Housing Mentor - First

About the Opportunity

Housing First is a strength-based approach to supporting people with a history of housing instability and multiple challenges, which could include youth aging out of care, mental health concerns, substance use, and more.

The Housing Mentor will work in collaboration with the Housing First team to support the daily operations and needs of participants between 18‑30 years of age. The role involves building trusting, respectful relationships and providing individualized, person‑driven, asset‑based, and trauma‑informed support.

• Develop supportive relationships with participants
• Provide daily and weekly ongoing contact with participants
• Assist participants with understanding their tenancy rights and responsibilities
• Support participants with maintaining living areas
• Develop relationships with landlords while advocating on behalf of participants
• Mediate issues between participants and landlords, including follow‑up after complaints and evictions
• Supporting individuals to:
  • Define and work toward their individual goals
  • Access basic needs
  • Access income support
  • Obtain and maintain tenancies
  • Complete applications
  • Access information
  • Participate in activities of daily living
• Work as part of the team to ensure consistency in supporting the participant in achieving their goals
• Work effectively with partnering agencies
• Complete tasks and administrative duties, including entering information into HIFIS database in a timely and professional manner
• Ensure that all receipts for items purchased with program funds are collected and forwarded to the Case Manager
• Write clear, concise and accurate documentation including incident reports and contact notes

• Post‑secondary education in relevant social services or a combination of work and/or life experience
• Demonstrated understanding of the issues and concerns of Indigenous peoples
• Demonstrated knowledge of cultural awareness, anti‑oppressive and trauma‑informed best practices
• Knowledge and experience with diverse cultures and socio‑economic backgrounds
• Knowledge of community resources for homelessness, health, mental health and substance use
• Knowledge of legislation around Housing, Health, Income Assistance and Benefits
• Knowledge of Strength‑based philosophy and solution‑oriented approach; understanding of crisis intervention, harm reduction framework and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Ability to provide person‑centered care and meet people where they are at
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to be flexible with schedule based on program and participant needs (days, evenings and weekends)
• Willingness to obtain necessary training as per the organization’s training policy, including Crisis De‑escalation, Applied Suicide Intervention, Colonialism Awareness, and Child Development
• Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C, or willingness to obtain
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry check, acceptable Prior Contact checks, and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all done within the last 3 months
• Valid driver’s licence and acceptable driver’s abstract (subject to approval)
• Access to a personal vehicle for work is required

Salary Range: $20.05 – $23.86 per hour, dependent upon qualifications

Hours of Work: Full‑Time (Permanent) – 37.5 hours per week, including days, evenings and weekends

Accommodations: Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.

Applicants who self‑declare Indigenous status at the time of application will be eligible for further consideration. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.