Homelessness Prevention Outreach Worker

**Position Title**: Homelessness Prevention** **Outreach Worker

**Department**: Homelessness Prevention & Shelter Services

**Days/Hours of Work**:Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, 37.5 hours per week

**Union**:BCGEU Stand Alone Collective Agreement

**ABOUT BEACON**:
When you join Beacon Community Services, you come to a place where you’re valued, respected, embraced and supported by a team of skilled, talented, caring colleagues who share your passion for improving lives in our community. We don’t just talk about our values, we live them with CARE. Our team works collaboratively to deliver Compassion. Accountability. Responsiveness. Excellence.

An award-winning, highly regarded charity that’s served the Greater Victoria area for 45+ years, Beacon Community Services is powered by about 270 staff and 600 volunteers who provide a wide range of community programs and services focused on helping people and improving lives.

Our team is the heart of our community’s well-being and Beacon’s success. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and a rewarding, stimulating career environment where your skills, knowledge, and work make a difference every day.

**ABOUT POSITION**:
Reporting to the Manager of Homelessness Prevention Program, the Homelessness Prevention Worker joins a multi-faceted team working in accordance with the mission, vision and values of Beacon Community Services that make a difference in people’s lives every day. The Homelessness Prevention Worker position connects with those recently released from incarceration who are struggling with homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. The Homelessness Prevention Program assists clients in securing appropriate housing that meets their needs and provides ongoing support to ensure the client’s success in their housing.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Assess clients needs and develop an individualized housing security plan
- Refer clients to relevant community and government resources and services
- Assist clients in navigating interactions with landlords, neighbours and community service providers
- Assist clients in creating healthy life choices and positive familiar relationships
- Build and maintain positive relationships with appropriate community resources
- Participate in community outreach and identify and connect with potential clients
- Provide complete case management services including file documentation and progress reports
- Working closely with Federal and Provincial Corrections services
- Perform other relevant job duties as assigned

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Related Post Secondary Education (Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Human Services, et.)
- Minimum 2 years’ experience working with homelessness and marginalized groups of individuals in a direct support role
- Possess a Class 5 Driver’s license
- Reliable transportation
- Naloxone training
- First Aid

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES**:

- Extensive knowledge of government and local service organizations and resources
- Understanding of issues related to mental health, trauma and addictions
- Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
- An ability to respect all clients and treat them with dignity while maintaining professional boundaries
- Ability to problem solve, work independently as well as part of a team
- Ability to maintain professionalism and optimism
- Ability to use sound judgement while working in demanding conditions and circumstances

**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**:
Beacon Community Services serves vulnerable populations including seniors, people with disabilities and children. Protecting these people and our teams on whom they rely is critical to us. Accordingly:

- All successful applicants must consent to a Solicitor General’s Criminal Record Check.
- All successful applicants are required to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status upon hire. Vaccination is a requirement in some of our facilities. Depending on future public health developments, Beacon may implement a vaccination requirement as a condition of ongoing employment for all our workplaces.