Housing Support Staff

**Housing Support Staff**

Full-time Permanent

40 hours per week

**Anticipated start date**:ASAP

**Salary**:$22.40-$23.40 per hour (depending on experience)

The Housing Support Staff at 1JustCity assists guests who are homeless or at risk of homelessness or eviction find housing. The Housing Support Staff is responsible for assisting the Program Lead in connecting with guests that require housing support and help navigating the housing market. A significant part of this position is eviction prevention through advocacy with EIA and landlords.

**Reports to**:The Housing Loss and Prevention Program Lead

**Shift**:Monday - Friday, may require occasional evening/weekend work for appointments and client support.

**Responsibilities**
- Building trusting relationships with guests
- Connecting guests with necessary and relevant resources
- Acting as an advocate in a variety of systems (EIA, housing support, etc)
- Finding housing in accordance with the needs of the guest. May include emergency or transitional housing.
- Supporting guests in attaining housing stability through eviction prevention and life skills development (may also include crisis intervention)
- Coordinate with landlords and caretakers to obtain and maintain housing
- Refer guests to culturally-relevant services through the Indigenous Cultural Program team
- Conduct home visits in the participants’ homes, community agencies and other settings as needed
- Ensure that all service statistics are completed in a timely manner
- Maintain quality up-to date documentation on all interactions with participants
- Ensure that all data collected is entered and reported in a timely manner to the JAWS Lead
- Support the strategic direction of 1JustCity’s vision and goals through active engagement, leadership and aid on-going initiatives
- Have a keen awareness of internal and external resources, such as government systems and mechanisms experienced for participants and an ability to establish interim resources where gaps exist.
- The ability to build trusting relationships with participants on a non-judgmental and non
- threatening basis, in alignment with 1JustCity values and principles.
- To impart information and direction that will empower participants to make informed decisions in the hopes of improving their quality of life.
- To advocate on behalf of participants on a case-by-case basis with various systems, i.e. Child and Family Services, Employment and Income Assistance,
Legal Aid, Health, Addictions, Justice etc.
- To engage with Landlords to prevent eviction
- Coordinate cleaning, rent,treatments, etc. to ensure tenant stays housed

**Skills & Assets**
- Creative problem solving and strong advocacy skills
- Experience working with vulnerable populations
- Strong working knowledge of harm reduction principles
- Responsible, organized, and detail oriented
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and written skills
- Cultural competency skills, knowledge, experience, and awareness
- Capacity to build and maintain strong relationship with partner agencies, service providers and landlords
- Ability to function independently while also working as part of a team
- Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment with mínimal supervision
- Must have a familiarity with resources that are available to at-risk individuals in Winnipeg; specifically housing and social services.
- Must possess knowledge of street life in the inner city including gang activity, substance use, and sexual exploitation.
- Working knowledge of the Province of Manitoba Residential Tenancies Act

**Education & Experience**
- Experience working within the not-for-profit sector
- Child and Youth Care Diploma or acceptable equivalent and related experience
- Preferred certification: Level C-CPR, NVCI, ASIST, Stages of Change/Motivational Interviewing
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience working in a similar role
- Valid driver’s license and access to a car for work a requirement
- Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse Check and Driver’s Abstract
- Proficiency in MS Office, Google Products and general comfort with technology

**About 1JustCity**

1JustCity operates drop-in sites in three vulnerable Winnipeg neighborhoods: the West End, West Broadway, and Osborne Village. In the winter months, we also operate an Emergency Overnight Warming Shelter called Just a Warm Sleep. We provide services to over 1200 unique individuals weekly. We work with people living in poverty;experiencing homelessness or precarious housing, mental health issues and/or addiction, social isolation, oppression due to race or gender identity, and more.

Our primary programs are daily drop-ins, where guests are welcome for healthy meals, a cup of coffee, and social interaction. We also provide an Indigenous Cultural Program which gives accessible opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike to experience Indigenous culture and engage in concrete reconciliation action. We provide