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INTERNAL/EXTERNAL

Job Title: Overnight Housing Support Worker
Position Type: Bargaining Unit, Reduced Full‐Time, Permanent
Number of Positions: 1 
Rate: $28.68 per hour
Vacation: 4 weeks to start
Benefits: Group benefits with Life Insurance, AD&D, Extended Health, and Dental Care with premiums 100% paid by the employer, LTD with premiums 100% paid by employees; paid sick leave and float day
RRSP: RRSP with 6.5% employer contribution and 4% employee contribution after successful completion of probation
Hours: 27 hours weekly – three shifts 11:30pm-9am, Tuesday-Thursday 
Supervisor: Senior Manager, Dunn Ave Housing
Posting Date: October 24, 2024
Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
Location: 90 Dunn Ave, Toronto

Why Fred Victor?
For 130 years, Fred Victor has been a leader in helping people rebuild their lives in Toronto. Our mission is to improve the health, income and housing stability of people experiencing poverty and homelessness. We are committed to ending homelessness, one person at a time.

The 90 Dunn Avenue Housing Program works in collaboration with the University Health Network’s Social Medicine team to support people who are experiencing chronic homelessness who have been high users of Emergency Departments, with some focus on people with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples; to access and maintain alternative supported housing. This program aims to provide a safe space for individuals experiencing deep poverty with a history of chronic homelessness and often the long-term effects of trauma and substance use. Dunn Housing provides housing with supports, including case management, on site 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The program serves tenants through a harm reduction, eviction prevention and community engagement framework to reduce their isolation and build community through engaging programs and activities.

Does this sound like work you want to be a part of?
We offer a caring and collaborative environment, an opportunity to join a diverse team of caring professionals and a chance to make a difference. With over 60 programs and 22 sites, there are lots of opportunities to grow your career with us. Many members of the management team started in relief and front-line roles.

What You Will Do:

• Provide welcoming, friendly and professional front desk support for the tenants at 90 Dunn Avenue
• Support the program by answering phones, fielding tenant questions, taking work orders, assisting with medication, giving notices and liaising with other workers and professionals
• Use community development and conflict resolution approaches to support tenants to develop skills to live cooperatively in their accommodation
• Educate tenants about their tenancy responsibilities and their on-going responsibilities to maintain their housing. Know and be conversant in the Residential Tenancies Act, and in particular, areas on non-payment of rent and non-compliance of the tenancy agreement.
• Work closely with the Security personnel to ensure a safe and secure housing environment by liaising and assisting on issues of mutual concern.
• Identify, intervene and deescalate crisis situations and work with tenants to develop crisis management skills
• Deal with housing related issues such as behavior, social isolation, mental health, substance use and hygiene by encouraging tenants to problem solve and support them to access local community resources
• Work from trauma informed, community development, harm reduction, client centered and collaborative approaches
• Work as part of the Housing Team
• Work in collaboration with University Health Network’s Social Medicine Team to coordinate clinical and health navigation and support tenants to achieve their health and housing related goals
• This position requires respect for, and expertise working with, tenants who are facing mental health issues, addictions, abuse and social isolation and who come from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

What You Bring to the Team:

• Demonstrated experience providing support within a harm reduction, restorative justice and anti-oppression-based framework.
• Strong understanding of social support systems for people experiencing homelessness (Ontario Works, ODSP, CPP, Community based resources, etc.)
• Strong customer service skills
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills
• Strong understanding of and experience in community development practices
• Well developed conflict resolution and negotiation skills and crisis management skills
• Ability to work productively within a team setting
• Strong organizational skills; highly developed ability to prioritize work through short and long term goals and remain flexible
• Well developed interpersonal skills that will produce effective, productive and appropriate relationships with the tenants, community, external agencies and staff at Fred Victor
• Proven ability to constructively give and receive feedback
• Highly developed understanding of and proven ability to communicate appropriate professional boundaries
• Proven ability to challenge organization, staff and tenant communities in a positive and creative way to effect better service
• Knowledge of community-based resources
• Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act
• Experience with and proven responsibility handling money
• Sound knowledge and understanding of Health Systems navigation and an ability to collaborate with clinical supports (an asset)

What Sets You Apart:

• Passion for working in a housing setting providing services that are eviction prevention, harm reduction and restorative justice focused
• Commitment to community development and programming that is reflexive to the needs and interests of the community
• Dedication to advocacy and prioritizing people who use drugs as experts of their own lives

Working Conditions:

• As the housing department is a 24-hour operational facility, staff may occasionally be required to cover shifts in emergency situations, including overnights
• There is a likelihood of exposure to unpredictable behavior, unpleasant odors, bodily fluids and pests including bedbugs, mice and cockroaches.
• All employees must expect to be in potentially threatening situations.
• This is stressful and emotionally challenging work that deals with vicarious trauma, grief and compassion fatigue on a regular basis
• Required to travel to Fred Victor’s program and administration locations
• Travel will be by public transportation, unless approved to use personal vehicle
• Must be willing to work with pets as many tenants have pets.  

Compensation and Benefits:

• For the Overnight Housing Support Worker, Fred Victor offers an hourly rate of $28.68
• 4 weeks of vacation to start + 1 float day
• Generous paid sick leave allowance
• A comprehensive Dental, Extended Health and LTD group benefits package includes individual and family coverage, including prescriptions, hospital accommodation, hearing care, paramedical practitioners and a wide variety of dental care. Additional insurance includes vision care and travel for emergency medical services.
• 6.5 % of your gross salary will be contributed to a group RRSP on your behalf after successful completion of probation; you will contribute 4% of your gross salary to the same RRSP.
• Access to employee and family assistance plan

How You Can Apply
Send your resume and an email describing why you want to be part of the Fred Victor Team by November 1, 2024 at 5pm to LP Pavey, Senior Manager of Dunn Ave Housing, at lppavey@fredvictor.org with “Overnight Housing Worker” in the subject line.

A Police Record Check is required by the final candidate prior to hiring.

Accessibility & Accommodation
Fred Victor is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment where employees feel valued and respected, and where every employee has the opportunity to realize their potential. As such, we welcome and encourage applicants who identify as racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons across the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identities and have lived experience.
 
If you are a person with a disability and require accommodation and/or assistance during the application process, please contact us in advance. We strive to provide reasonable accommodation whenever requested. Information received relating to accommodation requests will be treated with confidentiality.