Housing Worker

 

YWCA Toronto Elm Centre includes 300 units of permanent housing for three different resident groups: 165 affordable rental units, 50 units for Indigenous women and their families (including 10 women-led families fleeing violence), and 85 units for women with mental health or concurrent mental health and substance use challenges.  The program provides services to the entire residential community, with a dual focus on community building and individualized supports.

 

Reporting to the Manager of Elm Housing Support Program, the Housing Worker’s responsibilities include:

  • Assisting tenants to maintain their tenancy through individual supports, and housing skills-based workshops;
  • actively works to identify barriers tenants face and to support tenants to build the skills required to successfully maintain their housing;
  • plays an active role in the preparation of legal documentation and may be required to attend Landlord Tenant Board hearings;
  • works within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a theoretical feminist framework and a housing first framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression;
  • provides specialized knowledge and expertise regarding housing administration and eviction prevention strategies to staff and tenants and is responsible for assisting and supporting tenants with a broad range of administrative housing issues and goals;
  • works in collaboration with other YWCA Elm staff, Jean Tweed staff and management;
  • shares in the 24 hours on-call rotation providing crisis intervention and support to tenants;
  • provides education to the tenants on the rights and responsibilities of tenancy, conflict mediation and resolution, crisis prevention and intervention, referrals regarding income supports, employment and health care, assists with budgets and preparation of payment plans when needed;
  • in conjunction with the Community Engagement staff, develops and implements workshops that educate tenants about their rights and responsibilities in relation to tenancy;
  • conducts fact finding investigations and provides documented summaries of all occurrence reports involving potential lease infractions.

 

You will have:

  • General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree (example: Community Worker);
  • over 3 years to 5 years’ experience working in supportive housing settings in a direct service setting with children, youth and adults who experience the impacts of poverty, homelessness/under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/addictions or concurrent disorders;
  • demonstrated experience in assisting tenants in maintaining tenancy;
  • demonstrated knowledge and experience in providing holistic, culturally competent support to women and families of Aboriginal descent through individual support;
  • supportive counseling that is flexible client-centered and strengths-based;
  • Life Skills certificate an asset;
  • sound knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act Housing Services Act, Ontario Human Rights Code and Landlord Tenant Board; excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis;
  • proven experience working independently, developing and facilitating workshops;
  • very good knowledge and understanding of community resources;
  • very good knowledge of household budgeting and household finance;
  • familiarity with Windows and Excel programs; excellent oral and written communication; demonstrated ability to work within an anti-oppression and feminist framework;
  • knowledge of a second language or culture an asset.

 

Core Competencies: The employee is expected to:

  • Engage in a self-reflective and collaborative practice that is non-judgmental and compassionate and reflects the mission of YWCA Toronto;
  • incorporate principles of anti-oppression and equity in responding to the service needs of women and children and work toward removing systemic barriers to independence and wellbeing;
  • demonstrate respect, consideration and acceptance of the opinions of others while expressing her own expertise and effectively utilizing relevant resources and specialists;
  • consistently collaborate with team members, sharing ideas and differences openly;
  • be receptive to new ideas and adapt to change as necessary;
  • value the contribution of others and take action to strengthen partnerships and support others to achieve effective outcomes;
  • take action to avoid or solve problems and create opportunities for positive change;
  • demonstrate commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.

 

The hours of work for this position is 35 hours per week (9am-5pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 11am-7pm Tuesdays and Thursdays; shares on-call duties). The salary for this position is $53,019 per annum (Level 7), plus comprehensive benefits.

 

Please note: A 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. This position is within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter, if you are an internal candidate.  For internal applicants, this position is not secondable.

 

Submit your cover letter and résumé to: Danielle Nakouz, Manager of Elm Housing Support Program. YWCA Toronto. 150 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0B1.         EMAIL: elmhousingjobs@ywcatoronto.org

 

Please include JOB ID number ELM0180 and your name in the subject line of your email.

 

Internal Deadline: Thursday January 17, 2019               External Deadline:  Monday January 21, 2019

 

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women 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.  No telephone enquiries please. 

 

YWCA Toronto is a scent free environment.

 

Posting Date: January 8, 2019