Housing Support Worker - Special Projects

About Our Opportunity

If you love working with youth, we consider this to be one of the best jobs in Nova Scotia. We are seeking compassionate, engaging individuals that are ready to journey with a young person as they take steps forward, face challenges, and find their place in their community. Through the work, you will have opportunity to display the uniqueness of who you are while partnering with youth from many backgrounds and experiences. We welcome your contribution amid the vision, goals, values, and guiding principles of the Portal Youth Outreach Association. Consider joining us in the adventure!

The Portal Youth Outreach Association provides advocacy and outreach support to youth at risk in the Annapolis Valley. Our Vision is that the Annapolis Valley would be a place where all youth have a safe, supportive, and loving home. We work towards that vision by reducing the number of youth experiencing homelessness through a collaborative community approach with other youth serving organizations by providing advocacy and making access to services simple, relational and in a timely manner.

The Housing Support Worker-Special Projectswill provide holistic case management for youth/ young adults engaged in our Supported Housing Programs. They will sustain beneficial partnerships in the community to help youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. The Housing Support Worker would be involved in growth and innovation in our Housing Programs as we respond to the changing housing climate. All Portal employees would philosophically and functionally model a belief and lifestyle in keeping with the vision and values of our association and program core values:

• Youth have an improved ability to meet their basic needs including housing

• Youth have improved relationships with their family, and/or friends, and/or others

• Youth have an improved connection and healthy interdependence in their community

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Develop a community engagement plan in partnership with the Executive Assistant and Communications Coordinator to foster understanding about the contributing factors of homelessness, Housing Support, host homes, and housing priorities.

2. Research, develop and implement special housing projects such as Roommate matching programs and Host Home programs.

3. Build rapport and provide support to youth in the Supportive Housing Programs.

4. Provide one on one case management for 15-20 young adult clients with medium acuity needs in alignment with DCS Housing Support Worker Outcomes.

5. Make referrals to other supports and services and participate in case conferencing that includes the youth client and other service providers.

6. Teach tenancy life skills one-on-one or through group work, such as budgeting, recycling, cleaning, being a good neighbor, conflict resolution, and following the lease agreement.

7. Guide clients through affordable housing subsidy applications.

8. Coordinate and support clients with unit viewings, moving plan, payment of rent, and set up of utilities.

9. Record progress and statistical information for the project, including six and twelve month reports to capture suggestions for improvement and best practices.

Requirements

● Undergraduate degree or diploma in social sciences (Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, etc.)

● Education/experience in communications, public relations, marketing and/or community development is considered a strong asset.

● Excellent communication skills, particularly listening, mediation, and writing skills.

● Strong organizational skills with ability to meet a demanding workload.

● Detail oriented to complete requirements of case management files and contract compliance.

● Creative thinker/adaptive personality.

● Understanding of tenants and landlords rights and responsibilities.

● Experience and comfort using various computer programs and social media platforms.

● Valid driver’s license and regular access to a vehicle.

● Sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the population served.

● The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers or professionals.

● Knowledge of youth/family/community resources, programs, services and agencies within the community and within Nova Scotia.

● Experience in working from a strengths-based and relationship-based perspective

● Willingness and flexibility to work evening and weekend hours as required.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract

Salary: From $47,775.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• On-site parking
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Experience:

• youth work: 2 years (required)

Work Location: In person