Supportive Housing Worker

**This is a casual position. Shifts include day shifts, overnight shifts, weekdays, and weekends.**

**Company Overview**

The Truro Housing Outreach Society (THOS) has been serving central Nova Scotia since 2014 as a registered nonprofit and charitable organization. Our mission is to combat housing insecurity through advocacy, education, and community building, offering essential services such as emergency shelter, personal care supplies, and eviction prevention.

**Position Overview**

The Supportive Housing Worker provides essential support to residents in a supportive housing setting. They work collaboratively with residents, the Supportive Housing Manager, and the interdisciplinary team to implement individualized support plans, and help residents achieve personal growth and housing stability. The Supportive Housing Worker is instrumental in fostering a positive environment, empowering residents to develop life skills, build self-confidence, and overcome obstacles to maintain long-term housing.

**Key Responsibilities**

**Resident Support**:

- Build and maintain therapeutic, trauma-informed relationships with residents, promoting trust, hope, and empowerment.
- Utilize techniques such as active listening, conflict resolution, basic counseling, and psycho-educational methods to support residents in addressing their needs and concerns.
- Respond promptly and compassionately to residents' complaints, concerns, and needs, ensuring they feel heard and valued.
- Collaborate with residents to implement individualized support plans that focus on their housing, employment, health, and personal goals.
- Regularly assess and report on the effectiveness of support plans, working with the Community Transition Coordinator and Supportive Housing Manager to adjust strategies as needed.

**Housing Retention and Skills Development**:

- Help residents build essential life skills, including budgeting, meal planning, home maintenance, and managing household responsibilities.
- Support residents in utilizing tools and resources to manage their housing effectively, reducing the risk of eviction (including conflict resolution and fostering healthy coping skills).
- Promote self-sufficiency by assisting residents in developing the skills necessary for long-term housing retention.

**Household Management**:

- Perform light housekeeping such as laundry, sweeping, cleaning, inventory, shopping, and maintaining equipment.
- Encourage and support residents in maintaining a clean and organized living environment.

**Recreational Activities**:

- Work in collaboration with the Supportive Housing Manager to develop and implement engaging in-house recreational activities that promote community and well-being.
- Partner with residents to facilitate participation in these activities, fostering a sense of belonging and social engagement.

**Crisis Management**:

- Recognize potential emergency situations and respond effectively to ensure the safety of residents, staff, and others.

**Documentation and Reporting**:

- Maintain up-to-date and accurate resident files, logs, and documentation.
- Regularly provide reports on resident outcomes, progress, and program effectiveness.

**Expected Competencies and Skills**

**Cultural Sensitivity and Understanding**: Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity to each resident’s unique socio-economic and cultural characteristics.

**Partnership Building**: Ability to form a mutually respectful partnership with residents, supporting them in developing the skills and confidence to address their challenges.

**Respect for Diversity**: Accept and value the differences among residents, respecting their right to self-determination, individuality, and diverse backgrounds.

**Non-Discriminatory Approach**: Commitment to not discriminating on the basis of race, ethnicity, language, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, abilities, socio-economic status, political affiliations, or national ancestry.

**Positive Attitude Towards Change**: Demonstrate a strong belief in the potential for individuals to grow and change, and promote this mindset in your work with residents.

**Harm Reduction Approach**: Comfort and familiarity with harm reduction principles and practices in supporting residents.

**Team Collaboration**: Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with other team members and external community agencies to ensure holistic resident support.

**Skills and Qualifications**
- Post-secondary education in Human Services, Counselling, Addictions, and or Social Services field is considered asset, however an acceptable combination of relevant applied or lived experience and education may be considered.
- Understanding, sensitivity and support for a Housing First philosophy and issues relating to the social and economic barriers to housing stability for vulnerable and diverse populations is required.
- Excellent computer and clerical skills
- Ability to use sound judgement whe