Legal Education & Outreach Specialist (Reaching Home Project)

Job Posting

Legal Education & Outreach Specialist (Reaching Home Project)

Position Summary:

The Legal Education & Outreach Specialist (Reaching Home Project) conducts proactive outreach, delivers tenant education, and leads tenant leadership programming. The role provides multilingual information, early-risk identification, and community capacity-building to prevent homelessness among underserved renters.

Contract type: Full time

Start Date: June 2026

Closing date: May 25, 2026

Employment Type: Full-time; hybrid

Location: Peel Region and the Greater Toronto Area. This is a hybrid role with staff splitting their time working remotely from home, and on-site in neighbourhoods and partner organization sites across Peel Region.

Hours of work: Flexible. Some evening and weekend hours will be required.

Salary: $75,000 - $82,000

Benefits: A generous benefits package will be made available following the end of the three-month probationary period, which includes health and dental benefits, AD&D, longterm disability and life insurance. Group and individual professional development opportunities are also provided to staff.

Paid time off: Four weeks (20 days) of paid vacation and 10 paid sick days per year. CCHR also typically closes between Christmas and New Year’s Day, providing additional paid days off.

About CCHR:

CCHR is one of Canada’s oldest charities working to advance the right to adequate housing. Founded in 1987, CCHR has worked tirelessly for over 37 years at the intersection of human rights and housing and is one of Canada’s leading NGOs working in the area of social and economic rights. CCHR works to advance the right to adequate housing by:

• Serving clients to help them stay housed: CCHR provides free services to tenants facing eviction and human rights violations in their housing, and we are experts in these fields. Each year we provide services to over a thousand tenants and we are highly effective in ensuring that some of the most vulnerable Ontario renters remain in their homes.
• Providing education and training about housing rights: CCHR provides public education and training on housing rights and human rights in housing to diverse groups across Ontario, reaching approximately 4,000 people annually. We work with community partners to train individuals and communities about their housing rights and how to assert them, and we engage with landlords to educate them about their obligations as housing providers.
• Advancing rights-based housing solutions: CCHR advances rights-based housing solutions through research, policy development, advocacy and law reform. Notable achievements include setting a legal precedent preventing landlords from discriminating against renters who receive social assistance, and launching a constitutional challenge against the federal government for failing to take action against homelessness.

Working at CCHR

CCHR is a collaborative and cross-functional team of about 30 motivated professionals working across Canada, linked by our commitment to advancing the right to housing. Over the past three years the organization has grown fivefold, expanded our work nationally, and developed innovative ways to engage communities, individuals and organizations to support rights-based housing solutions. CCHR launched our 2024-28 Strategic Plan in October, with a goal of tackling Canada’s housing affordability crisis through initiatives that promote affordability, equality and security of tenure across the country. CCHR’s five functional teams (Services; Education; Policy and Law Reform;

Research; Communications) work collaboratively in service of advancing our mission.

CCHR’s head office is located at the Centre for Social Innovation (Spadina location), an exciting, shared workspace that houses 250 non-profits and social innovators in downtown Toronto. It is accessible by transit and offers substantial opportunities to network with like-minded people and participate in a mission-driven, innovative community through various events both in person and virtually. CCHR’s team works primarily remotely, and our office offers several workstations which are available to staff who would like to work from the office on a part-time or occasional basis or who are visiting Toronto from their home region.

About the role

We are seeking a motivated and committed professional with experience in community outreach public education, and experience in advancing the human right to housing. In this role, you will contribute to an innovative program in Peel Region, which aims to bring legal education and services into communities through direct neighbourhood outreach.

Responsibilities:

Community Outreach

• Travel to various locations across Peel Region to deliver educational and capacity-building trainings to a variety of audiences, focused on promoting understanding of housing law, renters’ rights, human rights and the right to housing.
• Conduct proactive door-to-door outreach to identify renters at risk.
• Engage newcomers, seniors, racialized communities, and tenants facing service
• barriers.
• Provide multilingual resources on housing rights and available supports.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with renter groups and other community groups, regularly consulting with them.

Education & Workshop Delivery

• Design and deliver educational materials and programming with the objective of ensuring renters understand and can assert their housing rights, service providers and peer supporters can support them in doing so, and housing providers can understand and promote rights-based housing.
• Develop responsive and accessible materials for renters through reference to relevant laws, regulations, best practices and needs of the partners.
• Support tenants to build organizing, self-advocacy, and navigation skills.
• Develop accessible education materials in collaboration with Communications and Legal Case Work.

Risk Identification & Navigation

• Identify early risks and connect tenants to services.
• Coordinate with the Legal Case Worker for eviction-prevention interventions.
• Document trends and barriers for program learning and improvement.

Qualifications

• Ontario Law degree or paralegal designation.
• At least 3 years' experience in public education and outreach, preferably working on housing related initiatives and/or providing services to low-income and equity deserving communities in Ontario.
• Strong understanding of the housing and social services sectors in Peel Region and Ontario and the barriers facing equity-seeking groups in housing.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve, facilitate resolutions and mediate conflict.
• Experience preparing and facilitating workshops, education sessions and/or presentations.
• Experience keeping accurate records and files and working with a data management system.
• Strong time management including experience managing multiple competing priorities under tight timelines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with legal case management software such as Practice Panther.
• Ability to serve clients in languages other than English is an asset.
• Experience delivering public legal education on housing and working with the Residential Tenancies Act is an asset.
• A valid Ontario driver’s licence and access to a vehicle is necessary to facilitate travel throughout Peel Region.

Skills and attributes

• Enthusiasm for working directly with communities to drive positive change and better housing outcomes.
• Ability to multi-task, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and adapt quickly to change.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure with attention to detail and deadlines, and with minimal supervision.
• Sensitivity to the lived experiences of communities, groups and individuals that are facing housing insecurity.
• Flexibility to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple and sometimes shifting priorities.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, diplomacy, discretion, tact and good judgement.

We recognize and value the unique perspective that people with lived experience of poverty and/or precarious housing bring in addition to the qualifications listed above.

To apply for this job

Applications should include a resume and cover letter in one PDF document submitted by email to opportunities@housingrightscanada.com with the subject line: Application – Legal Education & Outreach Specialist (Reaching Home Project).

At CCHR, we believe that a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve strengthens our ability to achieve our mission. We strongly encourage applicants of all genders, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, abilities, and with a range of life experiences to apply.

We are committed to full compliance with the Human Rights Code, the Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and all other applicable legislation. We will provide accommodation during the hiring process upon request and information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We thank all applicants for their interest.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone enquiries please.

Qualifications:

Minimum 3 years experience in outreach, community engagement, or public education.

Knowledge of housing rights, community services, and barriers faced by equity‑deserving groups.

Experience facilitating workshops and community programming. Strong communication and relationship‑building skills.

Skills and Attributes:

Strong facilitation and public‑speaking skills.

Ability to build trust with diverse communities.

Ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Trauma‑informed and culturally aware practice.

Equity, Community & Partnership Competencies:

Commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and human rights.

Ability to work respectfully with people with lived experience. Strong relationship-building skills.

Working Conditions:

Remote, hybrid, or community-based work depending on role requirements.

Extended periods of computer and desk work.

Occasional travel for meetings or presentations.

Occasional evening or weekend work depending on program needs. Regular field‑based outreach and community visits.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.

Ability to travel for meetings or presentations as required.

Ability to carry light materials (approx. 10–15 lbs), such as a laptop or program materials.

Ability to conduct door‑to‑door outreach and travel between community locations.

Accessibility & Accommodation Statement:

CCHR is committed to an inclusive, accessible work environment. Accommodations are available in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and AODA.