Staff Attorney-Public Benefits

Company: Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 13, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Job Description: The Law Project of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness is seeking a mid-level Attorney to join our Law Project team to advocate for people experiencing homelessness in Illinois through both direct representation and policy advocacy with a focus on state and federal public benefit programs and to work to advance racial equity. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. About CCH: Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness (CCH) is a 45-year-old systemic advocacy organization. CCH develops campaigns and initiatives to address the causes of homelessness - lack of affordable housing, lack of access to health care and services and lack of jobs paying a living wage. We place much emphasis on organizing and developing leaders who have experienced homelessness to become spokespersons and leaders of our various initiatives. CCH does its work in accordance with its organizational values – collaboration, integrity, strategic action, compassion, and intersectionality. We recognize that homelessness is a problem that stems from systemic racism and that biases and prejudices are embedded in the fabric of society, and thus, also permeate organizations like ours. CCH is committed to advancing racial equity in the workplace, through the work of our racial equity committee, and through the campaigns and initiatives we choose. Job Responsibilities: Provide civil legal services to people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness. Areas of focus include access to public benefits, including initial applications, appeals and redeterminations. Public benefits areas of focus include Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”). In particular, assist clients in navigating recent changes to public benefits programs such as work requirements and assist clients in obtaining exemptions to such requirements (if eligible). Other areas of law may include access to identification documents, family and housing law, consumer and credit issues, education, criminal records relief and other civil legal services. Conduct weekly community outreach at various shelters and drop-in centers, schools, health centers, street-based and other community locations, including maintaining at least two regular legal clinic sites. Attorneys are expected to provide outreach in the community at least three times per month. Co-manage the Street Medicine Legal Clinic on behalf of CCH. Participate in the Law Project’s impact litigation to address systemic issues related to homelessness, including civil rights cases. Develop and implement strategies to identify systemic barriers to public benefits and access to physical and mental health care that are identified through direct services. Monitor changes to public benefits programs at the federal and state level and communicate those changes to CCH staff, external partners and people experiencing homelessness. Collaborate with the CCH Policy Department and local and state-level coalitions and campaigns to create and promote policies and laws that increase access to public benefits for people experiencing homelessness. Developing relationships with caseworkers IDHS and SSI as needed, including attending meetings with IDHS and SSI and other public benefit advocates. Assist Law Project staff on other projects as needed, including providing support, training and supervision to Law Project interns. Develop and conduct training for attorneys, interns and other professionals on access to health care and public benefits for people experiencing homelessness. Create and maintain outreach materials on public benefits, including updating the Illinois Homeless Youth Handbook. Work in collaboration with all CCH departments—CCH believes strongly in interdepartmental collaboration and expects all staff to work in close partnership with the other departments at the organization. Qualifications/Skills: Required J.D. degree and currently licensed or eligible to waive into practice law in Illinois Mid-level legal experience in a legal aid organization or other setting providing direct representation Experience and an interest in public benefits and other areas of law that impact our clients. In addition to professional experience in these areas, experience can include personal experience with homelessness, poverty and other issues affecting our clients. Experience working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds Experience working in communities impacted by poverty and a desire to spend a significant amount of time out in the community, including on the street and in encampments, providing legal services and engaging in outreach Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and work to advance racial equity Self-direction and self-motivation and the ability to work independently Demonstrated strong litigation, research and writing skills Computer literacy, including experience with Microsoft Office and case management systems. Preferred Fluency in Spanish Experience with Legal Server Valid Illinois driver’s license Salary Range: $71,500-74,500 (salary above the base salary is available if the candidate meets one or more of the following criteria – demonstrated second language proficiency ($1,000), lived experience of homelessness ($1,000), certification in racial equity work ($1,000). In addition, CCH provides excellent benefits; including health and dental, life insurance, disability insurance, 401K, four weeks paid vacation, student loan reimbursement, and a sabbatical program. Application Instructions: Please upload your resume, cover letter, one writing sample, and include two references when applying directly through this link. Upload PDF versions and clearly save each document (example: CBERETTARESUME). If you have any questions, please email hiring@chicagohomeless.org directly and we will get back to you within 24 hours of receiving your email. The hiring team will only look at completed applications. DEADLINE TO APPLY: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026, by 5 P.M. CENTRAL. All employees should be up to date on vaccination series as indicted by the CDC. The currently approved vaccines under this policy are Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. No vaccine shall be designated unless and until it is fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or approved by the FDA for emergency use authorization. Fully vaccinated means at least two weeks after the final shot in the required timing and dosage (one shot for Johnson & Johnson, two shots for Moderna with 28 days between shots, and two shots for Pfizer with 21 days between shots). Prospective employees will be expected to comply with this policy within two months of accepting their offer of employment. Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness believes that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognizes and values the intersectional identities that staff members bring to our organization. We are enriched by the diverse experiences, beliefs, and ways of thinking that employees of different backgrounds bring. People of color and people who have experienced homelessness or poverty are strongly encouraged to apply. Fair consideration is given to all qualified applicants regardless of criminal record. CCH is committed to providing equal employment consideration without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status. Powered by JazzHR tkbsy7aWJ3

Keywords: Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, Lombard , Staff Attorney-Public Benefits, Legal , Chicago, Illinois