Housing Worker

The Housing Help Centre provides primarily housing based settlement services to refugees and newcomers to Canada. Housing Worker is responsible for providing housing related information, counseling, advocacy and referrals to community resources to address client’s needs. Worker will ensure that clients have access to timely, accurate and useful information to help clients make informed decisions.

The worker ensures providing service quality by adhering to agency policies and procedures, managing related data collection and reporting timely. The worker also effectively supports clients through integrated housing help programs such as access to housing, eviction prevention and stabilization. To fulfill these roles the worker must have good interpersonal skills and possess a strong working knowledge of settlement services related to newcomers.

**Responsibilities**
- Conduct intakes and need assessments for clients who have housing issues related to mental health and substance use
- Conduct housing outreach to potential landlords and community support services
- Facilitate weekly information and training sessions to support clients with navigation and registration with MyAccesstoHousingTO, including Choice Base Cycles and Annual Renewals
- Provide appropriate referrals, information and advocacy to other support services to assist clients
- Work closely with landlords to stabilize the tenancy
- Provide wrap around support on relevant housing issues, income support, employment and social supports with the ultimate goal of making client independent
- Educate and empower clients with the intention to maintain stable housing
- Assist clients with holistic approach and deliver services in a way that reflects the racial, cultural, linguistic, and gender specific needs of the community being served
- Observe confidentiality policy, and use appropriate avenues to share and acquire information on clients
- Maintain accurate case management records and complete reporting required by supervisor in a timely manner
- Other duties as assigned by Manager

**Skills and Knowledge**
- Education in Social Work with at least 2 years of experience or a combined equivalent of education and experience
- Direct experience working from a client centered approach with homeless population
- Proven work experience with people struggling with concurrent disorders, substance use and homelessness
- Knowledge of mental health and addiction resources, social services networks and organizations in Toronto
- Oppression Framework to housing issues
- Strong mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills to respond or assist in emergency situations
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in assessment, engagement, case management and understanding of the Residential Tenancies Act
- Ability to communicate information effectively through a variety of means including meetings, reports, letters and presentations
- Strong collaboration skills to manage service delivery in conjunction with housing providers and other stakeholders
- Ability to think critically, and be innovative to create/modify strategy or intervention techniques to meet the individual needs of clients.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in **English/French and another languag**e is considered as an asset
- Provide a Criminal Records Check with vulnerable sector screening

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday

**Education**:

- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

- Driving Licence (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-10-01
Expected start date: 2024-10-15