Housing Support Worker

**Housing Support Worker (Full-time, Permanent)**

**Working with vulnerable youth is more than just a job; it’s a calling**

You thrive in an environment that supports and empowers you to do what it takes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

At Durham Youth Services (DYS), we partner with youth to achieve and maintain lasting solutions to their housing crisis, and our Housing Support Worker provides trauma-informed, client-centered case management, to a large caseload of youth as you support their transition from homelessness to housing.

As a Housing Support Worker your days will be challenging and rewarding. You will work closely with your clients to support them in finding, securing, and maintaining safe and stable housing. You are resourceful, with a keen awareness of the supports and resources available for vulnerable youth, and you have the skills to advocate for what your clients most need. You will work with schools, landlords, families, and natural supports (as required), mental health supports, and community resources to build and strengthen client’s attachments. You will offer information, support and direction that will empower participants to make informed decisions in the hopes of improving their quality of life.

**You will change lives.**

If you are a compassionate, resilient case manager with a gift for building a trust and making a meaningful connection with youth, despite barriers, we are interested in hearing from you Together, we will achieve our vision of ending youth homelessness in the Durham Region.

**So, What Will You Actually Do?**
- Offer trauma-informed, client centric case management to support clients in reaching their housing goals.
- Offer crisis counselling and support connection to mental health or addiction supports as needed.
- Coordinate and facilitate access to housing to allow a client to live in their preferred community.
- Advocate on behalf of clients with landlords as needed to support clients in securing and maintaining housing.
- Coordinate the development of community-based housing plans to address client’s needs; and provide for the involvement of community resources/agencies.
- Link with school officials to ensure clients remain school attached and/or permit for re-entry.
- Link individual youth to appropriate services locally and regionally.
- Develop client support networks to decrease and/or eliminate client isolation in the community.
- Liaise between DYS and other community agencies in the community serving precariously housed youth.
- Provide case management support and follow-up for community-based housing plans and facilitate coordination of services.
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of community services and resources and provide consultation to community support agencies.
- Maintain appropriate files, record and statistics needed for generating accurate and timely reports.
- Participate in ongoing education and development relevant to the position held.
- Participate in general staff meeting and Service Delivery Team meetings as required.

**At Durham Youth Services, the safety of our staff and clients is our top priority. As a member of our team, you will embrace and benefit from the following**:

- Philosophies underpinning harm reduction and trauma-informed case management
- Maintain an emotionally, mentally, and physically safe environment for the clients
- Establishes and maintain professional boundaries with clients, staff, student, volunteers, and other community agencies
- Maintain client confidentiality in keeping with DYS policies and procedures
- Trouble-shoot and problem solve; crisis management, de-escalate crisis situations
- Ensure that a personal safety and emergency plan are in place for each client Following all DYS and Public Health guidelines concerning the pandemic
- Follow all DYS policies and procedures

**What Skills and Experience Will Make You Amazing At This Job**:

- Completion of a college or university program in social work, child and youth care, psychology or other social science or health-related discipline.
- Minimum of two years of full-time work experience with homeless, at-risk, and vulnerable youth, including one year in an outreach-related position.
- Knowledgeable in harm reduction principles as well how to work with persons who have concerns with substance abuse, mental health, or trauma
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a community and with a team of service providers
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to the life experiences/needs of the youth community and a commitment to a youth-centred approach to this work
- Demonstrated comfort and ability to work with clients in crisis, and able to de-escalate and manage aggressive behaviours
- Strong crisis intervention skills
- Current on new trends that pertain to our residents (addictions, mental health, services, etc.)
- Update any training as needed (CPR/First Aid, Health and Safety, CPI, etc.)
- Have access to your o