Tenancy Support Mentor - Housing First

About The Link: Youth and Family Supports

For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

About the Opportunity

POSITION SUMMARY

Housing First is a different approach to supporting people with a history of homelessness and multiple disadvantages which could include youth aging out of care, mental illness, addictions, etc. 

The Tenancy Support Mentor will report to and assist the Housing First Case Manager with the daily operations and support needs of participants between 18 – 30 years of age within the program. They will work alongside individuals to build trusting, therapeutic relationships that are centered on providing individualized, person-driven, asset-based, and trauma-informed support.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties and responsibilities of the Tenancy Support Mentor include but are not limited to: 

• Develop supportive relationships with participants;
  
• Supporting individuals to:

                o Access to basic needs.

                o Access to income supports.

                o Obtain and maintain tenancies. 

                o Complete applications.

                o Access information.

                o Set and achieve goals.

                o Connecting to their culture.

                o Access activities of daily living until connections are made with community resources, including links and referrals.

• Mediate issues between participant and landlords;
  
• Support landlords with tenancy issues;
• Advocate on behalf of participants;
• Conduct ongoing assessments of participants;
• Daily and weekly ongoing contact with participants;
• Accurate entry and maintenance of participant data into HIFIS;
• Ability to work effectively with partnering agencies;
• Ability to organize time to complete tasks and administration duties in a timely and professional manner;
• Attend internal and external meetings as per scheduled;
• Other duties as requested by Chief Operational Officer.
  

• Trauma informed care;
• De-escalation and mediation techniques;
• Crisis intervention, harm reduction techniques and conflict resolution skills;
• Understanding of the challenges/barrier the homeless population face such as mental health, addictions, limited supports;
• Ability to work independently;
• Person-centered care and meeting people where they are at;
• Managing difficult/crisis situations ; 
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Knowledge of legislation around housing, health and Income Assistance and benefits (a combination of education and experience may be considered);
• Ability to navigate crisis and support others through stressful situations; 
• Knowledge of Strength-based philosophy and solution oriented approach;
• Knowledge and experience with diverse cultures and economic backgrounds;
• Knowledge of aboriginal culture and language (preferred);
• Knowledge of community resources;
• Knowledge and experience with diverse cultures and economic backgrounds;
• Knowledge of Indigenous culture;

Essential Requirements

• Community Support Worker diploma preferred or a combination of education and life experience;
• Experience with one-on-one mentorship with at risk youth and demonstrate an understanding of the realities of living independently;
• Ability to be flexible with schedule based on program and participant needs (days, evenings and weekends).
• Willingness to obtain necessary training as per the organization’s training policy including Crisis De-escalation, Applied Suicide Intervention, Colonization Awareness, and Child Development;
• Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C, or willingness to obtain;
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry check with acceptable Prior Contact checks, and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all done within the last 3 months;
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driver’s abstract (subject to approval);
• Access to a personal vehicle for work is required.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request an accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential. 

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