Housing First Case Worker

**Job title**:Housing First Case Worker

**Department**:Housing

**Reports to**:Housing Manager and Team Lead, Case Management and Housing First

**Hours of work**:8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

**Job purpose**

The Housing First Case Worker provides and coordinates all services in the Housing First Program. The Housing First Case Worker will have a primary caseload of ten to fifteen clients who have a history of homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, and/or face multiple barriers. The Housing First Case Worker develops positive relationships with landlords and provides connections to community-based services that are designed to promote the stability, recovery and community reintegration of individuals.

**Company Overview**

**Duties and Responsibilities**
- Using a client-centred, anti-oppression, anti-racism, trauma-informed, gender-based analysis plus+ and strength-based approaches, build relationships and establish rapport with clients
- Ensure the Housing First philosophy is strictly adhered to and applied with all clients
- Using the Vulnerability Index Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT), assess clients concerns and needs in order to provide support, information, referrals, skill enhancement, and advocacy for service users
- Using the VI-SPDAT create individualized service plans with specific goals that can be measured
- Using Non-Violent Crisis intervention safely respond to and de-escalate crisis situations
- Provide life skills supports for housing stability such as budgeting, rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords, mental health support, employment etc.
- Develop and Facilitate workshops based on client needs
- Demonstrate an understanding of oppression and marginalization of the homeless population
- Advocate for individuals at imminent risk of homelessness and work with the community partners to promote and encourage a wrap-around approach for more effective support
- Provide supports for social integration, by organizing and leading social or recreational activities for clients
- Provide individuals with community resources and services to assist in sustaining stable housing
- Assist clients with securing housing (first and last month rent, insurance, utility set up and supplies upon move-in etc.)
- Provide individualized support to clients in order to increase self-sufficiency, esteem, awareness, and self
- confidence
- Safely meet with clients regularly at agency-approved locations that are throughout the community.
- Advocate for clients with housing providers, community supports and other community members
- Help to build the Housing team providing support and contributing to a positive work environment
- Attend regular community meetings or events (Ex. DARHN)
- Maintain all client files using the Homelessness Individual and Families Information System (HIFIS) database and excel spreadsheets
- Develop evaluation tools to assess client progress and effectiveness of the service plan
- Case Conference with other service providers as required
- Develop and maintain statistical reports on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis
- Adhere to all Agency policies, procedures and directives as well as all other applicable legislation Ex: Personal Health Information Protection Act PHIPA
- Actively participate and promote a positive workplace culture through agency committee membership and departmental activities
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager or Team Lead

**Qualifications**
- Completion of a college diploma or undergraduate degree in Social Work or other relevant discipline
- Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience providing enhanced case management and housing first in a community-based housing or related agency
- Demonstrated understanding of the Durham Region Housing sector and issues being faced by the populations we serve
- Extensive knowledge of community-based resources and government agencies for low-income people, including income through Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Old Age Security; etc.
- Practical knowledge of the housing sector best practices, the Housing First model, the Residential Tenancies Act, the Housing Services Act, and all other relevant legislation
- Knowledge of gender-based violence, anti-oppression principles and trauma-informed approaches
- Strong mediation and problem-solving skills
- Possesses working knowledge of current Windows Operating System, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

**Additional Requirements**
- A valid Ontario driver's license (Class G), use of a vehicle and insurance with the ability to work in a variety of settings
- The physical ability to function effectively in an environment that includes both a normal office and duties being carried out in an external setting
- Some evenings and/or weekends may be required
- May be required to carry and lift items up to 30 pounds

**APPLICATION PROCESS**: Applicants are requested to submit their resume and a cover