Housing Mentor - Housing First

The Link is hiring! Come grow with us, walk alongside people in our community as we grow strong & resilient together. We are seeking candidates with a strong character that share our vision for a brighter future; people of action who can support the resilience and potential in people. We honor and strive to model through our actions the traditional Seven Teachings of the Anishinabe: Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, and Humility & Truth.

About the Opportunity

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

The Housing Mentor will work in collaboration with the Housing First team to support the daily operations and 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, ensuring youth safety and choice.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

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

• Develop supportive relationships with participants
• Provide daily and weekly ongoing contact with participants
• Assist participants with understanding their tenancy rights and responsibilities
• Support participants with maintaining living areas
• Develop relationships with landlords while advocating on behalf of the participants
• Mediate issues between participants and landlords including follow up after complaints and evictions
• Supporting individuals to:
  • Define and work towards their individual goals
  • Access basic needs
  • Access income support
  • Obtain and maintain tenancies
  • Complete applications
  • Access information
  • Participate in activities of daily living
• 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, including entering information into HIFIS database in a timely and professional manner
• Ensure that all receipts for items purchased with program funds are collected and forwarded to the Case Manager
• Write clear, concise and accurate documentation including incident reports and contact notes

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Post -secondary education in relevant social services or a combination of work and/or life experience
• Demonstrated understanding of the issues and concerns of Indigenous peoples
• Demonstrated knowledge of cultural awareness, anti-oppressive and trauma informed best practices
• Knowledge and experience with diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds
• Knowledge of community resources for homelessness, health, mental health and substance use
• Knowledge of legislation around Housing, Health, Income Assistance and Benefits
• Knowledge of Strength-based philosophy and solution-oriented approach Understanding of crisis intervention, harm reduction framework and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Ability to provide person-centered care and meet people where they are at
• Strong interpersonal skills
• 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

This competition is designated for Indigenous people. Applicants who self-declare at the time of application will be eligible for further consideration. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

SALARY RANGE: $20.05- $23.86 per hour. Dependent upon qualifications

HOURS OF WORK: Full-Time (Permanent) – 37.5 hours per week including days , evenings and weekends.

HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a cover letter and resume (in word or PDF). Applicants must demonstrate in their resume and cover letter how they meet the requirements of the position.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Ongoing until filled.

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 an accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.