About the Role
The Housing Support Worker provides front-line, client-centred support to women and gender-diverse individuals living in Jean Tweed’s supportive housing programs. The role focuses on housing stability, harm reduction, life skills development, crisis intervention, and connection to community resources, grounded in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and strengths-based practice.
Responsibilities
- Provide individualized, trauma-informed support to residents to promote housing stability and wellbeing
- Conduct client check-ins, wellness assessments, and support planning
- Support clients in developing and achieving personal goals related to housing, health, recovery, and community integration
- Encourage client participation in decision-making regarding housing and support plans
- Provide life skills support, including daily living, budgeting, meal preparation, personal care, and tenancy skills
- Monitor mental health and substance use needs and respond appropriately using harm-reduction principles
- Identify, assess, and respond to crisis situations, including mental health crises, overdoses, or conflict
- De-escalate challenging situations while maintaining safety for clients, staff, and visitors
- Administer emergency interventions as trained (e.g., CPR, Naloxone, CPI Training)
- Proactively observe and respond to early signs of distress or agitation
- Collaborate with internal team members, case managers, and external service providers
- Support referrals to community resources including healthcare, income supports, legal aid, and social services
- Advocate for clients within systems to support housing retention and access to services
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation in client records
- Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary, women-centred team
- Participate in shift handovers, team meetings, and program planning
- Contribute to a supportive, inclusive, and respectful living environment
- Support program activities, community building, and group initiatives
- Complete required documentation, incident reports, and data entry
- Assist with intakes, orientation of new residents, and program administration
- Support housekeeping, meal preparation, and maintenance reporting as needed
- Conduct job responsibilities with a commitment to harm reduction, trauma- informed, women-centred and anti-oppressive practices.
- Abide by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and work in a manner that is safe, reporting incidents immediately to direct supervisor.
- Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Jean Tweed Treatment Centre.
- Perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall goals and objectives of The Jean Tweed Treatment Centre.
- Maintain a client service orientation including learning about and addressing client needs and concerns.
- Work collaboratively including respect others, sharing information, consulting and celebrating shared successes.
- Demonstrate accountability by holding self-responsible and following through on commitments.
- Support inclusion and equity by respecting others, embracing diversity and addressing oppression.
- Commit to continuous learning through professional development, giving and receiving constructive feedback and applying new skills.
Requirements
- Diploma or Degree in Social Work, Social Services or equivalent qualification.
- Experience working with women facing housing instability, mental health challenges, trauma and substance use.
- A combination of 3 years of work experience in the field of Mental Health, Substance Use, and/or Supportive Housing.
- Expertise in providing supportive counselling and case management to individuals who are experiencing or have experienced a complex history of mental health concerns, and substance use.
- Working knowledge of community resources such as health care.
- Ability to work collaboratively in complex community settings.
- Ability to use a range of technological tools, e.g. online reporting systems, videoconferencing etc.
- Ability to work independently with minimal day-to-day supervision.
- Crisis intervention skills, with well-developed problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent oral and writing skills.
- First Aid/CPR certification.
- Vulnerable Police Sector check
Skills
- Trauma-informed practice
- Harm reduction principles
- Life skills development
- Crisis intervention
- Client-centred support
- Anti-oppressive practice
- Strengths-based practice
- Supportive counselling
- Case management
- Collaboration
- Advocacy
- Documentation
- Problem-solving
- Interpersonal skills
- Oral communication
- Writing skills
Location
- Onsite
Work Type
- Full-time
- 10-hour shift
Experience Level
- 3 years of work experience in the field of Mental Health, Substance Use, and/or Supportive Housing
Education Level
- Diploma or Degree in Social Work, Social Services or equivalent qualification
Salary/Compensations
- $24.59 - $28.93 per hour
Benefits
- Life Insurance
- AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment)
- Long-Term Disability (LTD)
- Extended Health Care
- Dental Coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
About the Company
- Jean Tweed is a leading, community-based organization that provides a supportive environment for women with substance use, mental health, and gambling concerns.
- Recognizing the diversity of women’s experience in today’s society, our programs seek to address a range of issues in a woman’s life that may contribute to substance use and gambling concerns.
- The Jean Tweed Centre is building capacity to transform the level of support for women with substance use, mental health, and gambling concerns.
Equal Opportunity
- In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process.
- We welcome all qualified candidates to apply, but Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority.
