Housing Support Worker

Job Description

Housing Support Worker works alongside tenants and participants and is responsible for providing services to improve tenant mental health, housing stability, unit conditions and for facilitating activities that will build a more harmonious community. Housing Support Worker delivers flexible, innovative and tenant-centered programs and services using mental health recovery principles and applying the harm reduction approach. The Housing Support Worker reports to the Housing Support Manager and works collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team with staff from the Property Services and Finance Departments and external service providers as required.
The position may occasionally supervise practicum students or Supportive Employment Program participants.

Job Requirements

• An undergraduate degree in Social Work, Social Services, or related fields.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in serving people living in poverty who have experienced homelessness and/or are precariously housed and have mental health and/or addiction issues.
• Excellent communication (listening, verbal, and written), interpersonal, problem solving, life skills coaching, budgeting, conflict resolution, and crisis prevention/intervention skills.
• Knowledge of Mental Health Recovery Approach, Harm Reduction principles, Residential Tenancies Act, Mental Health Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, Personal Health Information Protection Act, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
• Knowledge and experience working with individuals facing multiple barriers and with diverse communities.
• Strong cultural competency and socially inclusive practices.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals.
• Ability to travel to housing sites and community service providers’ facilities.
• Have an eye for cleanliness and ability to perform light housekeeping duties.
• Ability to lift, move, and store objects up to 20lbs.
• Competent with Microsoft Outlook, Word, & PowerPoint, virtual meeting platforms, and online information searches.
• Knowledge in Rent-Geared-to-Income Rent Administration, Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN), are assets.
• Ability to work flexible hours including on-call , evenings and weekends as required.

Job Responsibilities

OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Individual Support

• Assess tenants’ needs and provide coaching and practical support or refer to services to fulfil unmet needs.
• Provide informal counseling on mental health and/or addiction, interpersonal relationships, life skills, food security, and meaningful activities using non-judgmental, recovery, and harm reduction approaches.
• Provide warm referrals to other community services and/or health services and collaborate with these service providers.
• Provide advocacy services to tenants for their service or benefits rights.
• Support families or refer to services regarding interpersonal relationships, childcare, education, Children’s Aid Society involvement, and family court issues.
• Prevent and de-escalate crises.
• Contact tenants regularly and promote their wellness and safety including wellness checks.
• Collaborate with partner service providers and coordinate care and system navigation for housing stability.
• Work in coordination and collaboration with other departments (Property Services and Finance).
• Provide after-hours support services to tenants on a rotational basis.
• Encourage independent self-reliance of tenants through referral to services and resources in the community.

Tenancy Support

• Facilitate rollover of housing units and prepare basic furniture.
• Facilitate unit viewing and/or interviews.
• Orient and welcome new tenants to their unit, building community, and services. Advise/educate tenants of their rights and responsibilities.
• Collaborate on and develop tenants’ individualized action plan using mental health recovery principles.
• Collect income verification documentation and assist tenants to complete their income verification forms.
• Remind tenants to report changes in their household composition or family income.
• Encourage tenants to participate in committees and the larger community.
• Provide eviction prevention…