Resettlement Housing Worker Jobs

Job title: Resettlement Housing Worker

Department: Durham Ukrainian Humanitarian Response Project

Reports to: Manager, Durham Ukrainian Humanitarian Response Project

Hours of work: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with flexibility to work evening hours

Job purpose

The Resettlement Housing Worker is responsible for assessing temporary resident individuals and families’ needs, and providing support, guidance, information and referrals to services to help them to be settled and housed.

Using Trauma-informed and Gender-Equity approaches, the Resettlement Housing Worker provides housing support to Durham Ukrainian Humanitarian Response Project eligible individuals and families, and helps them to become aware of Housing Sector and the services available to Durham Region residents.

The successful candidate will be responsible for facilitating group sessions and preparing presentations on housing-related topics. This position has the ability to advocate on behalf of clients and refer them to appropriate organizations when required.

This position will be contracted till November 15, 2023, with a possibility of extension, subject to funding.

Company Overview

Community Development Council Durham (CDCD) is an independent, not-for-profit social planning organization that has been working to enhance the quality of life for individuals, families and communities in Durham for over 50 years. We organize a variety of research, community development and social planning initiatives as well as administer and deliver front line social service programs. Please visit us at www.cdcd.org for more information.

Duties and responsibilities

• Attend and support internal and/or external meetings and events where applicable
• Provide referrals and resources to individuals or families, assist with problem solving and address immediate needs
• Participate in the design, implementation and evaluation of the Durham Ukrainian Humanitarian Response Project to meet identified needs
• Conduct client follow up, referral and advocacy
• Participate in promoting a positive workplace culture through agency committee membership and departmental activities
• Meet with clients, assess and determine the appropriate housing response to a household’s request for support services and accommodations to resolve their housing needs
• Conduct holistic client intake, assessment and case planning services, utilizing a client-centered, anti-oppression and strength-based approach to assist them in securing permanent housing
• Facilitate group sessions and prepare presentations on housing related topics, evictions, landlord/tenant rights, money management
• Assertively engage with clients to secure housing, secure income assistance if necessary, assist with leases, deposits, setting up utilities, and signing of leases
• Establish and maintain partnerships with other community/housing outreach workers across Durham Region
• Collect information on, and participate in, team, agency and partner communication on systemic housing issues
• Act as a resource to, and advocate for individuals and families
• Maintain client files, ensuring confidentiality
• Engage in activities to reach isolated Durham Ukrainian Humanitarian Response Project eligible households/individuals and at-risk families
• Develop and maintain statistical reports as required
• Determines the needs of the clients and the support that is appropriate for each individual client
• Conduct housing searches and build inventory lists of available housing units for candidates
• Collect and display accurate resource information on housing advocacy for clients
• Perform other duties as assigned

(Note: In depth counseling of a social or psychological nature is not to be provided but rather referrals made to appropriate professionals)

Core Competencies

Valuing Diversity and Social Justice

Supports and promotes an environment that holds opportunities for all, regardless of race, ancestry, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, family status, or disability; fosters a climate of inclusion, where diverse thoughts are freely shared and integrated. Under social justice, all groups and individuals receive fair treatment and an equitable share of the benefits of society.

Culturally-Sensitive

Recognizing, understanding, and applying attitudes and practices that are sensitive to and appropriate for people with diverse cultural socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, and persons of all ages, genders, health status, sexual orientations and abilities.

Advocacy

Interventions such as speaking, writing, or acting in favour of a particular issue or cause, policy, or group of people. In the social services sector, advocacy is assumed to be in the public interest, whereas lobbying by a special interest group may or may not be in the public interest. Advocacy often aims to enhance the quality of life for disadvantaged groups such as individuals recently immigrating to Canada, persons with disabilities, the LGBT community, etc.

Community Participation

Procedures whereby members of a community participate directly in decision-making about developments that affect the community. It covers a spectrum of activities ranging from passive involvement in community life to intensive action-oriented participation in community development (including political initiatives and strategies).

Job-Specific Competencies

Client Service Orientation

Focus on understanding and meeting customers’ needs, makes extra effort to meet customer needs, follows up on customer complaints/questions/requests.

Relationship Building and Partnering

Developing and maintaining positive relationships and partnerships. Builds relationships with clients by following through on commitments, respecting confidentiality, and demonstrating an interest in their specific challenges and needs.

Empathetic and Sensitive

Has a high degree of empathy and sensitivity to the needs of the clients, and ability to provide assistance to the clients with care and patience as necessary.

Interpersonal Understanding And Communication Skills

Desire/ability to understand others’ attitudes/interests/needs/feelings/nonverbal behavior, incorporating empathy, listening skills, and diagnostic understanding, understanding strengths/limitations of others. Communicates and interacts effectively with individuals and groups in the provision of professional services. Gives full attention to what other people are saying by being active listeners that value the opinions of their workers. Capable of using their communication skills to successfully gather information that they need. They are also people whom are trusted and can build relationships with others.

Presentation Skills

Effective in a variety of formal and informal presentation settings; commands attention and manages group process during the presentation; is cognizant of audience response and able to adapt content and style accordingly.

Ability to work in a team environment and independently

Has a strong capability to work in a team environment and support the separate functions that make a team, as well as work on individual tasks that support that overall program.

Community Knowledge

Ability to express vast knowledge of the Durham Community, as well as knowledge in social, government, and community services.

Qualifications And Skills

• Demonstrated ability to understand, map, and improve workflow and processes
• Superior communication skills, oral and written proficiency in English
• Proficiency to a second language, preferably Amharic and Swahili
• Practical knowledge of best practices of housing help sector, the Housing First model, the Landlord and Tenant Act, the Residential Tenancies Act, the Housing Services Act, and all other relevant legislation
• Knowledge of gender-based violence, anti-oppression principles and trauma informed approaches
• Responds to stressful situations in a calm, collected and professional manner
• Non-violent crisis intervention (CPI), suicide intervention (ASIST), standard first aid or a commitment to secure those requirements within six months of being hired
• Current and up-to-date knowledge of social services and social laws
• Must be proactive, resourceful, and possess the ability to resolve complex client concerns
• Experience working with the Durham Welcome Centre Immigrant Services is a definite asset
• Demonstrated understanding of the Housing Help sector’s intersection with other sectors and issues being faced by at-risk and diverse populations
• Extensive knowledge of community based resources and government agencies for low-income people, including income through Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Old Age Security
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to the multicultural communities
• 3+ years working experience providing enhanced case management in a community-based housing or related agency
• Strong computer literacy (i.e. word processing, databases, and email) and experience working in on-line environments with web-based tools
• Post-secondary education in Social Services or related area of study

Additional Requirements

• The successful candidate must provide an acceptable Vulnerable Sector Screening and certificate demonstrating proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment
• A valid Ontario driver’s license (Class G), use of a vehicle and insurance with the ability to work in a variety of settings
• The Resettlement Housing Worker will need to be flexible regarding assigned work hours and location
• Flexibility to work rotating 8-hour shifts between 6:30 a.m. and 11 p.m., as needed

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants are requested to submit their resume and a cover letter stating salary expectation, while outlining their strengths, experience and aptitude to fulfill the position requirements.

Please submit applications to “Resettlement Housing Worker” at: https://communitydevelopmentcouncildurha.easyapply.co

CDCD thanks all applicants for their interest; however, only those asked for additional information and/or selected for an interview will be contacted.

CDCD is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees. We strive to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that represents the cultural mosaic of the Durham Region and the communities we serve. We recognize the value that comes from the different viewpoints, unique experiences and diverse perspectives of our employees, who bring fresh, new ideas to our business. Diversity plays a key role in our ability to deliver our mission.

CDCD is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion within its community and encourages applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/persons of colour, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ2S persons, and others who may contribute to fostering innovative ideas and solutions.

As an employer, CDCD has a duty to accommodate potential candidates throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.