Addictions Counsellor

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL

Job Title:

Addictions Counsellor - HART HUB Housing Program

Position Type:

Bargaining Unit, Full‐Time, Permanent

Number of Positions:

1

Reason for Posting:

Existing Vacancy

Rate:

$31.30 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:

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, days, afternoons and some evenings

Supervisor:

Senior Manager

Posting Date:

March 4, 2026

Application Deadline:

March 13, 2026

Location:

40 Oak Street, Toronto, ON, M5A 2C6

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 40 Oak Street HART HUB is an emerging program that provides trauma-informed, client-centered addictions counselling and recovery support embedded within a low-barrier supportive housing environment. It offers safe, stable housing for individuals facing poverty, long-term homelessness, and the enduring impacts of trauma to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Clients are supported through a combination of on-site services and community referrals that are tailored to their unique needs, ensuring a holistic and responsive approach to care.

The HART HUB serves a diverse population, who may be actively using substances or living with complex mental health challenges. Staff are expected to bring a deep respect for and experience working with individuals from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, many of whom face intersecting barriers such as trauma, poverty, and social isolation.

HART HUB staff work within a compassionate care framework to engage clients, develop individualized recovery plans, and support clients in achieving both short- and long-term goals related to substance use, wellness, and housing stability.

Does this sound like work you want to be a part of?

We offer a supportive environment, an opportunity to join a diverse team of caring professionals and a chance to make a difference. With over 75 programs and 25 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:

• Conduct client-centered assessments to understand substance use history, goals, and readiness for change.
• Utilize motivational interviewing and trauma-informed practices to develop, implement, and review individualized treatment and recovery plans.
• Provide one-on-one and group counselling that is proactive, collaborative, and rooted in the principles of antioppression and compassionate care.
• Coach and assist clients in the development of crisis management strategies, relapse prevention skills, protective strategies, and overall wellness.
• Facilitate therapeutic and psycho-educational groups that address addictions, trauma, social isolation, and life skills.
• Work collaboratively with housing staff to ensure a holistic approach to tenant support, aligning addiction recovery goals with housing stability plans.
• Deal with tenancy issues related to substance use by encouraging and supporting tenants to problem-solve and access internal and community resources.
• Identify, intervene in, and de-escalate crisis situations with a focus on safety and compassionate care.
• Educate and empower tenants regarding their health and tenancy responsibilities.
• Participate in the planning and facilitation of community development activities that foster a supportive recovery environment.
• Accurately document all client interactions, progress notes, and assessments in accordance with professional and organizational standards.
• Work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team including housing workers, mental health specialists, and medical professionals to provide integrated care.
• Participate in case conferences, team meetings, and monthly supervision with the Program Manager.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and demonstrate appropriate professional boundaries with clients, staff, and community partners.
• Participate in the ongoing evaluation and development of HART HUB programming.
• Other duties as assigned by the HART HUB Senior Manager.

What You Bring to the Team:

• A degree or diploma in Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counselling, or a related field.
• Registered member in good standing of a professional college deemed relevant by the employer such as the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario or the College of Social Workers in good standing is required.
• Extensive experience providing addictions counselling and support, with a proven ability to apply crisis management, trauma-informed, and client-centered approaches.
• Strong understanding of group facilitation and experience running therapeutic groups.
• Ability to work productively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks in a dynamic environment.
• Proven ability to maintain professional boundaries and engage in constructive feedback.

What Sets You Apart:

• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting, professional relationships.
• Knowledge of community-based resources and support systems.
• Experience with client data management systems (e.g., EMHWare) is an asset.
• Strong understanding of the systemic issues that cause and sustain homelessness, poverty, addiction, and discrimination.
• Experience working directly with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, and individuals with varying mental health and trauma experiences.
• Highly developed crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and de-escalation skills.

Compensation and Benefits:

• For the Addictions Counsellor - HART HUB Housing Program position, Fred Victor offers a rate of $31.30 per hour
• 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:

Internal employees who are interested in this opportunity are encouraged to apply through ADP by navigating to Myself > Talent > Career Centre. External candidates may apply using this link: Fred Victor ADP Career Centre or by scanning the QR code:

Please note that we are currently soft-launching our new online hiring system through ADP. During this transition, not all job postings are available in the system yet. We appreciate your patience as we work through this transition. If you have any questions about this specific job posting or need help applying, please contact Praveena Manorajan at pmanorajan@fredvictor.org.

As part of the application process, applicants are asked to upload their resume and a cover letter as one document describing their interest in joining the Fred Victor team.

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.