Street Outreach Counsellor

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

In this role you will:

• Conduct intake interviews with clients in a variety of locations: public homeless and institutional settings to assess functional income employment and housing status to determine program eligibility.
• Initiate case management to resolve the reason why the client is street involved and provide assistance in preventing relapse of becoming street involved again in the future.
• Liaise with non-profit Streets to Homes service providers in the coordination and provision of services to the client as determined in the case plan.
• Connect clients with income supports health services mental health services legal services and addiction and/or harm reduction services as appropriate or required.
• Assist clients with housing applications and identification access; develop housing case plans with clients and work with landlords to secure housing.
• Provide ongoing assessment case management care coordination and monitoring of clients needs; monitor and evaluate clients changing needs and coordinate individualized services.
• Provide brief follow-up support to housed clients including liaising with landlords working with volunteers fostering a stable living environment preventing evictions and ensuring rent is paid in full and on time.
• Collect and evaluate information to determine clients eligibility including verifying information through personal interviews and liaising with client supports relevant service providers community agencies landlords.
• Prepare case management assessment and case note documentation; maintain member case files and ensure quality audit measures are achieved in accordance with the YMCA and funders standards.
• Respond to and investigate enquiries complaints and emergency situations involving clients; assess the situation and present and implement solutions; listen mediate negotiate and provide support and guidance to resolve issues.
• Participate in research activities and program development and delivery.
• Liaise with staff from other programs and community agencies to provide program information or advocate for transfers/placements of clients.
• Adhere to all YMCA House protocols and practices as well as Association and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Participate in volunteer supervision staff meetings and professional development trainings as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• Degree diploma or certificate in social or human services or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a setting that provides service to homeless or street-involved youth including case management.
• Experience working with marginalized individuals with complex needs and extensive skills in mental health and harm reduction.
• Knowledge and ability to integrate anti-oppression anti-black racism critical disability 2SLGBTQIA and trans-positivity trauma-informed care and a recovery approach into practice.
• Knowledge of the issues that lead young people to become homeless and the ability to work with youth in a respectful non-judgmental and consistent manner.
• Ability to work flexible shifts.
• Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act Landlord and Tenant Board processes and other relevant housing legislation.
• Training certificate in defusing hostility and/or crisis prevention.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members staff and volunteers; excellent written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and resolve conflicts in a constructive and professional manner.
• Experience with Windows Microsoft Word Perfect/Excel.
• Valid drivers licence is required.
• Valid First Aid/CPR Certificate; knowledge of health and safety and child protection laws.
• Excellent understanding of diversity inclusion and equity including the ability to identify and address barriers work effectively with diverse stakeholders and integrate equity into program design

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCAs Mission Vision and Values
• Focus on the health safety and wellbeing of all children youth and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable Relationship-Builder Improvement-Orientated Team Player & Leader Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people helping them grow lead and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services such as health and fitness licensed child care camps employment and immigrant services education and training and services for youth families and seniors. Learn more in ourstrategic plan Greater Togetherwhich outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour Indigenous Peoples disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest however due to the volume of applications we receive we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.