Housing Specialist
Job Description
Who We Are
For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.
Mission Statement
The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.
Job Description:
This job posting is open only to current York Housing and Support Services Employees that are part of Union UFCW, Local 175.
Position Purpose summary:
Reporting to the Program Services Coordinator, the Housing Specialist is responsible for delivering comprehensive housing-focused case management and support services to homeless, at-risk, and low- to moderate-income clients in York Region. Working within a Housing First framework, the incumbent facilitates housing assessments, secures appropriate housing placements, builds and maintains relationships with landlords, and provides ongoing housing stabilization support.
This role includes direct client support, advocacy, system navigation, documentation, and reporting. The Housing Worker assists clients with housing and social assistance applications, develops landlord service agreements, maintains housing resources, and delivers housing stability life skills programming. The position requires accurate documentation (including HIFIS and incident reports), participation in evaluations and meetings, collaboration with community partners, and adherence to professional standards and The Salvation Army’s mission.
Accountabilities:
Written and Verbal Communication
Facilitate housing assessment specific to individual clients to provide the most appropriate support/housing options
Provide statistical reports of number of apartment searches, placements, etc.
Create Housing Map of Pro Housing First Landlords in York Region
Create Service Agreements with Landlords
Provide housing support, advocacy, and referals for homeless/at risk, and low to moderate income level clients in York Region
Process applications and documents for clients living in the transitional program
Assist clients with applications for social assistance and liaising with Ontario Works/ODSP/Rent Geared to Income Housing
Performing all relevant documentation related to Housing including but not limited to: intake/discharge forms, client HIFIS notes, shift logs, incident reports, client forms, medication documents, client applications, etc.
Responsible for maintaining personalized MyArmy work account/password for all strategic work purposes including email, Workday (time and scheduling), Salvation Army corporate information systems, Microsoft teams, etc.This is done with support from management, supervisory staff and I.T support personnel.
Staying up to date on all communications including: management/supervisory emails, client case notes, meeting minutes, training communications, policy, and procedures updates, etc.
Engage in formal evaluation sessions with Program Services Coordinator at 3 month intervals during first year of employment and annually thereafter
Participate fully and constructively in staff meetings and in-service training
Responsible for reporting monthly Housing performance stats to [email protected] email address.
Fulfilling and communicating all relevant Incident reports, including IIR (Internal reports) to the team, and CIR (critical reports) to supervisory staff.
Completing all required aspects of ongoing PEAC performance appraisal and coaching documents
Participate in and represent the organization at external committees & forums.
Participate in internal committees and/or activities relating to the organization (e.g., joint staff, annual general meeting, other social recreation events, etc.).
Case Work
Maintaining regular responsibility for case clients, as related to housing support work
Enter case notes daily into HIFIS system for all aspects client case work
Participating in on-call staff support rotation
CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
Governance Boards and Councils: None
Internal: YHSS team members, leadership and management team, residential and case clients, community clients, volunteers.
External: regional government reps, partner community agency representatives, and landlords.
MANAGERIAL/TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY:
This position has no direct reports.
FINANCIAL AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT:
Following procedures on donation processing and drop-safe depositing
Collecting and submitting second stage housing rent from clients
Maintaining awareness of all organizational policy on personal finance related to money in the workplace (staff and client).
Responsible for maintaining personal TEM and corporate (VISA) expense accounts
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Housing Specialist staff work onsite approximately 60%. They also have responsibility to leave premises for work related tasks (client, meeting, training, supplies purchasing, housing appointments, meetings with landlords etc), approx. 40%.
Housing Specialist staff members work within the facility building, and outside of the building, onsite.
The above responsibilities must be discharged in accordance with The Salvation Army’s Mission Statement, in a professional manner, exemplifying Christian standards of conduct.
Education, Qualifications and Certifications:
Bachelor of Social Work preferred
College diploma in Social Sciences field
Valid Unrestricted Full G driver’s license is a requirement
Experience and Skilled Knowledge Requirements
Experience, knowledge and understanding of mental health/addictions
Previous experience with people experiencing homelessness (one to three years)
Knowledge of the Tenant Protection Act
Working to find housing and providing life skills training for homeless and at-risk persons in York Region
Ability to facilitate regular workshops based on housing supports and housing stability life skills programming
Must have functional knowledge and understanding of issues related to homelessness, mental health and addictions.
Skills and Capabilities:
Deal tactfully and courteously with participants, participant’s families, and staff in a positive manner
Demonstrate a high level of integrity, sound judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality
Strong oral and written communication skills in English are essential.
Word processing, Desktop Publishing, Spreadsheet/Graphing; Database computer skills are essential
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively as part of a team
Must have good interpersonal/time management skills
Good knowledge of community resources
Must exhibit strong empathy, understanding and support for all clients, including difficult-to-serve people, in our service sector.
Working to find housing and providing life skills training for homeless and at-risk persons in York Region
Ability to facilitate regular workshops based on housing supports and housing stability life skills programming
Vulnerable Sector Check & Drivers Abstract: an original copy of a current Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) and Drivers Abstract that are less than six (6) months old are required by your start date, and the results of the checks must be acceptable to The Salvation Army in its sole discretion. The cost of the VSC and Drivers Abstract are borne by the employee.
Compensation: Please note that this job falls under a collective agreement. The hourly rate for the position is set at $25.95, and wage increments are provided based on collective agreement language.
Compensation:
The target hiring range for this position is $25.95 to $25.95 with a maximum of $25.95.Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.
The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email [email protected] if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.