Encampment and Community Outreach Worker

Position Title: Encampment and Community Outreach Worker

Competition: 24-78

Reports to: Assistant Manager of Community Services

Union: BCGEU

Compensation: $27.39-$29.69/hour

Schedule: 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday (70 hours bi-weekly)

Posting Closing Date: October 7, 2024 at 4pm

Organizational Focus

Pacifica Housing has been providing safe and affordable homes for almost 35 years. We are a rapidly growing organization dedicated to meeting the housing and support needs of our community. As such, we are committed to building our fast-growing team with a culture that supports our people and reinforces our core values of authenticity, leadership, respect, and social justice.

Pacifica is proud to be a Certified Living Wage Employer by The Living Wage for Families Campaign.

As a member of the Downtown Outreach Housing Resource Services (DOHRS) team, the Encampment and Community Outreach Worker’s focus is to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary group to provide outreach, assessment, placement and advocacy to identified homeless individuals primarily residing in encampments in and around the municipality of Greater Victoria.

Position’s Primary Objectives:

The position’s goal is to liaise with members of the Housing Action Response Team (H.A.R.T) team in efforts to identify homeless individuals in encampments and connect them to services and stable housing, by:

• providing a variety of assessment, placement and advocacy services for encampment clients;
• providing the outreach support necessary to connect high acuity clients to community services such as applications for ministry assistance, housing, medical services etc.;
• connecting identified individuals to permanent housing in conjunction with the local C.A.A. process, DOHRS services, and managing program specific subsidy allotments/agreements within the private market;
• working with other members of the community services team to develop and managing client case plans to promote long-term housing stability;
• developing and maintaining relationships with community members, agencies, landlords and identified clients;
• providing support to the team including the resolution of difficult/complex issues, debriefing and case management consultation;
• preparing and providing regular reports and statistics regarding critical incidents, program developments, operational issues and program evaluations;
• assisting in public relations campaigns, workshops and special events and projects;
• ensuring policies, procedures and obligations associated with Property Services are implemented and adhered to; and
• mentors new/existing front-line staff as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Provides a range of support services to clients who have multiple barriers to housing, including:

• conducting comprehensive assessments through direct one-to-one consultations with clients;
• providing guidance, crisis intervention, as well as referral services to other community agencies, including application for income assistance;
• seeking out and approaching people living ‘in the rough’/street entrenched with the intention of establishing a rapport and building trust;
• supporting clients by providing educational materials and guidance regarding how to obtain and maintain housing;
• problem-solving and skills training with clients to facilitate securing affordable, adequate, safe housing;
• maintaining concise and accurate client files including current case notes and information about each client’s progress with their respective case plans;
• providing interim case management services during the period of assessment and placement in housing.

2. Develops and maintains on-going working, professional relationships with community members, landlords, property owners/managers, in collaboration with the Landlord Liaison position, including:

• providing mediation and problem-solving services to resolve disputes/disagreements between clients and landlords;
• responding quickly and effectively to tenancy issues such as damages to the unit, problems with hygiene, bed bugs, hoarding etc.;
• coordinating and participating in client move out activities; and
• following up with landlords on a regular basis to identify and mitigate potential housing retention issues before they escalate and become costly and difficult to manage.

3. Manage, in conjunction with the Assistant Manager of Community Services, program specific private market subsides, by:

• facilitating multi dwelling housing sites for encampment related individuals and other such housing models;
• manage housing sites in collaboration with Pacifica Housing’s property management services;
• case managing individuals in collaboration with community based housing first organizations that offer support and case management services.

4. As a member of the Community Services team, performs a variety of administrative duties and attends professional development functions, including:

• initiating and participating in program and policy assessment;
• attending bi-weekly team meetings to debrief cases, provide and receive peer support, provide up-dates on community status and exchange information on community resources;
• tracking client housing activities and compiling monthly statistical reports;
• maintaining the BC Housing Data Base and all associated processes such as reports and confidential documents;
• attending pertinent workshops/seminars and conferences;
• supporting and participating in agency/association wide initiatives such as public relations presentations, community forums, strategic planning events and information seminars;

5. Performs other related duties as necessary.

Requirements

Qualifications (minimum Education and Experience requirements):

Note: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Education:

·         Diploma in Social Work or Psychology, OR Counselling, Mental Health or Addictions Worker qualifications or other related social services field from college or university

·         Conflict resolution/crisis prevention training and experience required

Experience:

• Minimum one (1) year recent related experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the impacts of addiction, mental health, homelessness and poverty
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals who have multiple barriers to stable housing
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and be part of an integrated community team
• Knowledge of the psychosocial rehabilitation model
• Knowledge of local community resources
• Awareness of harm reduction and ‘Housing First’ theory and practice
• Demonstrated conflict management/crisis prevention skills
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with clients, staff and community professionals
• Proficient in MS Office programs including Word, Outlook and Excel

Additional Criteria for Role:

• Completion of a Criminal Record Check is required before employment commences.
• First Aid Certification is required.
• Naloxone administration training is required.
• Must have valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle with a minimum of $2 million liability ‘business class’ insurance.

Behavioural Competencies Assigned to the Role:

Core Competencies

Caring: Intermediate

Creative: Intermediate

Responsible: Intermediate

Role-Specific Competencies

Relationship Building: Intermediate

Self-Management: Advanced

Decision Making: Intermediate

Benefits

• A mission driven and meaningful working environment.
• Competitive salary from a Certified Living Wage Employer.
• Minimum six (6) percent vacation accrual rate for all regular employees
• Excellent benefits package for regular employees (includes extended health and dental, life insurance, and more).
• Competitive BCGEU Pension Plan.
• Employee assistance program.
• Wellness time.
• Career development and internal advancement opportunities.
• Organization and individual training opportunities.
• Robust team building and staff social events.
• Dog friendly offices.

Pacifica Housing advises all employees, contractors and volunteers of the risk of violence, injury and harm that is present in the execution of their duties. Pacifica Housing is committed to providing a safe and risk-free work place, however, we acknowledge the inherent risk in social housing and direct support work while in homes and in other support relationships.

Pacifica celebrates diversity and what makes you uniquely you. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your culture, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, and diversability.