Housing Support Worker

**Job Summary**
To provide assistance finding and maintaining stable and permanent housing to individuals who reside in the Cobequid catchment area (Lower Sackville, Bedford, Lucasville, Hammonds Plains, Beaver Bank, Fall River, and Waverley) who are experiencing or are risk of homelessness.

Applicants will be considered even if they do not meet all the requirements listed in this description. Lived experience is considered an asset and could include having experienced homelessness or living as a person who is a member of a marginalized community. Applicants are welcome but not required to self-identify.

**Responsibilities**
- Ensure support program delivery congruent with Beacon House’s Mission, Vision and Values.
- Work in accordance with Beacon House Shelter’s policies and procedures.
- Liaise and develop relationships with landlords and property managers throughout HRM.
- Work with individuals on personal goal setting related to obtaining and maintaining housing and follow through.
- Skills building and education on budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and other necessary skills to maintain housing.
- Liaise with other agencies on behalf of clients.
- Work in collaboration with other Housing Support Workers within HRM.
- Complete and maintain records using the HIFIS database, assessments, daily statistics and files, and ensure confidentiality is protected.
- Opportunities to create and develop programming in partnership with community partners. - Promotes and facilitate client empowerment.
- Supervise field placement students as required.
- Perform other duties as required.
- Managing expenses on a monthly basis and providing expenses reports and receipts to Beacon House’s Bookkeeper at the beginning of each new month.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

- Demonstrated skill applicable to a client-centred approach and a social justice perspective with a focus on client strengths.
- Knowledge of mental health issues, substance use, mental health first aid, and first aid are assets.
- Knowledge of Trusteeship programs and effective money management.
- Demonstrated exceptional level of interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build appropriate and healthy rapport with appropriate boundary-setting with at-risk and homeless persons.
- Extensive knowledge of community resources and the social service delivery system.
- Ability to work in a team environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and using the Internet.
- Demonstrated high level of understanding of the issues of homelessness.
- Excellent skills dealing with stress, setting boundaries with employer, and self-care necessary as this is a difficult job. The employer, in turn, will cap your caseload to your comfort level (maximum 30 individuals) and provide emotional support and access to a mental health counsellor on-site.

ROLE COMPETENCIES
- Communication
- Independent and takes initiative
- Interpersonal skills
- Organizational skills

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor of Social Work, or an undergraduate degree and Human Services diploma or other relevant undergraduate degree or a combination of education and experience.
- Knowledge around colonialism/racism, feminism, diversity and equity, and poverty alongside harm reduction and trauma informed practice.
- A minimum of one to three years of experience supporting individuals who are members of vulnerable communities.
- Non-violent crisis intervention (NVCI), Suicide Intervention (ASIST), Standard First Aid and/or a commitment to secure those requirements within six months of being hired.
- Ability to work independently and with a team

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

- Schedule may vary according to requirements of responsibilities - currently, our Housing Support workers work once every three weekends every third week on an evening.
- This is a Full time contract position based on 40 hours per week;
- Normal location of work is at Beacon House Shelter, 125 Metropolitan Ave., applicants must respond in writing by February 18, 2025.

Pay: $50,000.00-$54,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Commuter benefits
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Vision care

Flexible language requirement:

- French not required

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Evening shift
- Monday to Friday
- On call
- Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-02-18
Expected start date: 2025-02-24