Housing Outreach Worker

The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS) is a non-profit charitable organization serving the Urban Aboriginal community with a mandate to provide programs and services that will contribute to the cultural, educational, social, economic, and recreational development of Urban Aboriginal people. The Society manages twenty-three programs and services through three locations in Vancouver. The Friendship Centre at 1607 East Hastings is a community-led organization creating meaningful change for the Urban Aboriginal Population that we serve. VAFCS is currently seeking an individual connected with Indigenous community, highly organized, and self-motivated to work with us! The Housing Outreach Worker works directly with tenants to avoid losing their housing by providing ongoing support including working directly with rental support supplement providers. The Housing Outreach Worker is the point of contact for tenants who are searching or trying to retain housing. This role is hands-on and very demanding, engaging one on one providing support services and alleviating barriers that might otherwise lead to housing loss. The Housing Outreach Worker builds relationships with tenants and accompanies them when called upon to meeting or other avenues of mediation or advocacy reducing the anxiety of intergenerational trauma that prevents our peoples from engaging with authority figures. The Housing Outreach Worker provides safe indigenous awareness to vulnerable indigenous peoples in our community wo are the least likely to access mainstream social services. Housing Outreach Worker duties includes driving clients to appointments, counseling clients in appropriate support services so that the individual improves their life circumstances through safe and secure housing retention. **EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE** * Minimum 2 years’ experience in front line work – case management, community outreach, mental health, addictions, or housing programs in a front-line capacity * Exposure to or direct work history with principles of evidence-based practice, client centred and harm reduction methods * Prior work with the Indigenous community **KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES** * Sound understanding of available housing, income support and related agency/government assistance programs in the GVRD * Excellent interpersonal communication skills to connect with individuals, funded agencies, and other stakeholders to meet Reaching Home reporting requirements and standards * Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, clients, and community agencies * Exercise discretion, compassion, empathy and maintain confidentiality * Results focused to meet high standards of performance, able to monitor progress towards goals and adjust when necessary, including ability to review and adjust plans as required * Ability to build organizational trust in his or her own professionalism, integrity, and expertise * Knowledge and understanding of Aborigina