Housing Stability Coordinator

Blue Door Support Services • East Gwillimbury, ON

10h • CA$50,000 - CA$55,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Housing Stability Coordinator is part of the Housing to Health project. This project will provide comprehensive services for individuals experiencing chronic and episodic homelessness in York Region. Housing to Health is a new collaborative project between Blue Door, Krasman Centre and LOFT Crosslinks Housing and Support Services. The Housing Stability Coordinator is a social worker, or equivalent, which provides intensive case management supports to individuals facing severe struggles, including homelessness, mental health challenges, physical health impairment, legal, and justice issues, historic discrimination and trauma, victimization, addictions and stigma. The Housing Stability Coordinator will create a support network and link consumers to various community resources. The position will be responsible for ensuring that clients with complex needs are receiving the necessary supports needed to assist them in reintegrating into the community, retain housing, and relevant assistance to reach their goals.

Requirements

• Strong and demonstrated understanding of harm reduction practices.
• Strong commitment to working in client centered environments.
• Minimum Bachelor of Social Work Degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years’ work experience in a social service field.
• Knowledge of issues faced by individuals with mental illness, special needs, and a marginalized client group facing struggles with addictions, cognitive impairments, physical health deterioration, and chronic health issues.
• Knowledge of community resources and professional services available in York and surrounding areas.
• Skilled in providing leadership and direction to individuals and teams.
• Ability to work independently, remotely, and within a multi-disciplinary team, and proven ability in facilitating groups and meetings.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and brief intervention counselling skills.
• Strong ability to assess, advocate and problem-solve in conflict and/or crisis situations.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent analytical, organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated computer literacy.
• CPR and First Aid Certified.
• Vulnerable Sector Screening – police check.
• Valid Driver’s license, reliable vehicle and insurance.
• Ability to travel throughout York Region.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) and Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT) will be an asset.
• Crisis prevention training would be an asset.

Responsibilities

• Implement the intake process for clients in this program; conduct an assessment of the individual, determining their daily living requirements or needs and developing a plan of support and recovery which includes identifying priorities and goals. This plan will be developed in conjunction with other professionals or intake staff, where possible.
• Communicate the client goals and plans to other Housing to Health team members in order to ensure seamless support for the client. Work closely with the Housing to Health project team and the shelter teams at Blue Door Shelters.
• Promote the personal empowerment of each individual through coaching, mentoring and support. Maintain consistent communication, set up regular meetings and track client outcomes while in the program.
• Directly support daily living activities and develop an ongoing plan for maintenance with the client relative to housing search and wrap around services to promote housing retention.
• Promote capacity building particularly in the acquisition of life skills in such areas as hygiene, medication management, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and budgeting.
• Facilitating of group workshops and programs, as well as individual home/community visits.
• Establish and coordinate a support network of social, medical and other community links. Ensure that linkages are maintained through non-intrusive follow up, reminders, and occasionally accompanying clients on their appointments.
• Establish a crisis plan and providing 24-hour crisis support where needed (via existing service connections)
• Build, maintain and strengthen working relationships with community service providers, including expanding the existing list of community supports.
• Facilitate, provide leadership and collaborate in internal case management meetings, and meetings with other service providers.
• Advocate on behalf of the client in navigating the social services and healthcare systems. Ensure accessibility and availability of services and assist in mediating issues. Teach conflict resolution skills, where possible, and follow up on issues to ensure resolution.
• Consistently maintain, update, and monitor client records and provide additional supports as required.
• Works closely with the Peer Support Workers and Housing Locator.
• Follow up with collaborating organizations and partnering agencies to ensure data relating to Housing to Health clients is being appropriately recorded, maintained and submitted to Blue Door Shelters. Provide supports as required.
• Maintain professionalism in the workplace.
• Working cooperatively alongside and supporting all Blue Door team members and departments.
• Adherence to the mission, vision, policies and procedures of the agency.
• Able and willing to promote harm reduction practices in accordance with core standards.
• Attend internal staff meetings and staff training as required.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all client and agency information.
• Utilizes effective conflict resolution skills in accordance with (Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training.
• Fosters positive and appropriate relationships with clients, colleagues, community partners and volunteers.
• Provides referrals and follow-up as necessary.
• Meets with manager on a regular basis and participates in completion of annual performance evaluation.
• All employees are responsible for carrying out work in a way that does not adversely affect their own health and safety and that of others.
• All employees shall learn and understand health and safety policies and procedures and will comply with them.

Benefits

• Blue Door is a not-for-profit registered charitable agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
• Blue Door is committed to the development of a staff and leadership team that reflects the incredible diversity of the communities we serve.
• We promote the principles of intersectional anti-racism and anti-oppression and adhere to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• We both welcome and encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to access and equity, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and people with lived experience of homelessness.
• Blue Door is a unionized work environment.
• In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and Blue Doors AODA Policy, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process.
• Portions of the recruitment process may include the use of approved Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support administrative efficiency and candidate screening.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level