Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Work Hours: 35 hours per week (rotating shifts; includes evenings and weekends; shared on-call responsibilities)
Salary: $55,939 annually (L7), plus comprehensive benefits
Location: 389 Church Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2E5
Internal Application Deadline: Monday, May 12, 2025
External Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
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YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected. We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and/or Two-Spirit. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.
The Case Worker -- Hoarding Control is responsible for supporting tenancy through holistic programming: using eviction prevention measures; developing and implementing community development initiatives with the goal of creating a dynamic and inclusive community; engagement with the broader community through a trauma-informed, harm reduction and AOP lens that meets the emotional, practical and social support needs of the tenant community. The Case Worker will work with the Manager to ensure that case management, community development, coaching, and pest control \& hoarding management activities are integrated into the overall program delivery. They will provide leadership in the development and facilitation of initiatives to support the community to generate individual and community solutions to address pest control issues and tenants overall wellness.
ABOUT YWCA TORONTO -- HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM, CHURCH STREET
YWCA Toronto Church Street facility includes 120 units of permanent housing. The Case Worker - Hoarding Control is responsible for providing case management and Community Engagement support, to a minimal case load of women and gender diverse people with complex mental health issues who are at risk of homelessness; individuals transitioning from provincially-funded institutions and service systems such as hospitals or prisons; Indigenous women/two-spirit people. The program goals include housing stabilization, harm reduction, and health promotion. Individual and group support assists tenants to identify and build the skills required to address the barriers they experience in their lives to maintain housing stability and achieve wellbeing.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Uses effective eviction prevention measures to assist tenants with significant mental health/substance use challenges to assume and maintain their tenancy obligations;
- Provides crisis prevention, intervention and counseling for women and children and gender diverse people to respond to crisis in ways that support individual and community well-being;
- Assists tenants to resolve issues of outstanding arrears, pest control and hoarding management challenges;
- Acts as a specialist in the area of hoarding from a harm reduction framework;
- Working with other staff, Property Service, and tenants to prepare for bed bug/pest removal and/or assist in de-cluttering education and assistance with organizing and housing issues stemming from hoarding management;
- Works with a tenant support network and referral partners to develop individualized support plans that identify ongoing housing and mental health/addictions goals and supports;
- Creates programming specifically designed to build community capacity with the use of a harm reduction framework that will give individuals and groups of residents the opportunity to develop and use harm reduction strategies in all aspects of their lives (health, relationships, independent life skills, housing, etc.).
QUALIFICATIONS
- General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree (example: Bachelor of Social Work) (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
- Knowledge of best practices for pest control and hoarding issues, and using tools or frameworks to support harm reduction goals;
- Knowledge of bed bug and other pest concerns, pest control procedures, solutions and best practices for hoarding support and follow up;
- 3 - 5 years directly related experience working in a supportive housing setting in a direct service setting with children, youth and adults who experience impacts of poverty, homelessness/under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/addictions, or concurrent disorders;
- Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis;
- Proven experience working independently, developing and facilitating groups;
- Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming;
- Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, client-centered and strengths-based;
- Life Skills certificate an asset;
- Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing Services Act, and Ontario Human Rights Code;
- Strong knowledge and understanding of community resources;
- Working knowledge of Microsoft office suite;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Demonstrated understanding and proven ability to work from Anti-oppression, Trauma Informed, Harm Reduction, and feminist frameworks;
- Knowledge of a second language or culture an asset;
- Able to work in settings which are crowded and may include second hand smoke and/or unpleasant odours;
- Comfortable working in an environment in which clients may be angry and exhibit anti-social behaviours;
- Experience with Pirouette database is considered an asset;
- Demonstrated cultural competency with ability to communicate and engage with individuals from diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds and different levels of abilities;
- Capable of lifting minimum 25lbs.
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 in your cover letter, if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is secondable.
Posting Date: May 2, 2025
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 prior to 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 is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.
