Veterans Housing Outreach Worker
Job Title: Veterans Housing Outreach Worker
Company: John Howard Society of Victoria
Location: In Person, Victoria, BC
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Work hours: 40 hour per week, Mon - Fri, 8 am to 4:30 pm
Salary: $32.45 - $34.42 per hour
Benefits: Employee Engagement Activities, Organization Events, Dental care, Disability insurance, Employee assistance program, Extended health care, Life insurance, Paid time off, RRSP match
Who We Are:
John Howard Society of Victoria is a fast paced growing, dynamic and innovative social service organization that strives to create safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all. Our goal is to help individuals achieve greater independence by providing support with housing, life-skills, education, employment, and community-based services.
At John Howard Society of Victoria we come from various backgrounds and share a common goal of wanting to make things better in our community, for our community. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that adapts to your needs.
Our Vision, Mission, Goals, and Values:
Our Vision: A safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all
Our Mission: We contribute to a safer, stronger and more sustainable communities by supporting people to achieve greater independence
Our Goals:
Service Excellence: Improve the quality of life of the people we service through more relevant, accessible and sustainable services.
Organizational Sustainability: Realize a resilient operational and governance model that supports JHSV to consistently serve the end-to-end client journey.
Capacity: Increase our capacity to work effectively and efficiently as a team.
Our Values:
Our Service Commitments (How we provide services to clients) – Dignity, Advocacy, Empowerment
Team Values (How we work together) – Collaboration, Accountability, Resiliency
What We Offer:
Competitive Benefits: Enjoy paid vacation, sick and personal time, health and dental plans, long-term disability, critical illness and RRSP
Supportive Environment: Our Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities are designed to help you succeed both personally and professionally. We invest in our employees' growth through training programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.
Engaging Culture: Be part of a friendly team that values your input! With numerous employee engagements, you can make your voice heard and contribute to meaningful change for our clients and our community.
Employee Engagement: We often organize team and social gatherings to strengthen relationships and foster camaraderie to create a supportive network among colleagues.
Impactful Work: Employees at JHS Victoria are driven by a shared mission to make a positive difference in the community. Engaging in meaningful work enhances job satisfaction and connects team members to a greater purpose.
About the Program:
The program provides housing and wraparound support to veterans and retired RCMP officers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our program focuses on individualized support services to improve integration and connectedness to support structures, including housing attainment, rental assistance, basic needs, and access to counselling or treatment. Grounded in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, participants are supported through service planning, case management, and optional one-on-one or group counselling, with the aim of fostering stability, dignity, and community connection.
Position Summary:
The Position reports to Sr. Program Manager
We are seeking a compassionate Outreach Worker to develop, implement, and evaluate a support program for Veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The Outreach Worker will serve as the main point of contact, responsible for program creation, intake, processing, and monitoring. This in-person role requires a commitment to meeting program goals while providing comprehensive support to individuals. Strong interpersonal skills and experience with vulnerable populations are essential. If you are dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of Veterans, we encourage you to apply and help us provide vital services to those in need. This is an in-person role with no opportunity to work-from home.
What You'll Be Doing:
Housing and Client Support (40%)
Identify, apply for, and secure safe, stable, and appropriate housing for veterans, including private market, supported housing, and transitional options.
Works in collaboration with the client to conduct a Needs Assessment, and then formulate a comprehensive service plan that is reviewed and modified with client on a regular basis. Conduct 3, 6, 9, 12 month check ins to ensure client is working towards
their goals.
Work under a person-centered model of support to foster opportunity to achieve individualized, measurable short and long-term goals. provide services for all clients who have experienced homelessness and lived experiences of facing multiple barriers such as substance use, disabilities, mental health, poverty, and trauma
Provide flexible and mobile outreach services, including case management, advocacy, and informal counseling, in environments such as streets, shelters, hospitals, corrections facilities, housing sites, and offices.
Provide individually tailored services to each client—i.e., housing placement, landlord mediation, independent living skills, vocational guidance, appointment escorts, information and access to integrated substance use treatment and mental health services.
Educate, inform, and advocate for clients regarding benefits and financial entitlements, rental subsidies (SAFER, BC Housing,
PWD, IA), housing registries, employment supports, and community-based low-barrier resources.
Support housing set-up through coordinating access to rent supplements, damage deposits, tenant insurance, and essential furnishings and household goods (groceries, appliances, clothing, etc.).
Provide veterans with comprehensive, wraparound case management services, tailored to their individual needs and goals.
Serve as a primary point of contact for client support, offering regular check-ins, crisis response, advocacy, and systems navigation.
Assist veterans in completing Veterans Affairs forms and navigating federal, provincial, and municipal income supports (e.g. VAC benefits, EI, income assistance, disability benefits, etc.).
Refer and connect clients to internal and external mental health supports, including the in-house counselor, substance use services, and culturally relevant resources.
Coordinate care with community partners including health authorities, peer-led veteran organizations, and Indigenous support agencies when applicable.
Outreach and Community Engagement (30%)
Conduct outreach activities, including organizing and participating in community events, workshops, and presentations to raise awareness about veteran services.
Build and maintain strategic relationships with community agencies, veteran-focused organizations, stakeholders, and service providers to enhance referrals and collaboration.
Initiate and foster strong relationships with landlords and housing providers to increase housing options, negotiate tenancy opportunities, address tenancy concerns, and promote long-term housing retention.
Track and maintain a database of landlord contacts and available housing units, regularly updating it to reflect the evolving housing landscape.
Adapt to new changes and pivot strategies as necessary to meet veteran needs effectively.
Liaise with landlords, partner organizations, funders, community partners, and stakeholders to develop and maintain working relationships.
Build and maintain positive relationships with landlords and housing providers to support client housing placements, negotiate
tenancy opportunities, address potential concerns, and promote long-term housing retention.
Document systemic and structural barriers faced by veterans (e.g., discrimination in housing, service gaps), and provide regular feedback to leadership to support advocacy and policy improvement.
Support policy shifts by documenting barriers faced by clients and providing insights to leadership and funders.
Explore innovative community partnerships to expand housing access, enhance wraparound supports, and reduce service duplication
Reporting (30%)
Maintain accurate records of case management activities, outreach efforts, and outcomes, including demographic information, housing status, support services accessed, referrals made, and follow-up actions.
Maintain up-to-date, detailed case notes, individualized support plans, consent forms, and housing documentation in accordance with privacy legislation and organizational policies.
Prepare and submit a monthly internal report outlining client progress, housing outcomes, service gaps, and engagement statistics.
Support the completion and ongoing maintenance of the veterans data collection tool (Excel or other format), ensuring accurate monthly updates for all active clients.
Contribute to quarterly program reporting for funders by providing aggregated data and client success stories.
Collaborate closely with the veteran’s counselor and other professionals to ensure case planning and progress are documented and integrated across service streams.
Ensure timely and accurate documentation to support evaluation, quality improvement, and accountability to funders and stakeholders.
Perform other duties and projects as required and not limited to the responsibilities as mentioned.
*The assigned percentage of job responsibilities may vary based on organizational and operational priorities.
What We’re Looking For:
Qualifications:
Post-secondary education, preferably in the human/social service field.
Two (2) years of experience working in the community social services sector.
Demonstrated knowledge of income assistance and affordable housing programs for Veterans.
Knowledge or experience working with Veterans Affairs is an asset.
Lived experience as Veteran is an asset and/or able to demonstrate awareness of military culture and understanding of the unique challenges veterans experience after release.
Someone with a passion for and interest in working with vulnerable veterans.
Proficient in verbal and written English at a professional level, with excellent communication, organization and interpersonal abilities.
High proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, SharePoint) and case management systems.
Criminal Record Check.
Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle, insured for business up to $5,000,000 for liability, and which can be used to transport clients.
Emergency First Aid certification is an asset.
Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information effectively and possess strong integrity.
Skills and Competencies:
Ability to understand the dynamics of offender’s behavior and assess their needs and risks, managing it as part of the case management process.
Experience working with a range of different individuals and groups in the community, and to be sensitive to and understanding of their social realities, including culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, and lifestyle.
Well-developed interpersonal communication, assessment, and conflict management skills.
Ability to effectively manage a caseload.
Work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
Outcome driven to ensure organizational and contractual requirements are met.
Proven communication and conflict resolution skills.
Comfortable communicating by email, text message, telephone, and in-person.
Outstanding organizational, coordination, administration, and time management skills.
Demonstrated experience collecting program statistics and delivering reports, utilizing software and tools when appropriate.
Ability to develop and maintain rapport with internal and external stakeholders.
Who You Are:
Empathetic: Genuine compassion for veterans and a commitment to understanding their unique challenges and experiences.
Integrity: Strong ethical standards, particularly in handling sensitive and confidential information.
Resilient: Ability to cope with the emotional demands of the role and maintain a positive outlook.
Driven: Outcome-oriented with a strong desire to meet organizational and contractual requirements.
Collaborative: Team-oriented with a commitment to working closely with colleagues, including veteran counselors, to ensure comprehensive care.
Community-Minded: Passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of veterans and fostering inclusive communities.
Problem-Solver: Effective at identifying issues and developing practical solutions to support veterans in their journey toward independence.
Creating Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Communities at JHS Victoria:
At John Howard Society of Victoria, we proudly embrace the rich diversity of the communities we serve, and we’re excited to invite applicants from all backgrounds to join our team! We understand that everyone’s journey is different, and we are committed to providing the support needed to ensure equal opportunities for success throughout the hiring process. John Howard Society of Victoria will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email hr@jhsvic.ca if you have a need for any accommodation. We’re here to help!
Ready to Make a Positive Impact?
If you’re passionate about making a positive impact in people’s lives and meet the qualifications for this role, we’d love to hear from you!
Please submit your application through our portal. Submission deadline is August 10, 2025 and we’ll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. So don’t wait—apply today and take the next step in your journey with us!