Housing Outreach Worker

Employment Opportunity: Housing Outreach Worker Location: Halifax, NS Salary: $56,000.00 annually Employment Term: Nov 2025 to March 31st, 2026 (possibility of renewal) Full time hours (35 hours/ week) Reports To: Housing Program Manager General Description: Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre is centrally located in the urban Indigenous community of Halifax and is looking for One (1) Housing Outreach Worker. The Housing Outreach Worker position is primarily responsible for providing direct support to Indigenous individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments and sleeping rough in HRM. The clients supported by the Housing Outreach Worker may experience a variety of barriers when trying to access housing and other services including physical health, mental health, and substance use challenges and varying levels of ability and life skills This role involves building trust with community members, offering culturally safe care, and connecting individuals to critical services such as housing, health care, harm reduction, mental health supports, and traditional healing. The Outreach Worker will work closely with service partners and community leaders to reduce barriers and advocate for the rights and well-being of Indigenous people living unhoused. Key Responsibilities:
• Conduct regular outreach to homeless encampments to engage Indigenous individuals and offer non-judgmental support.
• Build relationships grounded in cultural safety, respect, and trauma-informed care.
• Provide on-the-spot resources including food, clothing, harm reduction supplies, and hygiene kits and connect individuals to housing services, shelters, health care, detox/recovery supports, and traditional healing or cultural services.
• Assist with navigating service systems, completing forms, accessing IDs, and accompanying clients to appointments when needed.
• Advocate on behalf of clients with service providers, housing systems, and health professionals.
• Collaborate with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous organizations to offer culturally relevant support.

• Utilize and maintain the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre's (MNFC) database and input client information using HIFIS.
• Assist clients with viewing potential housing and completing applications when required
• Advocate for client's rights at an individual and broader systemic level
• Provide crisis intervention, and outreach mediation for clients
• Connect clients to community resources, supports and meaningful activities as required
• Compile statistics and data that will assist with the outcomes and evaluation of this housing initiative
• Commit to the development of the MNFC and participate in internal committees, projects and activities
• Assist in program and service development to ensure that quality, effective and client-centred programs and services are delivered
• Transport clients to medical appointments and housing related meetings
• May perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Diploma/certification/degree in Social Services; or University Degree in Social Work, child and youth care, psychology or other social science/health related discipline with education in mental health, addictions, concurrent disorders/ co-occurring disorders
• 3 - 5 years experience with outreach, homelessness services, harm reduction, or peer support or combination of experience and education may be considered
• Must have Non-violent Crisis Intervention certification, ASSIST, Naloxone Training
• Comprehensive understanding of Indigenous, women's, transgender issues, poverty, homelessness and their root causes
• Lived experience or strong connection to Indigenous communities and an understanding of the impacts of colonization, systemic racism, and intergenerational trauma is an asset
• Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, especially in encampment or street settings.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and maintain a flexible, mobile work schedule.
• Reliable means of transportation (must own a working vehicle) and must provide a current driver abstract, a copy of a valid class 5 driver's license, and proof of motor vehicle insurance with 2 million in liability insurance
• Experience using Microsoft Office (word, excel, outlook, access, power point)
• Required Vulnerable Sector Check & Child Abuse Registrar must be provided prior to start of position

• Familiarity with traditional healing, smudging, ceremonies, and cultural protocols is an asset
  Ability to speak an Indigenous language is an asset.

• Indigenous ancestry is an asset for this position, please self-identify

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled Submit Resume and cover letter to: Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel working within this job title. The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre is an equal opportunity employer; and complies with all fair employment practices laws. We are committed to providing a workplace free form unlawful discrimination and harassment and prohibit the same against employees, applicants or other covered persons by co-workers, supervisors, managers, or third parties based on a person's race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veterans status, disability unrelated to job requirements, ethnicity, genetic information, military service, political affiliation, marital status and pregnancy or other protected status. Qualified Indigenous applicants will be given priority in accordance with the Aboriginal Employment Preference Policy of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) reserves the right to refuse all applications for employment. The MNFC will not assume any expenses related to this or any job application process included and not limited to travel, relocation, and application development. *Only those applicants who are screened in for an interview will be contacted