Community Shelter Support Worker - Transitional & Housing Support

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Position Status: Vacant

Work Hours: 35 hours per week (Sunday 3:30pm to 11:30pm, Monday 12:00pm to 8:00pm, Tuesday - Thursday 11:00am to 7:00pm)

Salary: $59,399 annually (Level 7), plus comprehensive benefits

Location 80 Woodlawn Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1C1

Application Internal Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026

Application External Deadline: Monday, March 23, 2026

JOIN OUR TEAM

Join YWCA Toronto, where intersectional feminism, community voices, and social justice drive lasting change. We welcome women and gender diverse people of all identities into a workplace rooted in equity, collaboration, and inclusion.

This position will work within collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a theoretical feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression. This position will act as a resource to staff and participants and is responsible for providing a full range of services which includes crisis counselling, case management and the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops. This position shares in the responsibility of the overall health and safety of the building. This position is also responsible for delivery of services to residents, ex-shelter residents and women and gender diverse people in the community who have experienced gender-based violence.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO - 1st STOP WOODLAWN

This program provides up to 62 shelter beds for youth (16-24yrs) and adult (25 and older) women, trans and non binary participants. This program operates as part of a congregate living site which includes 72 units of permanent housing. Community Shelter Support Workers will work a fixed schedule that may include week day and/or weekend work and will be responsible for case planning of all shelter residents. This shelter is funded by the City of Toronto and adheres to Toronto Shelter Standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Applies knowledge of the issues of trauma and the dynamics of gender-based violence and homelessness to develop and implement effective support strategies;
• Provides crisis prevention, intervention and support using harm reduction principles for residents experiencing mental health/substance use challenges;
• Works with participants to develop transition plans for themselves and their family, including assessment, goal setting, safety planning and discharge planning;
• This position is responsible for assessing a participant’s eligibility to the Special Priority Housing Program and assist with the application process;
• Works with participants individually and/or in groups to develop and improve social and living skills by assisting them to set goals, follow through on plans, recognize options and make positive choices;
• Provides case management support services to second stage residents that focus on harm reduction, immigration, legal, health and wellness, education and training;
• Develops, implements and evaluates workshops and groups and experience of trauma using interactive techniques (i.e. expressive art techniques) and collaborates with other YWCA programs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of a clinically supervised undergraduate degree (e.g. BSW). An analytical framework that identifies clients' relation to social systems and the demonstrated practical application of this framework. (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• Completion of workshops and courses pertaining to Transitional and Housing Support Counselling;
• 3 to 5 years’ experience working in a diverse, direct service setting for participants that range from youth to seniors who have experienced impacts of poverty homelessness/under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/substance use or concurrent disorders and other sources of marginalization or oppression;
• In-depth knowledge of the dynamics of gender-based violence and trauma within an anti-oppression framework;
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing and evaluating dynamic and innovative programming;
• Completion of the Housing Help Services Certificate;
• Completion of Toronto Hostel’s Training Certificate (T.H.T.C.) or equivalent;
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of anti-oppression, trauma informed, harm reduction and feminist frame works demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports;
• Working knowledge and application of the intersections of systemic oppression (anti-black racism, anti-indigenous racism);
• Experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, e-mail and the Internet;
• Completion of Hostel Services Shelter Standards is an asset;
• Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Mental Health Act, Housing Services Act, and Ontario Human Rights Code is an asset;
• Knowledge of relevant legislation regarding immigration and refugee policy and law is an asset;
• A certificate in trauma counselling is an asset;
• Knowledge of a second language is an asset.

Note: On Call responsibilities (may be required to work shifts outside of their regularly scheduled hours including occasional overnights); a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is required (carry a minimum level of 2 million dollar Public Liability and Property Damage Insurance).

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefit
• Multi-Sector Pension Plan: Employer’s contribution of 5.75% and Employee Contribution of 3.25%
• Time off: Starts with 20 Vacation Days, 1.5 Days Per Month Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Health Promotional Days and 4 Float Days
• Other Benefits: Child Care Benefits, Maternity/Parental Leave Supplementary Employment Benefits, Educational/Sabbatical Leave, and Financial Assistance for Professional Development

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is not secondable.

Posting date: March 11, 2026

YWCA Toronto transforms lives. As the city’s largest multi-service women’s organization, we help women and gender diverse people escape violence, move out of poverty and access safe, affordable housing.

We work tenaciously to break down barriers that hold women and gender diverse people back from achieving equality.

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate before hiring.

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender-diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

YWCA Toronto may use AI-supported tools to assist with parts of the recruitment process; all hiring decisions are made by people and guided by our commitment to equity and fairness.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.