Overnight Housing Worker

Fred Victor Centre • Toronto, ON

3d • CA$0 - CA$29 • Onsite

About The Position

Fred Victor is seeking an Overnight Housing Worker to join their 145 Queen Housing Programs. This program supports chronically homeless tenants in accessing and maintaining supportive housing in shared accommodation. The program focuses on providing a safe space for individuals with a history of deep poverty, chronic homelessness, trauma, and substance use. It operates within a harm reduction, eviction prevention, and community engagement framework to reduce isolation and build community.

Fred Victor has been a leader in helping people rebuild their lives in Toronto for 130 years, with a mission to improve the health, income, and housing stability of people experiencing poverty and homelessness. The organization is committed to ending homelessness, one person at a time. The 145 Queen Housing Programs offers a supportive environment, a chance to join a diverse team of caring professionals, and the opportunity to make a difference. With over 75 programs and 25 sites, there are many opportunities for career growth within the organization.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience providing support within a harm reduction, restorative justice and anti-oppression-based framework.
• Strong understanding of social support systems for people experiencing homelessness (Ontario Works, ODSP, CPP, Community based resources, etc.)
• Strong customer service skills
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills
• Strong understanding of and experience in community development practices
• Well developed conflict resolution and negotiation skills and crisis management skills
• Ability to work productively within a team setting
• Strong organizational skills; highly developed ability to prioritize work through short and long term goals and remain flexible
• Well developed interpersonal skills that will produce effective, productive and appropriate relationships with the tenants, community, external agencies and staff at Fred Victor
• Proven ability to constructively give and receive feedback
• Highly developed understanding of and proven ability to communicate appropriate professional boundaries
• Proven ability to challenge organization, staff and tenant communities in a positive and creative way to effect better service
• Knowledge of community-based resources
• Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act
• Experience with and proven responsibility handling money

Nice To Haves

• Sound knowledge and understanding of Health Systems navigation and an ability to collaborate with clinical supports (an asset)
• Passion for working in a housing setting providing services that are eviction prevention, harm reduction and restorative justice focused
• Commitment to community development and programming that is reflexive to the needs and interests of the community
• Dedication to advocacy and prioritizing people who use drugs as experts of their own lives

Responsibilities

• Provide welcoming, friendly and professional front desk support for the tenants at 90 Dunn Avenue
• Support the program by answering phones, fielding tenant questions, taking work orders, assisting with medication, giving notices and liaising with other workers and professionals
• Use community development and conflict resolution approaches to support tenants to develop skills to live cooperatively in their accommodation
• Educate tenants about their tenancy responsibilities and their on-going responsibilities to maintain their housing. Know and be conversant in the Residential Tenancies Act, and in particular, areas on non-payment of rent and non-compliance of the tenancy agreement.
• Work closely with the Security personnel to ensure a safe and secure housing environment by liaising and assisting on issues of mutual concern.
• Identify, intervene and deescalate crisis situations and work with tenants to develop crisis management skills
• Deal with housing related issues such as behavior, social isolation, mental health, substance use and hygiene by encouraging tenants to problem solve and support them to access local community resources
• Work from trauma informed, community development, harm reduction, client centered and collaborative approaches
• Work as part of the Housing Team
• Work in collaboration with University Health Network’s Social Medicine Team to coordinate clinical and health navigation and support tenants to achieve their health and housing related goals
• Respect for, and expertise working with, tenants who are facing mental health issues, addictions, abuse and social isolation and who come from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Benefits

• Group benefits with Life Insurance, AD&D, Extended Health, and Dental Care with premiums 100% paid by the employer
• LTD with premiums 100% paid by employees
• Paid sick leave and float day
• RRSP with 6.5% employer contribution and 4% employee contribution after successful completion of probation
• 4 weeks of vacation to start
• Access to employee and family assistance plan
• Comprehensive Dental, Extended Health and LTD group benefits package includes individual and family coverage, including prescriptions, hospital accommodation, hearing care, paramedical practitioners and a wide variety of dental care.
• Additional insurance includes vision care and travel for emergency medical services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed