Supportive Housing Worker

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WORKER

Modular Housing - 321 Dovercourt Road

One (1) Bargaining Unit, Permanent Full-Time Position- Medication Support

Existing Vacancy

Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-4:00pm

Compensation: $25.28/hour-$29.40/hour

About Cota

Cota is an accredited not-for-profit organization that has been providing community-based support to people living with mental health and cognitive challenges for over 50 years. At present, our wide array of services delivers much needed support to over 4,000 people/year who live with mental health challenges, psychogeriatric mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, developmental disabilities, dual diagnoses and/or the experience of homelessness. These services include, but are not limited to, case management, supportive housing and adult day program services. A full listing of our services can be viewed on our website at  https://cotainspires.ca/

Cota is presently seeking a dynamic and innovative individual to join our amazing team in the capacity of the role outlined within this posting. Followed by our mission to support individuals with mental health and cognitive challenges to live well within their communities, we strive toward a vision of a supportive, inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. If you feel you have the skills and qualifications to perform the duties of this role while consistently exemplifying Cota’s values Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview

The role of the Supportive Housing Worker is crucial for supporting tenants in maintaining their housing, developing independent living skills, and pursuing personal recovery and wellness.

About the Team

We require an experienced Supportive Housing Worker to work as team members in our Modular Housing program at 321 Dovercourt Road. This site is a part of the City's Phase 1 Modular Housing Initiative. This site provides permanent affordable housing with support to people who are exiting chronic homelessness.

Each tenant has a bachelor apartment within the building, and onsite support provided by Cota's supportive housing team. Our comprehensive approach to supportive housing can greatly benefit the tenants and contribute to their overall well-being.

Responsibilities:

• Housing Maintenance: The Supportive Housing Worker assists tenants in maintaining their housing by guiding tasks such as cleaning, organizing, and managing their living space. They may also help tenants understand their tenancy rights and responsibilities, including rent payment and adherence to building rules and regulations. By offering support in housing-related matters, the worker helps ensure that tenants can sustain their housing stability.

• Independent Living Skills: The Supportive Housing Worker helps tenants develop and enhance their independent living skills. This may involve teaching practical skills such as budgeting, meal planning (e.g. meal prep or support with meal program), grocery shopping, and cooking. The worker can also guide managing household chores, personal hygiene, and time management. Through skill-building activities, the worker empowers tenants to become more self-sufficient and confident in their ability to live independently.

• Individualized Support Planning: The Supportive Housing Worker engages in person-centered planning with tenants to identify their unique needs and aspirations. Together, they develop individualized support plans that outline specific goals, strategies, and timelines. The worker regularly reviews and revises these plans in collaboration with the tenant to ensure they remain relevant and supportive of their evolving needs.

• Crisis Intervention and Advocacy: In times of crisis or challenging situations, the Supportive Housing Worker provides immediate support and intervention. This may involve de-escalation techniques, connecting tenants with appropriate emergency services, conducting wellness checks, or advocating on their behalf to resolve issues. The worker ensures that tenants feel heard, supported, and safe within their housing environment.

By fulfilling these responsibilities, the Supportive Housing Worker plays a crucial role in assisting tenants with housing maintenance, independent living skills development, and personal recovery and wellness. Their support fosters tenants' self-sufficiency, empowerment, and overall well-being, ultimately contributing to the success and stability of the supportive housing program.

Qualifications:

Education

• A minimum of a Community College Diploma in a field relevant to the target population. Higher level post-secondary education will be considered an asset.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of direct or transferable experience suitable to working effectively with the relevant target population.
• Experience in community mental health and/or supportive housing settings.
• Experience with the development of tenant recovery plans.
• Experience working with developmentally delayed or addictions is preferable.

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of community resources relevant to the target population being served and/or demonstrated ability to search for applicable resources/information.
• Ability to design and implement group activities and facilitate group meetings.
• Good crisis management and dispute resolution skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Basic computer literacy (Word, E-mail, Internet).
• Basic understanding of different psychiatric conditions.
• Understanding anti-oppressive practice.

Other:

• Staff to be able to adjust based on the needs of the program. 

Application Details:

Please complete the application below before June 10, 2025 at 4:00pm. 

Benefits:

Upon successful completion of a three-month period of employment, permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week will be eligible for employer-paid group insurance benefits. These employer-paid benefits will include: 

• Extended health care 
• Life insurance 
•  Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Dental care 
• Travel assistance 
• Vision care 

Permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week are also required to enroll in employee-paid long-term disability coverage.

Additional Information:

Interview Process: Cota may choose to conduct parts/all of the hiring process virtually. Please note that as part of maintaining an agile workforce, all Cota staff may be required to be reasonably reassigned to support the operational needs of our essential services.

Screening Process: Please note that Cota uses AI to screen potential applicants for all roles.

We would like to thank all those that apply; however, due to high volumes of interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Thank you, Cota's HR Department.

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Hope, respect, dedication, equity, accountability, teamwork, and innovation are key values of Cota. We are dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace, upholding dignity, and acknowledging each person's individual contributions and potential as an equal-opportunity employer. We uphold the Ontario Human Right Code and strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ people, and others who provide various viewpoints. Cota ensures an accessible hiring process in line with the AODA principles, providing accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For any accommodation requests, please contact hr_recruitment@cotainspires.ca