Resident Support Worker

**Employer**: Out of the Cold Community Association (OTC)

**Location**: 5580 Cogswell St., Halifax

**Start Date**: Immediate

**Reports to**:the Program Managers and/or Executive Director

**Program**: The Permanent Supported Housing sites at 7 Church St in Dartmouth and 5580 Cogswell St in Halifax are housing projects facilitated by Out of the Cold Community Association. These programs support individuals and couples who have been chronically unhoused and who experience high barriers to maintaining independent housing. Both programs offer single-room housing placements, individualized case management, and resident programming in a low-barrier, harm-reduction focussed setting. This housing is a welcoming and intentional space that fosters a sense of home and community while still focusing on the unique, self-identified needs of the individuals we support

The 7 Church St. site in Dartmouth is equipped to support 26 residents who experience high barriers to maintaining their housing, with programming facilitated by professional support staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The 5580 Cogswell St. site in Halifax is equipped to support 38 residents who experience high barriers to maintaining their housing, with programming facilitated by professional support staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

**Population Served**:OTC Community Association provides low-barrier, people-centered support rooted in anti-oppressive & harm reduction practices. We support individuals (16+) and couples of all genders who are unhoused or precariously housed and who experience a variety of barriers to housing including poverty, criminalization, racism, homophobia, transphobia, food insecurity, inadequate access to physical & mental health supports, alcohol & substance use challenges and varying levels of ability and life skills.

The Resident Support Worker - Fulltime is responsible for providing services that are high quality, consistent, and in accordance with OTC’s policies and values. All Staff are responsible for supporting individuals in meeting their basic needs, maintaining their stay and ensuring that Public Health recommendations for the COVID-19 pandemic are being followed.

**Under the supervision of the Program Manager and/or the Executive Director, the Resident Support Worker is responsible for actively engaging in support of residents and in the oversight and implementation of OTC’s Shelter and Supported Housing programming, in alignment with the policies and values of OTC.**

**Responsibilities**:

- Supports the creation and maintenance of a low barrier, anti-oppressive, harm reduction focussed environment at all times.
- Engage residents in genuine, dignified and humanizing interactions while fostering relationships and community building. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with individuals living and working at the supportive housing site. Work within the staff team and the wider community to foster relationships and support best outcomes for residents
- Maintains healthy boundaries with both residents and colleagues.
- Be accountable to each other, always acting with intention and care. Ensures that all interactions are carried out in a culturally responsive, safe, dignified, and unobtrusive manner
- Supports residents in maintaining their housing and in upholding their responsibilities as collectively agreed upon for the space. Upholds staff responsibilities to residents as collectively agreed upon for the space.
- Support residents with guest management and in following the supportive housing community guidelines around guests.
- Is familiar with individuals listed on the DNA and supports folks in leaving the site if needed.
- Responds to requests for support and referrals from individuals from the community at the door, on the phone and online. Documents all requests for service and the support provided.
- Conduct shelter diversion conversations and offer appropriate diversion support.
- Adheres to the protocols and practices as outlined in the most up-to-date OTC document COVID Protocols and supports residents, guests, volunteers and colleagues in doing so as well.

**Harm Reduction**
- Supports the creation and maintenance of a low barrier, harm reduction focussed space. Be familiar with harm reduction principles and be able to put them into practice.
- Supports Residents in accessing harm reduction supplies. Keeps supplies stocked following the most recent guidelines from the Harm Reduction Coordinator.
- Engages residents in supportive conversations about substance use and safer use practices.
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of both overdose and over-amping and responds appropriately.
- Prepares sharps bins for pick up by Mainline
- Support residents in accessing appropriate medical care through community partners like MOSH

**Crisis Intervention & Deescalation**
- Provides support to individuals during periods of dysregulation, while in crisis and while under the influence of a