Landlord Engagement Specialist

Services and Housing In the Province (**SHIP**) is a Provincial leader in the broader public sector that builds strategic partnerships and programs that support the fundamental rights for Housing and Health Services throughout the Peel Region, Dufferin County, and surrounding areas.

Our commitment to increase quality of life through health services and housing supports that promote mental and physical health and wellness is at the forefront of every employee we hire. We value compassion, hope, inclusiveness, respect, and professionalism.

Our organization has supported the region for over 35 years and employs over 300 passionately engaged employees ranging from office administration, nurses, and service health specialists to housing specialists all dedicated to the community, clients, and families.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Landlord Engagement Specialist will work alongside community partners within a multidisciplinary approach to service. The individual will be responsible for initiating and maintaining relationships with private market landlords to create housing opportunities for clients receiving case management services from partner organizations.

They will also be responsible for providing ongoing housing support for those in the Region of Peel who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They will work to increase the availability of housing stock and landlords on the housing Registry.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Liaising with landlords to access private market housing opportunities for clients that are safe, well maintained, and affordable. Evaluating and recommending suitable housing placements that would meet client needs
- Maintain a Housing Directory which should at minimum include documentation of all contacts with housing providers including: corporation name if applicable, name of contact, address, phone, date of contact and results of contact
- Act as the first point of contact for landlords, providing information, education and support regarding housing issues. Offering landlord recognition to maintain successful partnerships and promote the benefits of landlord participation in the program
- Targeting housing search efforts in keeping with program prioritization criteria
- Participating in weekly housing team meetings and partner agency team meetings, offering concise updates of housing status for caseload. Providing housing availability to the team in an efficient and timely manner. Maintaining strong collaborative working relationships with members of the team
- Respond to client enquiries for support from a ‘no wrong door’ approach while maintaining service role, redirecting case management needs to primary worker. Participate in care coordination within scope of role as housing resource
- Supporting landlords by troubleshooting/problem solving issues related to tenancies and provide conflict resolution in partnership with client and primary worker, to avert potential eviction
- Providing clients with information on tenant rights and responsibilities
- Researching housing topics, collect and organize housing information for organizational staff. Providing input into ongoing policy, service enhancement, and program evaluation
- Create and facilitate trainings and workshops for clients and workers, including tenant rights and responsibilities, housing discrimination, communicating with landlords and others
- Maintain documentation of trainings, budgets, housing contacts and other pertinent information in accordance with agency and best standard practice
- Maintaining appropriate record keeping/documentation, client files, statistical and outcome measurement tools, meeting agency and partner timelines
- Assuring all relevant information pertaining to clients is disseminated to appropriate staff members in a timely fashion
- Performing additional duties as required/delegated by Management

**Qualifications**:

- Post-secondary education in Social Work, Social Services, Health Services, or equivalent
- 2-3 years’ experience providing outreach to individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act
- Experience working with high risk adults with persistent mental illness
- Demonstrated understanding of the impacts of addiction, mental health, homelessness, and poverty
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals living with multiple barriers to stable housing
- Demonstrated awareness and belief in the value of harm reduction principles
- Demonstrated skills in performing assessments and on the spot risk assessments
- Experience in sales and/or real estate field an asset
- A valid Ontario Class “G” License and a vehicle with adequate insurance coverage are required
- Valid Certification in First Aid & CPR
- Training in ASIST and CPI
- Ability to work evenings and weekends

**Working Conditions and Physical Requirements**:

- Working hours are typically Monday to Sunday; usual shifts are 9:00am