Aboriginal Housing Support Worker

JOB SUMMARY:

The Housing Support Worker position is part of SOTCS's Aboriginal Housing Support Program, where we offer holistic, culturally relevant support to families in our communities. This program will be based on the Seven Sacred Teachings and the Medicine Wheel, and in addition to helping families access and secure housing that suits their needs, the program will emphasize developing the right foundations for families to have maximum success in their housing arrangements.

REPORTS TO: Family Development Program Manager and Executive Director

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promote and support traditional cultural teachings and practice for our families, agency, and community
• Utilize traditional Indigenous practices that focus on the mind, emotion, body and spirit and recognize family strengths and assets
• Guide families through a process of self-assessing their housing needs in a culturally relevant way
• Develop housing readiness with the families, in order to maximize their success in maintaining housing
• Work with the family to explore their options, including social, supportive, and market housing, and will walk them through the appropriate application procedures. The process will be based on principles of empowerment and capacity-building
• Where applicable, facilitate a self-assessment and needs evaluation with the family, and work with the family to develop a Goals Agreement and plan to achieve the family's goals around their housing
• Responsible for all program evaluation and reporting, including families' periodic self-evaluation
• Track and review all evaluation documents with the families to ensure their success in the program, and review evaluation documents to collate data annually to determine trends in families' issues and successes
• Engage, motivate, challenge and encourage families' accountability to themselves and their family members
• Sustain participation of families in the program by providing flexible support and establishing strong rapport
• Act as an advocate according to the family's needs, and will be a positive role model for the family
• Provide teachings, knowledge of Indigenous and urban Indigenous culture, traditions, and history as a way of supporting the family's connection to their culture and community.
• Incorporate safety plans in accordance to the family's needs
• Develop effective working relationships and partnerships with co-workers, community members, and representatives of other departments and agencies
• Participate in agency event planning such as: Annual Mini-Teaching Pow-Wow and Family Christmas Gathering

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Post-Secondary education in relevant field
• Two years recent work experience in a housing support role, preferably working with marginalized families.
• Class 5 Drivers License & own vehicle

Skills and Attributes

• Strong working knowledge of the housing options for low-income people, and a demonstrated ability to support people navigating these options
• Excellent communication skills, including strong writing skills, active listening, and effective discussion facilitation
• Knowledge of Aboriginal communities, culture, organizations, and service providers within Burnaby, Tri-Cities, and New Westminster
• Experience with program evaluation, data analysis, and reporting outcomes to funders.
• Current and valid driver's license and willing to obtain business insurance and liability coverage
• Driver's Abstract
• Criminal Records Check

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

This is a full-time position at 35 hours per week. Regular hours are flexible between 8:30-9:30am start time, to 4:00-5:00pm finish time, with 7 hours paid, and 30 minutes unpaid break. This position is dependent upon negotiated funding.

Candidates of Aboriginal ancestry are strongly encouraged to apply; please self-identify.

Position will remain open until filled.

Workers must maintain confidentiality, undergo annual successful criminal record checks, and to be sensitive to diversity among clients, co-workers and the community

Please provide resume with cover letter.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $28.50-$31.65 per hour

Work Location: In person