Search Homelessness Services Association of BC

Job Description / Duties

The Housing Support Worker is responsible to provide case management services. She will work with women who are homeless and at risk of homelessness who live in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver to support them in establishing and maintaining appropriate safe housing. She will provide service referrals, advocacy, and accompaniment to women to connect them to appropriate housing as well as other agencies, housing providers, and support services within and outside of the DTES. The Housing Support and Outreach Worker will administer rental supplements within the guidelines established. Reporting directly to the Specialized Services Program Manager, the Housing Outreach Worker will work in collaboration with other DEWC staff to promote integrated services to women. She will work from a feminist perspective and within an anti-oppression framework.

Outreach and Advocacy:

Providing case management services to increase the continuum of and access to housing, care and support services. Connecting chronically and episodically homeless women to services through assisted referrals, accompaniment, and transportation where necessary Provides information, referral, and advocacy to women in such areas as income assistance, housing, health services, drug & alcohol treatment and recovery, counseling, and education

Referral:

Assists women through the referral process to internal and external services such as housing counseling, legal aid, education, etc. to ensure a successful transfer of service.

Resources:

Develops and maintains positive relationships with housing providers, including SRO’s to assist women in accessing and maintaining housing. Administers the Housing Rental Supplement within the parameters established

Education and Programming:

Develops and facilitates educational workshops and programming related to housing issues. Develops and maintains links with other community agencies that work in the areas of housing/homelessness by attending meetings and community events

Administration:

Creates and maintains records within the Homelessness Services System (HSS) and the Homeless Partnering Strategy (HSS) database activity reporting template, ensuring reports accurately reflect contract requirement. Provides quarterly activity reports to the Management Team. Provides statistics and relevant data that will support fund development activities for the program

Organization:

Attends and participates in weekly staff meetings, staff development sessions. Participates in hiring committees, evaluations, and on committees as required

Training:

Engages in training and workshops that are relevant to the job and where the information is beneficial to the women in the DTES

Qualifications / Required Skills

Required Qualifications

- Minimum 3 years related experience working with low-income women, at least 2 years in a women serving or inner city drop-in environment
- Must have a strong working knowledge and analysis of the issues impacting women in the DTES, including violence against women, mental health, homelessness, and addictions
- Candidate must work from strong feminist analysis and within an anti-oppression framework
- Must have a strong working knowledge of housing options for low-income community including social housing, cooperative housing; and affordability housing societies
- Excellent writing and research skills including the ability to research and complete housing applications, and supporting documents
- Understanding of and practices a trauma informed care response when working with women
- Efficient organizational skills including record keeping, scheduling, and problem-solving abilities
- Demonstrated administrative skills, including report writing
- Demonstrated computer and IT aptitude
- Experience providing outreach, accompaniment and advocacy
- Skilled in program facilitation and development as well as working in partnerships with allied service providers
- Strong conflict resolution skills and practice
- Demonstrated crises intervention training and experience
- Experience providing assisted referral as well as familiarity with support services, agencies and community resources in the Downtown Eastside
- Excellent communication skills required, including the ability to work in a respectful and cooperative manner with co-workers, and centre members
- Ability to work within a chaotic environment and with a diverse community of women
- A First Aid certificate is required
- Candidate must undergo a criminal record check
- Women with addiction issues need to be at least 2 years clean and sober

Additional Information

Benefits of Joining the DEWC Team

- Healthcare: Extended health includes dental, vision, prescription medications, select alternative therapies, EAP life insurance and long-term disability.
- Vacation & Leave: You accumulate vacation at 6% in the first year and then 8% with the ability to carry over one week into the next year. We offer sick leave credit which can accumulate up to 30 weeks. Access to other special leaves to handle family or personal situations.
- For your Retirement: Enrolled in the Municipal Pension Plan with a matching contribution from DEWC.
- Other perks: An employee loan program; Regular staff development days; First crack at open positions; Training and facilitation opportunities

POSITION DETAILS:
- Start Date: ASAP / Permanent– Full-time, Tuesday-Friday, Flex Saturday Schedule- 9.30am to 6.00pm
- Union (BCGEU) - Salary - $24.23 per hour + generous health and welfare benefits
- Location – 412 E Cordova St.
- Posting Closing Date: February 10th, 2022

Indigenous women and women of colour are strongly encouraged to apply / Additional languages spoken an asset.

**While we thank all applicants for their interests, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted**

Salary: $24.23 per hour

Contact Information

For full job description visit: www.dewc.ca/careers

Please send your resume to careers@dewc.ca

Employer Profile

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre exists to support and empower women and children living in extreme poverty in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. High levels of violence, homelessness, addictions and poverty characterize this community where women and children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, injustice and injury. Through the Drop-In Centre and Emergency Night Shelter, we provide practical support to over 600 women and children daily to survive the conditions of ill health and violence that surround them.