Hf Hfg Housing Support Worker Part-time

**Collective agreement title**: Housing Support Worker Relief **Program**: Housing First / Home for Good **Reports to**: Team Lead / Program Manager **Work hours**: 0 - 35 **Work Schedule**: Weekends, weekdays, days, and afternoons **Rate of pay**: $25.09 About Gateway Residential & Support Services: At Gateway we believe in a community where all are offered respect, dignity, and hope for recovery. We believe in enabling people with mental illness to achieve the highest quality of life possible. The philosophy of Gateway Residential and Community Support Services of Niagara Inc. is rooted in a desire to serve others. We support and encourage the individual's right to independence, personal decision-making, and involvement in all aspects of planning, implementation, governance, and evaluation. **Job Summary** The Housing First / Home for Good Worker is responsible for engaging individuals dealing with chronic homelessness and providing support services to assist in finding and maintaining appropriate, safe, and affordable housing placements. Work is done in a multidisciplinary team including an Addiction Counsellor, Mental Health Specialist, peer support worker and Landlord Engagement Coordinator. **Responsibilities** - Ensuring the client is informed of the Housing First philosophy - Serve individuals under Coordinated Access and By-Name List policy and procedure, who are experiencing chronic homelessness with mid-high acuity of need, and who may be prioritized by one or more of the following criteria: youth, indigenous population, and individuals transitioning from provincially funded institutions into homelessness. - Work closely with the Team Lead / Program Manager to facilitate access to available program supports, including addiction support, (CASON), Regional Mental Health Supports, and Lived experience supports provided by a Peer Support Worker. - Work with Team Lead / Landlord Specialist to provide rent supplements or housing allowances, as necessary - Offer client engagement, intake, and identification of goals - Support clients to rapidly access permanent housing options within a two-three-year graduation goal - Support clients to be move-in ready, and have all the documentation for quick move ins - Provide additional housing support, including neighbourhood orientation, property management services, utility setup, assistance with rent payment, and co-signing or subletting of leases as necessary to support successful tenancy - Support client to maintain tenancy and develop/maintain relationships with landlords to mitigate risk of housing loss, including following up with landlords each month within 5 days of the rent due date to ensure rent has been paid - Support a "No Wrong Door" approach to service access by developing and maintaining partnerships with other community partners that contribute to an array of services related to secondary needs; making referrals as required - Provide support to higher acuity clients in the Home for Good Program to ensure additional supports, and resources are accessible to achieve housing goals. - Broker services to support the achievement of client goals and self-sufficiency - Provide strong advocacy for participants' self-determination and independence in day-to day activities - Support successful exit from the program (as appropriate) - Work closely with Niagara Region to ensure an effective system-wide approach, policy development and implementation, attendance at training and regular Housing First / Home for Good working group meetings - Utilize HIFIS reporting tool for accurate and timely records - Adapt and utilize the Housing First Approach This position description reflects the general duties of the position, but it is not intended to be a detailed description of all duties that may be inherent in the position. Home for Good and Housing First Support Worker may also be asked to perform other duties as required or assigned. **Requirements**: - Minimum of six months working as a Housing support worker in a housing first program - Community college Diploma or a University Degree in social services or other closely related field or a combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities as determined by the employer - One year experience in the community focusing on homelessness programming - Availability for a minimum of 3 shifts per month - A valid G driver’s license with a reliable vehicle and permission to carry rider attached with $2 million dollar liability - Demonstrated knowledge of Housing First principles, guidelines, and related housing - Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery principles, and harm reduction philosophy - An understanding of case management; including assessment, service planning, skills reaching, monitoring and evaluation, concepts, acts and regulations - Demonstrated knowledge of human/legal rights and relevant legislation - Ability to work independently and a