FVP News
Housing Navigator — Full Time
Family Violence Project (FVP) is working to end domestic violence in Kennebec and Somerset counties in Maine. We believe it will take the whole community to accomplish our mission. This includes a strong and committed, diverse workforce. If you are seeking a challenging position in a critical field of advocacy and social justice, please consider the following open position:
Housing Navigator — Full Time
Family Violence Project seeks a Housing Navigator to assist survivors of domestic violence with securing stable and safe housing throughout Kennebec and Somerset counties. The person in this position will assess referred individuals’ eligibility for Navigator Services, develop Housing Stability Plans with program participants, and assist with the application and referral process for households that are eligible for housing subsidies. The Housing Navigator will provide housing search assistance to program participants, assisting with things such as: understanding lease terms, negotiating and obtaining security deposits, securing utilities, and making moving arrangements. They will assess housing for compliance with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program guidelines and provide ongoing services to housed program participants. The person in this position will also provide education programs as required by state and/or federal entities who provide housing subsidies. The Housing Navigator will build and maintain relationships with landlords and property management companies to better serve those with whom they are working. Maintaining current and accurate records is an integral part of this position, as is the reporting of data as required by the agency and its funders.
This is a full-time, 32-hour per week non-exempt position with a Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 5:00pm schedule (which includes a half hour unpaid lunch break) that will include occasional on-call responsibilities in relation to the agency’s 24-hour helpline and may include some evenings and weekends. This position will be based out of an Augusta office and will include regular travel throughout Kennebec and Somerset counties. After one year of successful employment, a person may have the option to work from a home office. Excellent benefits are provided including low-cost health insurance for the employee and free short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. Vision, dental and supplemental insurance options are also available. Benefits also include paid time off (beginning with three weeks of accrued time per year), fourteen paid holidays each year, and a 403(b)-retirement plan with an employer match. The starting pay range for this position is $37,024 to $44,429 annually, based on experience.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, climb stairs, sit (including prolonged sitting), talk, and listen. The employee is also required to operate a computer using a standard keyboard and mouse; use a fax machine, printer, scanner, and copier; and communicate using a telephone. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
The successful candidate will possess knowledge of domestic violence and its impact on victims and the community. This person will also have knowledge of the housing barriers encountered by those experiencing homelessness, and available resources. Group facilitation experience is required. Demonstrated skills and experience in crisis intervention, human relations, and conflict resolution are necessary, as is the ability to prioritize work demands to meet client needs and emergencies. The successful candidate will interact harmoniously with others, communicating respectfully and effectively through excellent listening, oral, and written communication skills. The person in this position must be able to work collaboratively as well as independently, handle emergencies in a calm manner, and de-escalate situations. Computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Office, are necessary.
Applicants must be able to pass background checks to include criminal, driving, and Department of Health and Human Services / Child Protective Services background checks, among others. A bachelor’s degree is preferred for this position but is not required; those with relevant life and/or work experience are encouraged to apply. All new employees are required to participate in a thorough orientation process which includes successful completion of Family Violence Project’s Crisis Advocacy, Intervention, Response and Ethics Training for New Advocates.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This position will remain open until filled. Provide resume and personalized cover letter to:
Search Committee, Housing Navigator
Family Violence Project
PO Box 304
Augusta, ME 04332-0304
RESUMES WITHOUT PERSONALIZED COVER LETTERS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
All qualified applicants shall receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or any other characteristic protected by law.
FVP Receives Large Contribution from Local Real Estate Agency
Strong Partners Support Home Buyers on the Resources for Violence Within Homes
Local Real Estate Agency, Laflin & Wolfington, donates $15,000 to Family Violence Project in an ongoing partnership to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Augusta, Maine April 1, 2021 – Family Violence Project received a large donation as part of an ongoing partnership between a domestic violence resource center and a real estate agency. Laflin & Wolfington Realty of Farmingdale has taken on the challenge of ending domestic abuse within its community by raising more than $65,000 for the cause. They have built a system in which a donation is made each time a home is purchased or sold through their agency. The staff has donated items for holidays, back-to-school programs, and more. “The agency has been one of our strongest community partners to date,” said Nathan MacDonald, Development and Community Engagement Director for Family Violence Project. “Not only has Laflin & Wolfington Realty contributed significant funds to the agency, but they have also gone out of their way to educate home buyers and sellers on domestic abuse in their presentations, newsletters, and promotional material.”
In 2019, a domestic assault was reported in Maine every 2 hours and 22 minutes, according to the State of Maine Department of Public Safety’s ‘Crime in Maine’ document. This ever-present challenge makes community partnerships even more important in supporting survivors. “Laflin and Wolfington Realty’s commitment to supporting victims/survivors of domestic violence is evident through their ongoing partnership with Family Violence Project. They are community leaders by speaking out for this cause, as well as securing regular donations that help the people we serve” stated Pamela Morin, Executive Director for Family Violence Project. “With each donation we receive, we become all that much closer to our shared goal to end domestic violence. I want to express a special thank you to them for consistently making a difference through their awareness, generosity, and dedication!” Laflin & Wolfington Realty is located at 704 Maine Avenue, Farmingdale ME 04344 and can be contacted by phone at 207-629-9211 or by email at [email protected]
About Family Violence Project:
Family Violence Project (FVP) is the domestic violence resource center in Kennebec and Somerset counties. The mission of FVP is to end domestic abuse within the two counties through a variety of services and actions. If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse, please call our 24/7, free, confidential helpline: 1-877-890-7788
Annual Reports
Voices Carry – Raise Them Up
When we raise our voices, a beautiful chorus resounds. Our stories become one harmonic note and the world is changed. If you have lived with, survived, or ever before experienced abuse at the hands of a partner, someone you love, or loved, someone who told you they cared about or loved you, please share one moment of your story with us.
Are you healing now? Are you barely holding onto your sense of reality? Do you feel alone? Is the abuse in the past and you now feel only gratitude? Do you grieve the loss of something and someone, even knowing that person had to go? Do you feel strong, over it, and determined never to go there again?
Please reach out to us…Write it, say it, share it. Is it safe for you to tell your story in front of a group? Would you consider doing so?
40 Years
On February 21, 1978, a small group of women in the Augusta area signed the Articles of Incorporation for Family Violence Assistance Project. In Maine and across the country, activists were mobilizing to create a safety net for victims of domestic violence by providing comprehensive direct advocacy with and on behalf of survivors, including shelter, support groups, and crisis intervention.
They sought to “educate and inform… of the needs and the critical problems of battered spouses, and of the social forces and attitudes which contribute to the problem.”
Over 40 years later, we continue this work. Strong coalitions and committed individuals support our efforts. Almost half of all homicides in Maine are perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner, dating partner, or family member, 40 years later. Safety and peace in our homes is possible. We believe it will take our entire community to make this happen.
Throughout the coming year, the Family Violence Project will recognize and remember. We are a hard-working group of committed advocates, including our Board, Staff, and Volunteers. We shall celebrate because without joy and connection, there will never be change.
Ours is humble work and earnest, and we lean into it for a journey much longer than we knew in our earlier years. We hope you will follow our postings, our newsletter, and our activities throughout the year. We hope you will join us in whatever way that makes the most sense for you.
March 2018 is a moment to honor those who have survived abuse, to appreciate the growth from surviving to thriving for so many, and to acknowledge that too many lives have been stolen. It is an opportunity for FVP to reflect on our role in creating our vision of a community where violence is unacceptable and people treat each other concerning move our mission to end Domestic Abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties.