Housing Support Worker

**Housing Support Worker - Waverley
- Evenings/Overnights**

**Title**:Housing Support Worker - Waverley

**Department**: Housing

**Reports to**:Waverley Team Lead

**Job Classification**:Full-Time, Hourly, Term, Evening/Overnight shift

**Location**:Halifax

**Program Overview**

The YWCA Halifax operates a 32-room housing program for single, unaccompanied women and gender diverse people, aged 35-70+, named Waverley Inn. The program offers living accommodations in the form of a bachelor room with a private bathroom, with shared common rooms and kitchen. Housing is anticipated to be long-term for the duration of the building’s leasing contract. As with all of the YWCA’s housing programs, the goal is to provide safe, secure, and supported housing to women and gender diverse people who have experienced barriers to stable housing.

The Housing Support Worker (HSW) - Waverley contributes to the overall success of the Housing Program and YWCA Halifax by providing participant -centered supports to participants under the direction of the Waverley Team Lead: as necessary to support participant case plans. The HSW researches best practices in preventing and alleviating homelessness and assists in updating procedures and practices to incorporate best practices.

The Housing Support Worker will work in teams of two to support the daily operations of Waverly Inn. The Housing Support Worker will work to ensure the safety and support for residents while on shift. The worker’s role will include providing navigational support, referrals and supportive programming to residents.

The Housing Support Worker - Waverley is responsible for identifying risk management concerns in their area of responsibility when conducting program activities and supports. The HSW - Waverley is responsible for following all YWCA procedures, policies, and ensuring they work safely at all times. The HSW - Waverley contributes to the advancement and achievement of the YWCA mission, vision, values, guiding principles, strategic plan, business plan, and departmental plan. Work is guided by using a Harm Reduction, Participant-Centered, Housing First, and Trauma Informed model.

**Qualifications and Experience**:
The Housing Support Worker - Waverley will hold a degree/diploma in social services or related field such as, social work international development studies, sociology, child and youth studies, education, health promotion, or equivalent education and experience. They will have a minimum of 6-12 months’ experience within supportive housing programs within homelessness. The Housing Support Worker will have an understanding of feminist theoretical perspectives and intersectionality. Also, of issues such as racism/colonialism, violence against women, sexualized human trafficking, sexual health, and poverty. They will have knowledge of, and experience with community-based, trauma-informed, harm reduction practices as well as a strong commitment to ongoing learning and development in these areas and experience working in collaborative environments on complex issues involving multiple and diverse stakeholders. There should be a high proficiency in the following:

- Delivery of direct support services
- Collaboration
- Communication, both written and oral
- Interpersonal skills
- Computer literacy
- First Aid/CPR
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Strong knowledge of community resources, excellent organizational and communication (both written and oral) skills and the ability to work collaboratively with community partners. Familiar working with evaluation in an outcome-based framework. Experience in case management, and delivery of direct supports services required. Strong administrative skills, strong advocacy skills and an ability to work independently and in a team environment, effective interpersonal, high level of computer literacy, ability to maintain a collaborative partnership internal and external to the organization, knowledge of community development strategies from a feminist theoretical perspective.

**Essential Duties of the Position**:

- Advance the vision and mission of the YWCA of Halifax:

- Responsible for direct service delivery to participants, case planning, case management, securing resources for participants, working with participants on transitions, advocacy, and referrals. Other direct service may include:

- Case management
- Navigation
- Advocacy
- Life skills programming
- Eviction prevention
- Conflict resolution
- General support
- Awareness of local community resources and agencies to assist in wrap around supports for residents in need.
- Daily monitoring of safety and risk management concerns.
- Maintaining daily records and notes.
- Maintaining operational standards.
- Light cleaning to maintain the cleanliness of shared spaces.
- Ensuring the policy and procedural guidelines are followed.
- Responsible to assist with intake and move in/out procedures in collaboration with the Housing and Intake Coordinator and Wave