Housing First Housing Mentor

About The Link: Youth and Family Supports
For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

Position Summary

Housing First is a strength based approach to supporting people with a history of housing instability and multiple challenges based on socio-economic concerns which could include youth aging out of care, mental health concerns, problematic substance use, limited finances, etc.

The Housing Mentor will work in collaboration with the Housing First Case Manager supporting the daily operations and support needs of participants between 18 – 30 years of age within the program. They will work alongside individuals to build trusting, respectful, relationships that are centered on providing individualized, person-driven, asset-based, and trauma-informed support.

The duties and responsibilities are carried out within a trauma resiliency-informed framework. Support services are performed within a team environment that focuses on establishing collaborative and trusting relationships. The Link supports working with people from a cultural humility framework, ensuring youth safety, choice and control are prioritized.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Duties and responsibilities of the Housing Mentor include but are not limited to:

· Developing supportive relationships with participants;

· Supporting individuals to:

· Access to basic needs.

· Access income supports.

· Teach participants about budgeting

· Obtain and maintain successful tenancies.

· Complete applications for resources as required

· Teach participants how to access information to inform their decision making

· Set and implement work goals

· Assist in defining participant goals on their journey to a “Good Life”. Moving participants from survival mode to thriving and inclusion.

· Support participants to access activities of daily living until connections are made with community resources, including links and referrals.

· Provides daily and weekly contact with participants and ensures ongoing monitoring of the supports provided to participant, meets the desired outcomes

· Assist participants with understanding their tenancy rights and responsibilities

· Support participants with maintaining homes that meet the legal requirements of a tenant and the requirement of home visits with the Housing First Mentors.

· Develop and maintains relationships with landlords while advocating on behalf of the participants

· Mediate issues between participants and landlords including follow up after complaints and evictions

· Work effectively with partnering agencies

· Complete tasks and administration duties in a timely and professional manner

· Ensure that all receipts for items purchased on program funds are collected and forwarded to the Case Manager

Professional Practice, Team Collaboration, and Administration

· Work as part of the team to ensure consistency in supporting the participant in achieving their goals

· Work effectively with partnering agencies

· Complete tasks and administration duties in a timely and professional manner

· Ensure that all receipts for items purchased on program funds are collected and forwarded to the Case Manager

· Write clear, concise and accurate documentation including incident reports and contact notes in the HIFIS system.

· Accurately enter and maintain participant's data into HIFIS while they are a participant of the program.

· Ensure all information required in participant files is up to date

Experience

• Minimum 2 years direct worker experience in the houseless serving sector

• Working with diverse populations

• Working with youth who have aged out of the child welfare system

• Experience with one-on-one mentorship with at risk youth and demonstrate an understanding of the realities of living independently;
• Experience using HIFIS is an asset

Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)

• Community Support Worker diploma preferred or a combination of education and life experience;

Core Competencies

• Knowledge of the principles of trauma informed care and ability to provide services from a trauma informed care philosophy;
• Knowledge of or experience in providing de-escalation and mediation techniques;
• Knowledge and ability to provide crisis intervention, harm reduction techniques and conflict resolution skills;
• Understanding of the challenges/barriers the houseless populations face such as limited access to mental health support, addiction support, financial and housing support;
• Ability to work independently;
• Excellent organization skills
• Person-centered care and meeting people where they are at;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Knowledge of legislation around housing, health and Income Assistance and benefits (a combination of education and experience may be considered);
• Ability to navigate crisis and support others through stressful situations;
• Knowledge of Strength-based philosophy and solution oriented approach;
• Knowledge and experience working with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds;
• Knowledge of diverse Indigenous cultures and language (preferred);
• Knowledge of community resources;
• Must be proficient in Outlook, word, excel etc.

Conditions of Employment

• Ability to be flexible with schedule based on program and participant needs (days, evenings and weekends).
• Willingness to obtain necessary training as per the organization’s training policy including Crisis De-escalation, Applied Suicide Intervention, Colonization Awareness, and Child Development;
• Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C, or willingness to obtain;
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry check with acceptable Prior Contact checks, and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all done within the last 3 months;
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driver’s abstract (subject to approval);
• Access to a personal vehicle for work is required.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.

Position status: Housing Mentor

Hours of work: 37.5

Union: yes

Posting End Date: November 20, 2026
Site: combination of offsite and in office
Work Location: 175 Mayfair Avenue

Salary Range: $20.05-$23.86

To apply to this opportunity, please visit https://thelinkmb.easyapply.co/

The Link is an equal opportunity employer, Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Link is committed to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

To apply to this opportunity, please visit https://thelinkmb.easyapply.co/