Income Support Specialist - Outreach Services

CMHA Peel Dufferin; Brampton; Hybrid; CAD 61,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A community mental health organization in Brampton is seeking a Full-time Permanent Income Support Specialist to assist individuals in receiving necessary income security payments. The role involves providing brief intervention services, developing financial security plans, and navigating benefits systems for those facing homelessness or mental health issues. Candidates should possess a post-secondary degree in Social Services and have a strong understanding of community support networks.

Benefits

4 weeks accrued vacation + 1 flexible day

Up to 18 sick days accrued per year

HOOPP Pension Plan enrollment

Ongoing professional development funding

Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience with a focus on assessment and brief interventions.
• Ability to navigate community services effectively.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Responsibilities

• Provide brief intervention services to clients in need of income support.
• Document the application and appeal processes for clients.
• Help clients create financial security plans.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Knowledge of community mental health networks

Ability to explain complex systems

Education

Post-Secondary diploma or degree in Social Services

Job description

Why join CMHA Peel Dufferin?

Support your community. Advance your career. Fulfill your purpose

Joining the Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Dufferin Branch means you’ll be part of something meaningful. For starters, we’re honored to have received the Canadian Non‑Profit Employer of Choice Award for our efforts to help people live better. Providing support and services to those who live with mental illness, we’re committed to increasing awareness and addressing the stigma surrounding mental health. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to create a diverse organization that represents the communities we serve – and the people we help.

What we offer

As a community‑based agency, we’re dedicated to the mental, physical, and social health of everyone – including our team members. That’s why we’re proud to offer a total rewards package that helps our employees balance their professional and home life. You’ll also be empowered to keep learning new skills and reaching your goals – from developing a career growth plan to participating in training sessions.

In addition to competitive benefits like health, dental and EFAP we offer our team members the following perks:

• 4 weeks accrued vacation + 1 flexible day each year
• Up to 18 sick days accrued per year
• HOOPP Pension Plan enrollment
• Ongoing professional development plus $250 (pro‑rated) annual funding for continuing education and certifications
• $350 (pro‑rated) annual allowance to invest in achieving your personal wellness goals
• Mileage reimbursement for work‑related travel

We are currently seeking a Full‑time Permanent Income Support Specialist to join our team.

In this role, you will work specifically with individuals who qualify for, but do not currently receive, income security payments (OW, ODSP, EI) as well as those who are currently receiving some benefits but require assistance with system navigation and advocacy to receive their full entitlement. You’ll work to improve service delivery coordination to help individuals with serious mental illness receive the income supports they need to successfully move out of homelessness. This role with operate in tandem with the Peel Outreach program, which is part of a continuum of services that seek to end homelessness in Peel Region and increase access to mainstream services. Clients are individuals and/or families who are homeless or are at imminent risk of homelessness and experience serious mental health challenges.

Status: Full‑time Permanent, 37.5 hours per week.

Salary: $61,201.01 – $72,001.19 annually (Candidate qualifications will be considered when determining the starting salary)

Location: This position will be based out of the 60 West Drive, Brampton, Ontario office, with opportunities for occasional remote work.

Note, this posting is for an active vacancy.

What You Will Do

• Provide brief intervention services to clients in need of income support. Service will be offered with flexible levels of intensity dependent on the client's individual needs for approximately three (3) months, plus follow up as needed
• Document the application and appeal process, creating a roadmap to navigate the system
• Develop and implement an assessment tool to screen clients for eligibility based on identity, employment, health, and family status
• Help clients create a financial security plan to prevent them from falling back into homelessness
• Meet with clients to complete applications to relevant programs, including supporting clients to get medical, banking, and other documentation needed to prove eligibility and receive funds

• Meet one‑on‑one to develop and maintain a household budget that meets their needs
• Connect clients to free tax preparation services
• Meet with other community service providers to share and collect information and best practices
• Establish positive relationships with the government body delivering the income supplement to advocate for clients

This posting description indicates the key responsibilities and core functions of the position. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities.

What you need to join our team

• Post‑Secondary diploma or degree in Social Services or degree in relevant discipline (BSW, MSW, OT, RN)
• Being a registered and / or regulated health professional is an asset
• Minimum 2 years of experience with a focus on assessment, brief interventions and short term supports
• Ability to explain complex system operations in plain terms, research the availability of community services, and organize self to respond to high work demands are required
• Comprehensive knowledge of community mental health and human service networks in the Peel region
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to approach, listen, build trust, and communicate across diverse cultures and intersectionality. Willingness to continually improve understanding around cultural competence.
• Openness to operate from an anti‑racist, anti‑oppressive, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and intersectional framework.
• Willingness to learn and apply practical understanding of different elements of diversity, such as gender identity/expression, race/cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, disability, immigration and precarious status, family status, etc.
• Satisfactory police records search and vulnerable sector screening
• Satisfactory references
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle

Deadline to Apply: Monday December 15th, 2025 at 5:00 PM

At the Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Dufferin Branch, we provide a wide array of community services, resources, and care for people with mental illness. In your role, you’ll not only assist people who are struggling, you’ll help them return to good health and reintegrate into the community. In everything we do, we work together to make the world a better place – one person at a time.

Apply Now and EMPOWER your career.

CMHA Peel Dufferin strives to be an equitable employer. We are committed to supporting inclusive recruitment and selection processes, work environments and a qualified workforce reflective of the diverse populations we serve. We acknowledge that removing existing barriers and preventing new barriers is required to foster dignity and independence for people of all ages, genders, cultures, and abilities. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including but not limited to, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) populations, ethno‑racial communities, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, women and gender diverse people, low‑income communities, and all equity‑deserving groups.

2SLGBTQIA+ (Two‑Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and a range of gender and sexual diversity categories not listed).

Accessibility Statement

When contacted by CMHA Peel Dufferin for a career opportunity, please advise the People and Culture Department of any accommodation needs that may make your experience through the recruitment process more comfortable. We are committed to working with you to meet these needs by providing reasonable accommodations, ensuring you have access to a fair and equitable process. We are continuously working to improve our accessibility practices and welcome any feedback or suggestions on how we can better accommodate candidates with accessibility needs. Should you have feedback, please email us at [e-mail].

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment

To streamline our recruitment process, we utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage and organize applications. While the ATS aids in efficiency, the essential review and evaluation of candidates is carried out by members of our People and Culture team. This approach ensures a personalized assessment that allows us to gain a comprehensive view of a candidate’s experience, skills and potential. AI is not used to make any decisions in our recruitment process.

Next Steps

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. We retain all applications submitted for one (1) year after the closing date of the posting for consideration in future career opportunities.