Housing Stability Worker

4 months ago


Clinton, Canada County of Huron Full time

**The County of Huron's Social and Property Services Department is seeking a Full-Time Housing Stability Worker to Join the Team**

**Position Summary**:
The Housing Stability Worker works within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services to housing clients who are experiencing difficulties maintaining housing and assisting them to improve their quality of life (medical, financial, legal, social), develop and maintain their housing stability and promote social inclusion.

Works in partnership with community-based organizations and stakeholders to assist in delivering homelessness services. Develops individualized support plans with clients to assist in meeting their needs.

Establishes a collaborative relationship with clients to provide supports through coaching, mentoring, negotiating, intensive case management and the utilization of conflict resolution skills and mediation skills.

**What We Offer**:
At the County of Huron, we’re committed to offering a modern work environment that puts people first. We are a Certified Living Wage employer that values equity, diversity and inclusion. We offer our staff competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package.

The County of Huron offers a diverse portfolio of employment opportunities. When you join our team, you’ll have the benefit of working with and learning from, people who have a broad range of skills and knowledge. We offer training, mentorship, and career development opportunities to all staff. When you work for the County of Huron, you invest in the community, and you benefit from seeing the results of your efforts firsthand. It’s a great place to work

**Roles and Responsibilities**:

- Actively works to identify barriers clients face and to support clients to build the skills required to successfully obtain and/or maintain housing. Develop individualized support plans in collaboration with clients to support these needs.
- Assists clients to problem solve and access relevant community supports. Assists clients with personal development skills, including life skills and budgeting.
- Use communication skills to support clients through sensitive issues such as life skills, mental health, tenancy success out of homelessness, addictions, legal matters, pest infestations.
- Obtain appropriate consents, information and documentation in order to assess situation.
- Conduct home visits to ensure health and safety of tenants.
- Establish collaborative relationship with clients to provide support through coaching, mentoring, negotiating, intensive case management and the utilization of conflict resolution and mediation techniques.
- Uses sound judgment and discretion, to ensure clients receive effective service within a complex legislative and policy environment that incorporates the unique circumstances of each client.
- Maintain working knowledge of various income security programs such as the Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Works and Old Age Security.
- Develop and maintain records, reports and statistics in Yardi property management software and other systems necessary for program functions, evaluations and funding.
- Promote harm reduction and foster collaborative contact with agencies that offer harm reduction strategies.
- Prepare and plan for “homelessness proofing” and re-housing. Includes recognizing and averting indicators that may destabilize a client’s housing.
- Participate in program meetings, staff education and act as a resource for other staff.

**Qualifications and Education Requirements**:

- University degree in the Social Services field, or a 3 year college diploma in the Human Services Foundation and/or Social Service Worker program
- Excellent crisis intervention, conflict mediation and de-escalation skills.
- Three years’ experience working in a supportive housing direct delivery service setting with clients experiencing the impacts of poverty, homelessness, violence, trauma, aging, isolation, mental health, addictions or concurrent disorders.
- Must possess excellent communication and interview skills in dealing with a diverse client group, and excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills to respond to requests in a professional manner

**Preferred Skills**:

- A strong knowledge of community resources, agencies, government departments and income security programs to provide clients with access to appropriate programs. Examples would include Canadian Mental Health Association, Community Legal Assistance, Ontario Health Teams, Choices for Change, Development Services Ontario, Alzheimer Society, utility companies, shelters.
- Knowledge of, or ability to learn and understand, related provincial and municipal legislation, policies and procedures.

**Competitive Compensation**:

- $39.15 - $45.80 per hour, as per the 2024 non-union pay grid

Please forward a cover letter and resume by **11:59 pm on Sunday, September 29, 2024 to humanresourc