Choices for Youth Inc. (CFY) is a professional service, youth-focused, non-profit, charitable organization that creates spaces and conversations and operates programs and social enterprises to help vulnerable youth secure stable housing, employment, and education while improving health and family stability. With a focus on prevention, intervention, and support, we help youth and young families break cycles of poverty and homelessness and transition to healthy, stable, and independent lives. We are currently hiring a part-time Shelter Diversion Worker position. This is a contractual position until March 31, 2024, the possibility of an extension.
Young people arrive at Choices for Youth (CFY) from all over the province and approximately 50% of the homeless population in St. John’s have arrived in the city within the past 5 years. For youth who are new to the city, arriving alone and without support elevates pre-existing risks while also introducing new ones. Youth who come to St. John’s in seek of services are often running away from challenges, or need specific types of support that they cannot receive in their home communities. Unfortunately, without an adequately resourced and coordinated response from service providers, the first few days of their arrival represent a series of crises as these young people often have nowhere to sleep, no money, no food, and no local networks of support. There is a significant opportunity to embed coordination of rural, remote, and urban services to ensure smoother transitions for the young people we serve.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Shelter Diversion Worker(SDW) will work in collaboration with the Soft-Landing program coordinator and team as well as the CFY Shelter staff to identify and secure available and appropriate, private-market rental housing opportunities, for marginalized youth staying at the shelter while implementing solutions to housing barriers.
The SDW will provide direct individualized support to deliver meaningful and relevant services to housing young people. They will be responsible for ensuring that participants with housing needs receive the necessary support to secure and maintain safe, affordable, and appropriate housing.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
· Build rapport with individual youth through supportive and respectful interactions.
· Engage with youth at the CFY Shelter to provide housing-specific support and interventions tailored to the needs of each youth.
· Complete all Soft Landing intake documentation as well as other community partner referrals to ensure youth are able to access all financial and housing supports available.
· Identifying private market landlords and supporting youth for potential apartment rentals.
· Develop and seek out trusting relationships with landlords and property managers.
· Maintain statistical data and documentation to assist in identifying housing trends and developing strategies to navigate them.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
· Degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary program in the social sciences/human services field.
· Related experience in the social sciences/human services field.
· Related trades experience is considered an asset.
· Extensive knowledge and understanding of complex service needs, youth-related issues, and resources including housing, education/employment, mental health/addictions, trauma, and the Residential Tenancies Act.
· Significant skills in the areas of relationship building/engagement, advocacy, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and creative problem-solving.
· Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and housing models/options is an asset.
· Current Standard First Aid/CPR
· Valid ASIST training.
· Satisfactory Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check
WORK HOURS
The position will work 37.5 hours biweekly. Flexibility in work hours will be required to accommodate higher work volumes and organizational requirements.
COMPENSATION
The rate of pay for this position is $23.42 per hour.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your cover letter and resume explaining how you meet the criteria and use SDW-09-2023 in the subject line.
Application Deadline: October 4, 2023
Human Resources Recruitment@choicesforyouth.ca
Greg Quinn, Program Coordinator
Choices for Youth (CFY) strives towards a culture of inclusion and empowerment, one where there’s a sense of belonging and safety while prioritizing diversity across the organization, including in its Board of Directors composition, employment practices, staff, policies, programming, and services. CFY values lived and living experience and invites everyone interested to apply for available opportunities. CFY actively seeks applications from Indigenous Peoples; members of Black, racialized, and other equity-seeking and/or religious, cultural, and other communities; members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; people with disabilities; and people from a variety of social and economic backgrounds. Should you require support or accommodation(s) to better enable your ability to participate in the employment or recruitment process, please let us know at any point. This information will be kept confidential.
To view all current job postings, please visit http://www.choicesforyouth.ca/join-cfy.