Outreach and Housing Assistance Worker

Job Brief

Provide community Outreach and other stabilization supports to those experiencing homelessness. Outreach may be at non-profit housing provider locations, at the park, down the trail or anywhere where people experiencing homelessness may be staying.

Wage: $34.78 - $37.62 hourly (2023)

Reports to: Program Supervisor (Homelessness)

Location: 68 Lindsay St., Lindsay, ON. Combination of approximately 70% in ‘field’ locations throughout the municipality where people experiencing homelessness may be staying, and 30% general office environment

Hours of Work: Normal working hours are 35 hours per week, seven (7) hours per day with core working hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.; may require work outside of regular business hours and shift work, including weekends. Commencing early 2025, working hours could be expanded to include regular rotating shifts that include evening and weekend hours. May attend meetings, conferences and departmental emergency situations, which may be outside of normal business hours

Other: Regular exposure to secondary traumatic stress (STS), which may contribute to the experience of compassion fatigue. Ability to exert up to 13.6 kg (30 lbs) of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Involves walking or standing most of the time

Under the direction of the Program Supervisor (Homelessness), the Outreach and Housing Assistance Worker (OHAW) will provide community Outreach and other stabilization supports to those experiencing homelessness. Outreach may be at non-profit housing provider locations, at the park, down the trail or anywhere where people experiencing homelessness may be staying. The OHAW will also provide short-term case management support for individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to housing.

Essential Duties

Specific to this role:

• Engage with unsheltered individuals as the homelessness street outreach lead in sometimes challenging environments, conducting field-based assessments to determine the individual’s vulnerability and risk factors; following the assessment, intervene with appropriate responses with a trauma and violence informed approach using de-escalation techniques, if necessary
• Provide stabilization supports for identified individuals and families, including service referrals and advocacy to connect people experiencing homelessness in areas such as income assistance, housing, health services such as mental health and substance use support, counselling and education that can support them on their path to housing and life stability.
• Implement various housing-based case management tools and practices, when supporting individuals transitioning from homelessness to housing
• Update and maintain all files, documentation and databases including, but not limited to: Homelessness By-Name List (BNL), community housing waiting list applications, Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) applications
• Provide training, such as RentSmart, to those in the community that could benefit from additional knowledge around how to make their housing journey successful
• Build and maintain positive collaborative working relationships with other service agencies to help support improved outcomes for people experiencing homelessness
• Connect with non-profit housing providers and offer support to both landlords and tenants
• Co-lead and help facilitate community outreach initiative services that bring service agencies together to support those experiencing homelessness or who may require additional support
• Support occasional coverage to administer life stabilization support benefits to people who are eligible for funding to help stabilize their housing

As a member of the professional team:

• Administer procedures and recommend resources to achieve strategic objectives
• Complete continuous research and analysis of industry trends and issues to make recommendations to management and remain current in area of specialty
• Manage stakeholder interactions in the supply and receipt of information, analysis, and resolution of issues
• Partner with internal process or program owners to share program objectives, analyze gaps, provide advice on actions to be incorporated in other’s processes, act as a program/service champion
• Manage customer service concerns, investigating, problem solving and responding as appropriate
• Maintain documentation and or databases and corporate records in accordance with policy and divisional practice; consider legislative municipal requirements such as MFIPPA
• Provide data to allow reporting and decision making
• Procure services and goods related to areas of responsibility
• Contribute to the development of annual program needs
• Provide other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Post-secondary diploma in Social Services, Social Work, Substance Use Disorders, Mental Health or a related field
• Minimum three (3) years of related experience, including experience working in a low-barrier setting and working with diverse populations including people who have histories of homelessness, psychiatric disability, substance use, criminal justice, and other trauma
• Certification and training in Trauma and Violence Informed Care, Harm Reduction, NVCI (Non-Violent Crisis Intervention), Mental Health First Aid, or willingness to obtain
• Solid knowledge and understanding of industry-related evidence-informed best practices, legislation regulations, and community programs and services
• Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills with ability to remain calm and think critically in crisis and/or emergency situations. This includes the ability to quickly and skillfully assess complex situations, analyze response options, make decisions, and respond in the moment with sound judgement
• Practice positive and non-judgmental approaches when supporting people who are unhoused through challenging situations
• Exceptional interpersonal/relationship building skills and outcome-based approach problem solving skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to take initiative; particularly in situations where things change rapidly
• Effective oral communication; excellent written communication skills; attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion, tact, and sensitivity in delicate and highly charged situations while maintaining a high degree of confidentiality at all times, complying with all applicable privacy legislation and local policies and procedures
• Demonstrated awareness, promotion, and practice of self-care strategies and healthy coping mechanisms
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, the internet and any other related software
• Possess and maintain a valid Ontario Class “G” Driver’s Licence or the ability to frequently attend work related activities at various sites within the municipalities or at other sites within Ontario
• Upon a conditional offer of employment, a Criminal Record Check will be required

Applicants must be prepared for skills testing.