Housing Retention Worker

Title

Job Status: Full Time 40 hours (New Posting)

Job Region: All Blue Door Locations

Schedule

• Sunday-Thursday, 9:00am-5:00pm (1);
• Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm (1)

Equipment

Computer, telephone, Reliable Vehicle/Valid Driving License/Insurance.

Salary

$25.72

Blue Door is a not-for-profit registered charitable agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. We have been an integral part of our community providing essential emergency shelter services since 1982. Blue Door’s mission is to support people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness to attain and retain affordable housing.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Housing Retention Worker

• Short-Term, is a social worker, or equivalent, who assists service users, including adults, couples and families.
• The
• Housing
• Retention
• Worker: Short-Term, provides aftercare support for all individuals and households, for a period of three (3) months, once they have moved into housing. The worker will triage individuals and households to the Housing Retention program for long-term support as needed.

Responsibilities

• Schedules and facilitates independent life skill sessions to promote independent living
• Works collaboratively with program staff to provide continued support
• Conducts goal planning and regular check-ins with individuals
• Check-ins and advocate with landlords
• Orients individuals to landlord and tenant rights
• Provides support with maintaining safe housing and rapid rehousing where needed, including ongoing advocacy with landlords
• Supports individuals with career planning, employment searches, and employment skill development
• Improve links with employment and health and/or medical resources
• Facilitates meetings with family (where the need is identified), with a focus on building self-esteem and supports establishing healthy relationships
• Provides individual supports to identify gaps in health and independent living skills including but not limited to landlord tenant negotiation, self-advocacy, budgeting and life skills and providing referrals as necessary
• Facilitates informal counselling to promote independence and build healthy partnerships for success.
• Triage individuals and households requiring longer-term support to Housing Retention team.
• Facilitates food security
• Build connections to community resources and help maintain positive partnerships
• Provides support to improve financial security through various forms, including ODSP and other subsidies
• Keeps up to date with new and current community-based programs and supports
• Record keeping, preparing reports and reports on monthly and quarterly statistics
• Maintains positive working relationships with landlords and client support systems

• Respect and Professionalism
• Maintain professionalism in the workplace.
• Working cooperatively alongside and supporting all Blue Door team members and departments.
• Adherence to the mission, vision, policies and procedures of the agency.
• Able and willing to promote harm reduction practices in accordance with core standards.
• Attend internal staff meetings and staff training as required.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all client and agency information.
• Utilizes effective conflict resolution skills in accordance with (Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training.
• Fosters positive and appropriate relationships with clients, colleagues, community partners and volunteers.
• Provides referrals and follow-up as necessary.
• Meets with manager on a regular basis and participates in completion of annual performance evaluation.

• Occupational Health & Safety
• All employees are responsible for carrying out work in a way that does not adversely affect their own health and safety and that of others.
• All employees shall learn and understand health and safety policies and procedures and will comply with them.

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor of Social Work Degree or equivalent.
• Combination of Bachelor level education and experience.
• Knowledge of Landlord Tenant Act
• Experience working with the homeless or similar population.
• An understanding of homelessness, mental health and addiction issues
• An ability to work independently and as an effective team member.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with clients and colleagues and commitment to team approach.
• Understanding and delivery of anti-oppressive practices
• Experience with harm reduction practices.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Able to operate within a flexible work schedule.
• Must have a reliable vehicle, valid driving license and appropriate insurance. Mileage is reimbursed.
• CPI, Standard First Aid and CPR-C and Vulnerable Screening Clearance (Police Check).

We are always working towards continued improvements with the hope of creating and fostering a work culture where people want to be and see the impact of their work.

Blue Door is committed to the development of a staff and leadership team that reflects the incredible diversity of the communities we serve. We promote the principles of intersectional anti-racism and anti-oppression and adhere to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We both welcome and encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to access and equity, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and people with lived experience of homelessness. Blue Door is a unionized work environment.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and Blue Doors AODA Policy, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. Portions of the recruitment process may include the use of approved Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support administrative efficiency and candidate screening.

• This role is part of a focused hiring process.
• Applications will be accepted from Friday, June 5 until Friday, June 19.
• Please review the job description carefully as you prepare your resume and application, and ensure your submission is completed within this time period.
• All applications will be reviewed as received, and interviews will begin for qualified candidates as soon as possible.
• The position may be filled before this job posting ends.
• Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
• Please submit a cover letter and resume to recruitment@bluedoor.ca [recruitment@bluedoor.ca]

Sunday-Thursday, 9

• 00am-5:00pm (1); or
• Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm (1) 40 hours per week