Housing Access Coordinator

About this position

[Re-posting: This job has been re-posted with several changes: candidate must have experience looking for housing in a difficult housing market; the contract duration is longer; we are looking for a candidate with experience with SMIS; and we are looking for a candidate who understands the unique character of Romero House.]

Job title: Housing Access Coordinator

NOC 42201 – Social and community service workers

Reporting relationship: This position reports to the Housing Hub Manager.

Hours of work: Full-time (5 days/week). 9am-5pm weekdays. One hour for lunch. Occasional evenings and weekends. Some flexibility. 

Contract duration: November 2024 to December 31, 2025 (with possible extension). 

About Romero House:

Romero House is a community of welcome for newly arrived refugee claimants in Toronto. We are a charitable organisation offering transitional housing and immigration and settlement support in the spirit of good neighbours, valuing dignity, mutuality, and care. We are a diverse community where all are welcome. Romero House is unique in that we are not only a housing and settlement service provider but an intentional community (some of our staff and volunteers live in our housing) very connected to our neighbourhood and each other.  

Job purpose:

The Housing Access Coordinator will support refugee claimants in finding permanent housing. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Assist claimants to sort out housing options and develop plans of action while providing necessary support and assistance e.g. assist claimants in creating a budget, identifying housing search criteria, and create a housing search plan

• Refer claimants to other social services or assist claimants in locating and utilising community resources

• Meet with claimants to assess their progress, give support and discuss any difficulties or problems

• Maintain contact with other supporters (including housing providers and settlement workers) involved with claimants to provide information and obtain feedback on claimants’ overall progress

• Maintain relationships with landlords, property managers, realtors and housing agencies 

• Negotiate leases and rental agreements on behalf of refugee claimants, advocating on their behalf 

• Guide claimants in the process of moving out of Romero House or Community Host's home. 

• Support claimants with housing-related paperwork

• Create and maintain accurate records and files for each claimant

• Support claimants with applications for social housing benefits 

• Maintain program statistics 

• Coordinate volunteers to help with apartments searches, viewings, language interpretation, and other tasks 

• Assess and investigate eligibility for social benefits, such as Ontario Works’ Housing Stabilization Fund and the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit. 

• Schedule workshops for claimants on housing searches and housing rights and promote the workshops to interested claimants, as needed 

• Such other responsibilities as may be assigned

Qualifications (Required)

• Experience looking for housing in a difficult housing market, either yourself or on behalf of others. 
• Proficiency in English 

• Ability to learn digital tools quickly 

• Experience in a social service environment as an employee or placement student or equivalent experience 

• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities independently and as part of a team

Assets (Helpful but not required)

• Experience living at Romero House or being part of the Romero House community
• Proficiency in other languages, especially Spanish or Farsi

• Experience working in diverse communities 

• Self awareness with respect to power, privilege, and prejudice and tools to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion

• Proficiency with Google Workspace

• Experience with digital translation tools such as Google Translate 

• Experience with Salesforce or similar client records management software
• Experience with the City of Toronto's Shelter Management Information System (SMIS)
• Valid Ontario driver’s license, minimum level G2 

Working conditions

• Working indoors

• Working with vulnerable populations including recent migrants, low-income, trauma survivors, non-English speaking

• Communicating with claimants using digital translation tools, volunteer and professional interpreters  

• Hybrid work (minimum 3 days/week in office). Office location: 1558 Bloor Street West, Toronto

• Frequent use of email and instant messaging

• Frequent face-to-face meetings and phone calls

• Frequent individual work and regular team work

• Meeting twice weekly as a team for prayer (meaning, the invitation to connect with something beyond ourselves)

• Compliance with COVID policies, as they evolve

• Some travel may be required e.g. to accompany claimants to apartment viewings

Compensation

• Health benefits after 3 months ($2,000 Health Spending Account; Employee Assistance Plan)

• 3 weeks of paid vacation annually

• 10 days paid sick leave annually

• Professional development opportunities
• Reimbursement for cell phone plan up to $50/month

How to Apply

Send a cover letter and resume through CharityVillage. 

Equity:

We provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences (pardoned), marital status, family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by local law.

We particularly encourage applications from minoritized groups, including people with experiences of forced migration, people of colour, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2+ community, and those with varied areas of expertise and lived experiences.

Accessibility: 

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.