Team Leader , Home for Good (H4G) and Housing Unit

Internal/External Job Posting

Position: Team Lead, Home for Good (H4G) Program

Program: Homes for Good (H4G) - Supportive and Transitional Housing Program

Employment Type: Full-time, 18-Month Contract

Function: To lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the Home for Good Program, including supervision of a team of four Case Managers (unionized, SEIU Healthcare), development and oversight of client case management plans, staff scheduling, performance management, compliance oversight, and coordination of services for clients in both supportive (permanent) and transitional (6 months to 4 years) housing streams.

Schedule: 35 hours per week; hybrid arrangement (2 days in office, remainder community-based or work from home as operational needs require); participation in on-call rotation

Start Date: As soon as possible

Salary: $70,000 - $75,000 annually, plus comprehensive benefits (extended health, dental, vision, RRSP)

Location: Toronto-wide, with a focus on Scarborough and East Toronto

Reports to: Director of Residential Services

About the Role

The John Howard Society of Toronto's Home for Good (H4G) Program provides supportive and transitional housing to a high-risk/high-needs population: chronically homeless individuals who have been previously incarcerated in provincial institutions and who have concurrent mental health and substance use disorders. The program is funded by the City of Toronto and operates housing units primarily in Scarborough and East Toronto, with some clients housed in the private rental market.

The Team Lead plays a critical role in ensuring program quality, staff development, client safety, and building safety. This includes direct involvement in developing individualized case management plans with Case Managers, ensuring consistent follow-through on client goals, and overseeing discharge and eviction processes in compliance with internal Occupancy Agreements, the Residential Tenancies Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Team Lead will also represent the program at interagency tables, coordinate with JHST's Homeward Bound provincial halfway house program, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including the Toronto Police Service and City of Toronto funders.

This role is well-suited to a leader who is energized by complexity and comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. The client population presents significant challenges, and the successful candidate will bring strong operational skills, sound judgment under pressure, and a genuine commitment to harm reduction and client-centred practice.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Performance Management

1. Recruit, hire, train, orient, supervise, and coach a team of four Case Managers in accordance with SEIU Healthcare collective agreement provisions.
2. Conduct regular one-on-one supervision, team meetings, and case consultations.
3. Work directly with Case Managers to develop individualized case management plans for all clients, ensuring plans are documented, goal-oriented, and regularly reviewed.
4. Monitor and ensure Case Managers follow through on case plans, referrals, and client commitments.
5. Complete annual performance evaluations and manage progressive discipline processes where required.
6. Address staff performance concerns promptly and document in accordance with organizational policies and collective agreement requirements.
7. Foster a team culture of accountability, professionalism, and mutual support.
8. Supervise students and volunteers as time allows.
9. Coordinate with the Homeward Bound provincial halfway house program and other JHST residential Team Leads to ensure continuity of service and alignment of practices.
10. Oversee Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) applications and ongoing compliance in coordination with other residential Team Leads.

Program Operations and Compliance

11. Ensure program deliverables are achieved as required by City of Toronto funders and organizational work plans.
12. Maintain program compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act, Ontario Human Rights Code (including the duty to inquire, and both the procedural and substantive accommodation obligations), and relevant provincial legislation, including relevant Bill 10 Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, 2025 requirements.
13. Oversee discharge and eviction processes, ensuring all actions are legally sound, well-documented, and compliant with human rights obligations.
14. Oversee case management quality, ensuring accurate documentation, individualized service plans, and appropriate follow-up.
15. Manage client intake, housing placements, and transitions for both supportive and transitional housing streams.
16. Design and implement follow-up services for clients after they are housed.
17. Develop innovative and strategic approaches to support 'hard to house' clients with complex barriers, including exploring client transfers with partner agencies where appropriate.
18. Coordinate with property maintenance to address building issues affecting client safety and well-being.

Crisis and Risk Management

19. Provide leadership and direction during crisis situations, including de-escalation, safety planning, and coordination with emergency services.
20. Respond to incidents involving mental health crises, substance use emergencies, and safety concerns.
21. Conduct conflict mediation relevant to housing maintenance and tenant relations.
22. Ensure appropriate risk assessment and documentation practices are followed.
23. Participate in on-call rotation to respond to emergencies and after-hours situations.
24. Support staff debriefing following critical incidents.

External Relations, Partnerships, and Advocacy

25. Maintain positive working relationships with City of Toronto funders and participate in funder meetings, reporting, and program reviews.
26. Build and maintain relationships with the Toronto Police Service to support effective coordination around building and community safety.
27. Maintain relationships with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, provincial corrections, probation and parole services.
28. Represent the program at interagency network and situation tables (e.g., FOCUS, HSJCC) on an ad hoc or permanent basis as required.
29. Liaise with and advocate to landlords, housing providers, community service providers, and health services across Toronto on behalf of clients and JHST.

Administrative Duties

30. Maintain and submit program statistics and reports, including TGRIP data entry, six-month reports, City of Toronto reports, United Way reports, and John Howard Society of Canada/Ontario reporting requirements.
31. Prepare and submit funding reports, grant applications, and proposals as directed.
32. Oversee client file documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
33. Manage staff scheduling, attendance tracking, and DayForce entries.
34. Process TTC fare distribution, Furniture Bank requests, gift cards, Rental Supplement, and other relevant requests in a timely manner.
35. Maintain confidentiality of all matters related to Human Resources, client information, and organizational operations.
36. Provide regular feedback to Senior Management regarding program evolution and needs.

Core Competencies

• Leadership and Team Development: Ability to coach, mentor, and hold staff accountable within a unionized environment while building a cohesive, high-performing team.
• Performance Management: Experience managing staff performance, including addressing concerns and documenting issues in a unionized setting.
• Clinical Oversight: Ability to guide case management practice, review service plans, and ensure quality client care with a complex population.
• Crisis Response: Demonstrated ability to remain calm, make sound decisions, and lead effectively in high-pressure situations.
• Systems Navigation: Strong knowledge of Toronto's health, housing, justice, and social service systems and ability to guide clients and staff through complex referral pathways.
• Stakeholder Relations: Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with funders, police, government partners, and community agencies.
• Adaptability: Ability to lead through change, adapt to evolving circumstances, and implement improvements in a dynamic environment.
• Strategic Problem-Solving: Creativity and resourcefulness in addressing complex client situations and operational challenges.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, including report writing, facilitation, and difficult conversations.

Essential Requirements

1. Experience working in a unionized environment with knowledge of collective agreement administration.
2. Demonstrated experience developing and overseeing individualized case management plans.
3. Strong crisis intervention, de-escalation, and conflict resolution skills.
4. Knowledge of and commitment to harm reduction philosophies and practices.
5. Comprehensive understanding of the legal frameworks governing supportive housing, including the Residential Tenancies Act, Landlord and Tenant Board processes, and Ontario Human Rights Code obligations (duty to inquire, procedural and substantive accommodation) in the context of discharge and eviction.
6. Knowledge of Ontario's correctional and criminal justice systems, including community reintegration barriers, and familiarity with navigating Ontario Court of Justice, Legal Aid Ontario, duty counsel, and bail/probation processes.
7. Ability to produce clear, accurate, and legally defensible documentation for eviction, accommodation, and incident reporting purposes
8. Strong working knowledge of Toronto's housing and homelessness systems, including supportive and transitional housing models.
9. Strong working knowledge of community health and social service resources across Toronto, including psychiatric hospitals, RAAM clinics, Access Point, withdrawal management, crisis beds, and residential treatment programs, with direct experience supporting individuals with concurrent disorders.
10. Demonstrated experience working with diverse ethno-racial and multilingual client groups, with commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, trauma-informed, and equity-informed practice.

Qualifications

1. University degree in social work, social services, criminology, or a related field required; candidates with a college diploma in a relevant field and significant supervisory experience in a comparable setting may be considered.
2. Minimum 2-3 years' supervisory or management experience in social services, housing services, corrections, or a related field working with a similarly high-risk/high-needs population.
3. Experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
4. Strong administrative skills, including proficiency with case management systems and reporting tools.
5. Experience leading teams through organizational change, program transitions, or operational challenges.
6. Satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record check.
7. Valid driver's licence and access to a reliable vehicle (preferred).

Assets

• Residence in Toronto.
• Experience with TGRIP, HIFIS, or similar data management systems.
• Prior participation in FOCUS tables, HSJCC, or similar interagency networks.
• Existing relationships with the Toronto Police Service (41, 51, and 55 Divisions preferably), probation/parole, or provincial corrections.
• Experience with Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) administration.
• Expertise in peer programming development.
• Experience with progressive discipline and labour relations in a nonprofit context.
• Familiarity with Housing First and Critical Time Intervention models.
• Lived experience with the criminal justice system or housing instability.

To Apply

The John Howard Society of Toronto is an equal opportunity employer and a United Way anchor agency. We are committed to reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, persons with disabilities, and those with lived experience of incarceration or housing instability.

Should any accommodation be required during the application or interview process, please let us know in advance.

This position is NOT covered under the union agreement between the John Howard Society of Toronto and SEIU Healthcare.

Please submit your cover letter (1-2 pages) and resume (1-2 pages) by email to careers@jhst.ca, indicating “Team Lead, H4G Program” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please describe your experience managing complex situations and leading teams through operational changes and challenges.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest