Overview

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Work Hours:  35 hours per week (rotating shifts including evenings and weekends, shares on-call responsibilities)

Salary:  $55,939 annually (Level 7), plus comprehensive benefits

Location: 389 Church Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2E5

Internal Application Deadline:  Friday, October 27, 2023

External Application Deadline: Monday, October 30, 2023
JOIN OUR TEAM

YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected. We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as Trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and/or Two-Spirit. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

The Case Worker – Community Engagement is responsible for leading the development and facilitation of tenant community-based initiatives with the goal of creating a dynamic and inclusive environment as well as engagement with the local community through a trauma-informed, harm reduction and anti-oppression lens. The goals of the position are to create an inclusive community, in collaboration with the caseworker team and program manager to ensure that all community engagement activities address the emotional, practical and social support needs of the tenant population. Liaise with community services and sectorial network to encourage tenant participation in the broader community, work one-on-one and through group programming to identify and develop effective strategies that meet the emotional, practical and social needs of tenants and the community as a whole. The position will work within the 389 Church Street housing team and alongside Inspirations Studio, Native Women’s programming manager and the Church Granby Neighborhood group to ensure that community engagement activities support a dynamic and culturally responsive environment with a focus on positive health and wellness outcomes.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM, CHURCH STREET

YWCA Toronto Church Street facility includes 120 units of permanent housing.  The integrated model creates a safe, inclusive and supportive community for tenants and is designated for women and gender diverse people who are: chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness; women and gender diverse people following transitions from provincially-funded institutions and service systems such as hospitals or prisons; and homeless Indigenous women/two-spirit people. As part of Housing Support program at the YWCA, the program goals include housing stabilization, harm reduction, health promotion and increased access to primary health care and acute mental health services.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

·        Uses effective eviction prevention measures to assist tenants to assume and maintain their tenancy obligations;

·        Provides crisis prevention, intervention and counseling for women and children and gender diverse people to respond to crisis in ways that support individual and community well-being;

·        Assists tenants to resolve issues of outstanding arrears;

·        Uses harm reduction principles in facilitating and supporting tenant-centered activities;

·        Works with a tenant support network and referral partners to develop individualized support plans that identify ongoing housing and mental health/addictions support;

·        Applies the use of trauma informed practices to support individuals and community engagement/development;

·        Contributes specialized knowledge and expertise in community development, tenant integration and cooperation with team members to develop meaningful and relevant services for tenants.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

·        General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree (example: Bachelor of Social Work) (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);

·        3 – 5 years directly related experience working in a supportive housing setting in a direct service setting with children, youth and adults who experience impacts of poverty, homelessness/under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/addictions, or concurrent disorders;

·        Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis;

·        Proven experience working independently, developing and facilitating groups;

·        Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming;

·        Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, client-centered and strengths-based;

·        Life Skills certificate an asset; arts based and social media skills an asset;

·        Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing Services Act, and Ontario Human Rights Code;

·        Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services;

·        Strong knowledge and understanding of community resources;

·        Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and excellent oral and written communication skills;

·        Demonstrated understanding and proven ability to work from Anti-oppression, Trauma Informed, Harm Reduction, and feminist frameworks;

·        Knowledge of a second language or culture an asset.

 

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your cover letter and résumé to Teshia Allen, Manager of Housing Support Program- Church Street, at churchhousingjobs@ywcatoronto.org. Please quote JOB ID number CHUR969 and your name in the subject line.

 

Please note: A vulnerable sector 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 and your email subject line, if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is secondable.

 

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people 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.

 

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.

 

Posting Date: October 18, 2023

Tagged as: Nonprofit

Compensation

$55,939 annually (Level 7), plus comprehensive benefits

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter and résumé to Teshia Allen, Manager of Housing Support Program- Church Street, at churchhousingjobs@ywcatoronto.org. Please quote JOB ID number CHUR969 and your name in the subject line.