Housing Support Worker
Contract, Full Time
Role Description:
South Shore Open Doors Association (SSODA) is committed to the implementation of Coordinated Access: a strategic prevention system in which all agencies, government departments and public systems are communicating, using common assessments, and actively referring individuals experiencing housing insecurity, energy poverty or homelessness to appropriate resources. Implementing this type of system, while challenging, is now seen as an essential component of the pathway to ending homelessness.
The Housing Support Worker plays a pivotal role in supporting the work of SSODA’s By-Name List (BNL), a real-time list of individuals who are experiencing housing insecurity, energy poverty and homelessness that allows for prioritization and triage to services in Lunenburg and Queen's County. The Housing Support Worker empowers clients who have been referred into the Coordinated Access System to maintain their housing, develop independent living skills, and pursue personal recovery and wellness by implementing a strengths-based approach to case planning and management. The role is a front-line position working in office, remotely, and in the community. The successful applicant must be a strong team player but also have the ability to work independently and possess strong time management skills.
Summary of Duties:
- Share responsibility with the team for implementing appropriate housing support that assists tenants in pursuing/achieving their goals.
- Assist clients in finding, applying, and securing appropriate housing.
- Assist tenants with tenancy related matters such as rent payment, reducing high risk behaviors, engagement within the life of the tenant community.
- Develop individualized support plans in collaboration with clients.
- Advocate on behalf of clients with landlords, housing authorities, and service providers. • Connect clients to community resources such as employment programs, mental health services, and food security supports.
- Respond to urgent situations involving potential eviction, unsafe housing conditions, or homelessness risk.
- Participate in team meetings, provide input and ideas for improving services and efficiencies and ongoing program planning.
Support tenants with:
- Reminders relating to appointments.
- Accompaniment to tenancy related appointments (in situations of high anxiety or distress). • Establishing and/or maintaining personal wellness routines.
- Managing and supporting clients with behavioral needs.
- Support the maintenance of a safe/clean environment.
- Directly assists with instructing how to maintain their housing.
- Continually assessing the environment for safety and security issues.
- Support and encourage activities/events which foster tenant engagement/participation, the development of social networks and skill acquisition.
- Documentation and data entry, document all tenant contact/interactions in the appropriate case management portal through HIFIS 4.
Summary of Qualifications
- A minimum of a College Diploma in a field relevant to the target population or an equivalent combination of training, education or experience (additional time working in a similar setting/field) will be considered. Higher level post-secondary education will be considered an asset.
- A minimum of 2 years' direct or transferable experience suitable for working effectively with the relevant target population.
- Strong knowledge of local community resources relevant to the target population being served and/or demonstrated ability to search for applicable resources/information is considered a strong asset.
- Ability to design and implement group activities and facilitate group meetings.
- Ability to work remotely and independently with minimal supervision, and as part of a team. • Good crisis management and dispute resolution skills.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
- Basic computer literacy (Word, Excel, E-mail).
- Experience in community mental health and/or in supportive housing settings. • Basic understanding of different psychiatric conditions.
- Experience with the development of tenancy recovery plans.
- Experience working with developmentally delayed or addictions is preferable. • Valid driver's license, and reliable transportation is required.
Applicable trainings that are considered an asset:
- First Aid/CPR
- Mental Health First Aid
- ASIST Suicide Prevention
- Trauma Informed Care/Practices
- Nonviolent Crisis Intervention
- Harm Reduction
- Naloxone
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Bridgewater, NS. Reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred).
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $25.00-$26.00 per hour
Expected hours: 37.5 per week
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
- Wellness program
- Work from home
Work Location: In person
