Relief Awake Overnight Housing Support Worker, Housing Support Program - Church Street (3 Positions available)
Employment Type: Relief
Work Hours: Varied as needed
Salary: $27.10 per hour (L5)
Location: 389 Church St, Toronto, ON M5B 2E5Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
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YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected. We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as Trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and/or Two-Spirit. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.
The Relief Awake Overnight Housing Support Worker is responsible for supporting tenancy through: Eviction prevention activities in a complex permanent housing environment, developing and implementing community safety initiatives and offers a range of services and supports to tenants through a trauma-informed, harm reduction and Anti-oppression (AOP) lens that meets the wellness needs of the tenant community.
With in-depth knowledge in the area of trauma supports, this role performs a variety of functions to support the health and safety, social and mental well-being of tenant's onsite, and facilitates in partnership with security personnel the overall effective operation of the building on the overnights. The HSW role acts as a resource to staff and tenants and is responsible for providing a full range of services which includes mental health and addiction supports, monitoring the activities of tenants and visitors, assessing and responding to potential crisis situations, maintaining building common areas and supervising the property.
ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM, CHURCH STREET
YWCA Toronto Church Street facility includes 120 units of permanent housing. The Case Worker is responsible for providing case management support to women and gender diverse people including: individuals with complex mental health issues and who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness; individuals transitioning from provincially-funded institutions and service systems such as hospitals or prisons; Indigenous women/two-spirit people. The program goals include housing stabilization, harm reduction, and health promotion. Individual and group support assists tenants to identify and build the skills required to address the barriers they experience in their lives and to maintain their housing.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides crisis prevention, intervention and counseling for women and children and gender diverse people to respond to crisis in ways that support individual and community well-being;
• Uses harm reduction principles in facilitating and supporting tenant-centered activities (e.g. tenant committees related to areas of importance for resident such as safety, health and wellness, building-related issues, housing stability, etc.);
• Mediate conflicts between tenants, neighbours or community members;
• Provides case management follow-up supports, and referrals in the areas of health and wellness, harm reduction, counselling, income and food security;
• Applies trauma informed practice knowledge, stays current and demonstrates skill in the area of trauma support and acts as a resource to security staff and tenants during the overnight;
• Applies the use of trauma informed practices to support individuals and community engagement/ development;
• Maintains communication and cooperates with team members during shifts and at team meeting;
• Ensures that the Health and Safety Guidelines are followed in accordance with the policies and procedures of YWCA Toronto;
• Demonstrates and maintains knowledge of relevant legislation regarding housing services, Child Welfare, the dynamics of gender violence, substance use and mental heath, and effective support strategies;
• Monitor and update caseworkers on tenants' health and wellbeing.

QUALIFICATIONS

• General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree (example: Bachelor of Social Work) (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• 1 - 3 years directly related experience working in a housing/shelter setting in a direct service setting with children, youth and adults who experience impacts of poverty, homelessness/ violence/trauma, mental health/addictions, or concurrent disorders;
• Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis;
• Proven experience working independently, developing and facilitating groups;
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming;
• Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, client-centered and strengths-based;
• working knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice;
• knowledge of community resources and supports focused on trauma;
• Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing Services Act, and Ontario Human Rights Code;
• Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of community resources;
• Working knowledge of Microsoft office suite;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated understanding and proven ability to work from Anti-oppression, Trauma Informed, Harm Reduction, and feminist frameworks.

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. These positions are not within the Bargaining Unit.
Posting date: May 2, 2025

YWCA Toronto transforms lives. As the city's largest multi-service women's organization, we help women and gender diverse people escape violence, move out of poverty and access safe, affordable housing.

We work tenaciously to break down barriers that hold women and gender diverse people back from achieving equality.

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring.

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.

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