Case Worker - Harm Reduction

YWCA Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000; Full time

Job summary

YWCA Toronto seeks a dedicated Case Worker for its Harm Reduction program. This full-time, permanent role involves managing case support and programs aimed at empowering diverse individuals, particularly those with complex needs. Ideal candidates will possess relevant experience in supportive housing and a commitment to anti-oppression practices to foster an inclusive environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage

Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefit

Multi-Sector Pension Plan

20 Vacation Days and Sick Leave

Financial Assistance for Professional Development

Qualifications

• 3 - 5 years’ experience in supportive housing settings.
• In-depth understanding of harm reduction and mental health.
• Experience in developing community-based programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of harm reduction programming.
• Provide counseling and crisis intervention to residents.
• Develop individualized support plans with tenants.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Conflict mediation

Community development

Empowerment strategies

Culturally sensitive services

Education

Undergraduate degree in Social Work, Occupational Therapy or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Employment Type:Full-Time, Permanent
Work Hours:35 hours per week (rotating shifts including evenings and weekends; shares on-call responsibilities)
Salary:$59,399 annually (L7), plus comprehensive benefits
Location:389 Church Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2E5

Internal Application Deadline:Thursday, June 26, 2025
External Application Deadline:Monday, June 30, 2025

JOIN OUR TEAM
YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected. We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and/or Two-Spirit. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

The Case Worker – Harm Reduction is responsible for leading the design and implementation of programming that promotes harm reduction principles and approaches that empower tenants and tenant-led initiatives. The position is also responsible for supporting tenancy through eviction prevention, developing and implementing community development initiatives, with the goal of creating a dynamic and inclusive community, engagement with broader community, through a Trauma Informed, harm reduction and Anti-Oppression lens that meets the emotional, practical and social support needs of the tenant community.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM, CHURCH STREET
YWCA Toronto Church Street facility includes 120 units of permanent housing. The Case Worker is responsible for providing case management support to women and gender diverse people including: individuals with complex mental health issues and who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness; individuals transitioning from provincially-funded institutions and service systems such as hospitals or prisons; Indigenous women/two-spirit people. The program goals include housing stabilization, harm reduction, and health promotion. Individual and group support assists tenants to identify and build the skills required to address the barriers they experience in their lives and to maintain their housing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Uses effective eviction prevention measures to assist tenants to assume and maintain their tenancy obligations;
• Uses harm reduction principles in facilitating and supporting tenant-centered activities (e.g. tenant committees related to areas of importance for residents such as safety, health and wellness, building-related issues, housing stability, etc.);
• Provides harm reduction strategies that will empower individuals as they address issues related to substance use, mental health, health and wellness and housing;
• Provides crisis prevention, intervention and counseling for women and children and gender diverse people to respond to crisis in ways that support individual and community well-being;
• Engages individuals in identifying needs, developing treatment plans, and assists tenants to problem solve and access relevant community support plans that identify ongoing housing and mental health/addictions support;
• Works with a tenant support network and referral partners to develop individualized support plans that identify ongoing housing and mental health/addictions support;
• Creates and delivers programming specifically designed to build community capacity with the use of a harm reduction framework that will give individuals and groups of residents the opportunity to develop and use harm reduction strategies in all aspects of their lives (health, relationships, independent life skills, housing, etc.).

QUALIFICATIONS

• General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree (example: Bachelor of Social Work in mental health and health field, Occupational Therapy, etc.) (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• 3 - 5 years’ experience working in a supportive housing setting in a direct service setting with children, youth and adults who experience impacts of poverty, homelessness/under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/addictions, or concurrent disorders;
• In-depth understanding of harm reduction, trauma, mental health and substance use;
• Demonstrative experience, knowledge and understanding of harm reduction approaches as a holistic frame work that incorporates supportive housing, community development, advocacy and peer support;
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming;
• Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, client-centered and strengths-based;
• Life Skills certificate an asset; arts based and social media skills an asset;
• Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing Services Act, and Ontario Human Rights Code;
• Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis;
• Proven experience working independently, developing and facilitating groups;
• Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services and very good knowledge and understanding of community resources;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and excellent oral and written communications skills;
• Working knowledge and application of Anti-Oppression, Trauma Informed, Harm Reduction, and feminist frameworks;
• Knowledge of a second language or culture an asset.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefit
• Multi-Sector Pension Plan: Employer’s contribution of 5.75% and Employee Contribution of 3.25%
• Time off: Starts with 20 Vacation Days, 1.5 Days Per Month Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Health Promotional Days and 4 Float Days
• Other Benefits: Child Care Benefits, Maternity/Parental Leave Supplementary Employment Benefits, Educational/Sabbatical Leave, and Financial Assistance for Professional Development

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is secondable.

Posting Date:June 17, 2025

YWCA Toronto transforms lives. As the city’s largest multi-service women’s organization, we help women and gender diverse people escape violence, move out of poverty and access safe, affordable housing.

We work tenaciously to break down barriers that hold women and gender diverse people back from achieving equality.

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring.

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.