Housing Access Worker

Summary:

PARC is a leading housing provider in West Toronto’s Parkdale community, providing good quality, safe, and affordable homes for adults experiencing serious mental illness and/or problematic substance use. At times, we are the housing of last resort. The successful candidate will have the ability to nurture strong and trusting relationships and help Member tenants to search for, and successfully secure, appropriate and affordable housing, build essential life skills, maintain long-term successful tenancy, and achieve an improved quality of life on their terms. When you join us as a Housing Access Worker you will be working with a passionate social service organization that puts people first, values your expertise, invests in your future through professional development opportunities and offers robust benefits including a defined benefit pension plan.

ABOUT PARKDALE ACTIVITY RECREATION CENTRE (PARC)

Since 1980, PARC’s mission has been to create “a community where people rebuild their lives”. Our dedicated team works collaboratively with over 30 other agencies across the Greater Toronto Area to effectively support Members on individual issues of poverty, mental health, problematic substance use, homelessness, and food security. At PARC, Members access services and develop relationships with our employees, and one another, through five main areas of operation: Drop-In Centre, Peer Support Program, Outreach Program, Supportive Housing and Community Engagement.

OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Manager, Member Programming and Services, the Housing Access Worker offers one-on-one support to adults who are living with serious mental health and/or substance use challenges as they seek to identify and secure, appropriate and affordable housing. The incumbent in this role will promote independence, well-being, and quality of life by providing support through the fulsome process of housing acquisition. Specifically, The Housing Access Worker is responsible for completion of fulsome needs assessments, ensuring Member Tenants are able to secure all necessary pre-tenancy documentation, facilitation of extensive housing searches including navigation of relevant application processes, and ensuring all steps are completed successfully to secure housing and to facilitate long-term tenancy. The successful candidate will utilize their exceptional communication skills, creativity, and client-centered approach to build trusting connections that enable clients to stabilize, achieve goals and improve their quality of life.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides responsive and person-centered services, inclusive of crisis counselling and emotional support, that meet the unique needs and/or complex challenges of each prospective of service users and members.
• Implements housing preparation plans with clients (i.e., ID, taxes, income supports, etc.).
• Engages in individualized housing searches for appropriate and affordable housing with the Member Tenant and assist with the completion of applications as necessary.
• Helps Member Tenants navigate The Access Point, MyAccesstoHousingTO portal and the new Choice-Based process for RGI housing by supporting applicants with registering, completing applications, updating, and maintaining applications (including annual reviews, building selections and updates to family size).
• Supports Member Tenant applications for other housing financial supports (i.e., Rent Bank, energy fund etc.).
• Escorts Member Tenants to housing appointments and advocate on their behalf as needed.
• Provides one-to-one assistance to Member tenants in negotiating and finalizing housing leases
• Arranges steps for Member tenants moving into secured housing (i.e., income verification, contact with property management, financial arrangement regarding rent, trusteeship etc.).
• Educates tenants on their responsibilities and rights.
• Develops strong, trusting, professional relationships that help Member tenants to build solid networks of formal and informal supports.
• Develops comprehensive, individualized care plans in collaboration with Member tenants, and any identified formal/informal support persons that reflect the stated goals and needs of the Member tenant.
• Supports activities geared toward establishing and maintaining an independent, healthy lifestyle with an emphasis on primary health care, mental health and wellness, community engagement, capacity-building, conflict resolution, crisis management and life skills.
• Facilitates referrals, in consultation with the Member tenant, to other service providers and supports as appropriate.
• Provides proactive support to Member tenants, once housed, including home visits, assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and coordination of case conferences.
• Develops partnerships and collaborates with other providers from across the mental health and other service systems (i.e., primary health, supportive housing providers, criminal justice, hospitals, developmental services, substance use etc.,) to support successful tenancy.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation and statistical reporting in TREAT in alignment with organizational policy.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A relevant undergraduate education in a professional discipline pertinent to the role function and/or an equivalent combination of education and relevant progressive experience, with a minimum of 2 years relevant progressive experience in direct service delivery to adults with serious mental illness/problematic substance use or in supportive housing settings.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills honed through experience in conflict resolution, crisis intervention/prevention, counselling, harm reduction, coaching and the ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to effectively communicate both written and orally with internal and external stakeholders
• Sound judgement and ability to handle matters of a confidential, political and/or sensitive nature with discretion and tact.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to working within community development, anti-oppression, and anti-racist frameworks, including current issues and trends and the role that community-based organizations contribute to local neighbourhoods.
• Sound knowledge of applicable legislation and leading practices (Housing First, Landlord and Tenant Act, Residential tenancies Act, Housing Services Act, Municipal License and Standards (MLS), Mental Health Act, PHIPA, and Human Rights Code etc.)
• Working knowledge of leading practices related to mental health, problematic substance use, harm reduction, trauma-informed care and building therapeutic relationships.
• Good time management skills and the ability to prioritize workload as needed
• Familiar with professional standards of case notation, documentation, and assessment

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US

We are an organization that puts people first, values your expertise, invests in your future through professional development opportunities and offers robust benefits, including a defined benefit pension plan.

We have a generous total compensation and benefits package, which includes:

• 15 days paid vacation
• 18 days paid sick leave
• Pension Plan membership
• Employer paid health insurance (includes access to psychotherapy supports)

PARC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people who are reflective of the diverse communities we serve. We strongly encourage applicants with lived experiences, from First Nations communities, people of all races, colours, ethnic origins, religions, disabilities, and sexual orientations to apply. We recognize that equitable access to employment is an agent in social change.

We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If you have any requirements for accommodation due to disability, please advise Human Resources during the recruitment and selection process. We will work with you to best meet your needs as per resources available to us.