Housing and Street Outreach Worker

**City**: Merritt
**Program and Site Location**: Merritt Main Office, 2196 Quilchena Ave.
**Reports To**: Director of Merritt Operations
**Term**: Permanent Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)
**Hours**: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm with ½ hour paid break
**Wage Range**: $25.95 to $29.76 based on education and related experience

ASK Wellness Society is an Accredited, not-for-profit organization. Through the generous support of funders, we assist those who are marginalized and at-risk to strengthen the communities we serve (Kamloops, Merritt, and Penticton). We provide housing and support to those who are facing or at risk of homelessness and support those who may use substances, or who require mental health supports, harm reduction, or health education. Ultimately, we aim to provide the skills to re-enter the workforce.

Position Summary: Within this role, your priority will be to work in conjunction with the Housing, Street, and Health Navigation Team to provide support and service to Program Participants seeking housing services with the hope of reducing homelessness in the community. The overriding purpose is to assist Program Participants with multiple barriers and challenging behaviors in finding appropriate shelter and/or detox, treatment, health services, supportive housing, and market housing. Service delivery is based on a client-centered, non-judgmental perspective.

**What We Offer**:

- Competitive benefits including but not limited to dental, vision, physiotherapy, massage, and fertility upon eligibility
- Municipal Pension Plan upon eligibility
- On-site training and development opportunities such as Violence Prevention, Cultural Awareness and 2sLGBTQ+ training
- A culture of equality, inclusion, and diversity including paid cultural sensitivity days
- Accidental death insurance and Wellness plan benefit
- Vacation entitlements for Part-Time and Full-Time employees

**Typical Duties Include**:

- Housing and Street Outreach Worker Responsibilities_
- Provide individualized support, as needed, to multiple barriered Program Participants and to assist them in acquiring affordable, safe, and supported community housing.
- Identify and develop a customized support system for each client including brokering ‘active’ referrals to essential services/programs.
- Mediate between the landlord and client when necessary as well as problem solve with building managers and landlords.
- Liaise with key community caregivers regarding necessary support systems for the client including financial and life skills programming.
- Provide street services when required and appropriate.
- Harm reduction distribution and education.
- One-on-one contact with community members on the street and in emergency shelters.
- Provide outreach services in partnership with other community partners.
- Provide monthly documentation of client statistics and work duties performed.
- When required provide additional services to other supportive housing settings.
- Provide crisis support and assessment when required.
- Contribute to the protection of Program Participants from abuse, and support Program Participants when they are in distress.
- Work closely with referral agencies.
- Monitor and move along community members who are loitering in and around the property.
- Provide crisis intervention as required including overdose responses by ensuring immediate access to medical services and completing necessary incident reports when required.
- Administrative Responsibilities_
- Conduct assessments of potential Program Participants using the BC Housing mandated Vulnerability Assessment Tool (VAT) when requested.
- Complete accurate and up to date communication/case notes.
- Maintain files and statistics as per accreditation standards on ShareVision and HIFIS database.
- When requested, be a member of the Society’s Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) team.
- Ensure compliance with all Society policies and procedures.
- Other duties which may or may not be outlined within this job description.

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor of Social Work, Human Services Diploma, Support Worker/Care Aid Certificate, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or lived experience.
- Valid driver’s license, safe driving record and reliable/appropriate transportation with business use coverage.
- VAT (Vulnerability Assessment Tool) training an asset.
- Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, and Trauma Informed Practice an asset.

**Requirements**:

- Strong ability to recognize and address difficult behaviors.
- Good communication, documentation, interpersonal and conflict management skills.
- Ability to work within a team-based environment involving multi-agency supports.
- Strong working knowledge of community resources.
- Understands and maintains professional boundaries.
- Must pass an acceptable criminal record check for the vulnerable sector.
- Occupational First Aid Level 1 required.
- Readiness to complete in-house online training within