular consultation and support to individuals and families seeking housing stabilization assistance.
This is a full-time position with generous benefits, a flexible work schedule including the option to work remotely two days a week, and salary commensurate with experience in the range of $75,000–$95,000/year.
Summary of Benefits:
● 3 weeks of vacation per year during first year; increases at year 5, carryover of 2 weeks
● 13 Holidays off per year
● 13 Sick days per year
● 5 Personal days per year
● 70% Health Insurance paid by HAWC
● 70% Dental Insurance paid by HAWC
● 70% Paid Family & Medical Leave paid by HAWC
● 100% Short & Long Term Disability paid by HAWC
● 100% Employee Assistance Plan paid by HAWC
● 100% paid Life Insurance (1x annual salary up to $50,000)
● Health Reimbursement Account (HAWC pays first 50% of deductible)
● Flexible Spending Account
● 401K plan
Key Responsibilities
Housing Program Leadership & Development
● Lead and oversee HAWC’s housing stabilization programs, including emergency shelter, and
continuously improve program models, policies, and procedures in line with HAWC’s
mission and strategic plan.
● Assess emerging needs, service gaps, and effective practices to design, pilot, and scale
initiatives that expand HAWC’s housing capacity.
● Ensure services are accessible to survivors facing barriers such as income, language,
disability, immigration status, family composition, credit history, or criminal legal system
involvement.
Housing Stabilization Services
● Provide regular direct consultation to survivors to assess housing needs and develop
strategies for immediate safety and long-term stability.
● Consult with staff on complex cases and support advocacy with landlords, housing
authorities, and municipal agencies when barriers threaten survivor safety or stability.
● Collaborate with Legal Services on eviction, discrimination, reasonable accommodation, and
other housing legal issues, and coordinate with shelter and other HAWC programs to support
transitions to permanent housing.
● Participate in HAWC’s backup manager rotation.
Housing Partnerships & Systems Advocacy
● Build relationships with landlords, housing authorities, municipal agencies, affordable
housing providers, and organizations serving populations facing disproportionate housing
barriers to expand housing resources and referral partnerships.
● Represent HAWC in Continuum of Care, coordinated entry, and regional housing,
homelessness, and domestic violence coalitions.
● Educate partners on domestic abuse, survivor safety, and confidentiality, and advocate for
policies that improve housing access for survivors.
Funding Development & Resource Expansion
● Identify and braid public, private, and government funding sources, and partner with the
Executive Director, Development, and Finance teams to provide program concepts,
narratives, budgets, and outcomes for proposals and reports.
● Manage program budgets, appropriate use of housing assistance funds, and compliance with
grant and contract requirements.
Staff Leadership & Development
● Supervise, coach, and evaluate housing stabilization staff, including the Housing Navigator
and Shelter Program, and related volunteers, interns, and contractors.
● Set clear performance expectations, ensure staff are trained in trauma-informed, survivor-
centered housing practice, and foster a collaborative, accountable team culture.
Program Evaluation & Quality Improvement
● Establish measurable outcomes and ensure accurate, timely documentation in EmpowerDB.
● Use program data and survivor and staff feedback to improve services, and report to
leadership, funders, partners, and the Board.
Minimum Qualifications
● At least 5 years of experience in housing stabilization and/or homelessness services, including 2 years supervising staff.
● Knowledge of Massachusetts housing systems, including public housing, Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers, RAFT, HomeBASE, and EA shelter.
● Demonstrated ability to build partnerships with landlords, housing providers, government agencies, and community organizations.
● Experience developing or improving programs, including using data to strengthen services.
● Strong understanding of trauma-informed, survivor-centered service delivery.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and training.
● Highly organized, calm under pressure, and collaborative, with openness to giving and receiving feedback.
● Commitment to HAWC’s mission and guiding principles, and completion of HAWC’s pre-
service training.
Preferred Qualifications
● Experience with survivors of domestic abuse or domestic violence housing programs, and familiarity with Massachusetts housing protections for survivors.
● Experience managing emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, or homelessness prevention programs, including new program models.
● Experience securing public or private funding for housing or social service programs.
● Experience with Continuum of Care/Coordinated Entry and client information systems such as EmpowerDB.
HAWC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, LGBTQ people, bicultural and bilingual
people, people with disabilities, and survivors of partner abuse are encouraged to apply. HAWC
provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without
regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender or gender identity, familial status, disability,
ancestry, age, marital status, public assistance status, sexual orientation, veteran history/military
status, genetic information or membership in any group protected by federal and state law.
Please email cover letter and resume to Sara Stanley at saras@hawcdv.org with “Director of Housing Stabilization” in the subject line, or mail to HAWC Attn: Sara Stanley, 27 Congress St. Ste. 204, Salem, MA 01970.