Outreach Worker HART Hub

Regent Park Community Health Centre; Toronto; On-site; CAD 39,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP Pension

Benefits

Job summary

Regent Park Community Health Centre seeks an Outreach Worker to support individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health/substance use issues in Downtown East Toronto. You will engage outdoors, in shelters, and encampments to build trust, connect people with housing, healthcare, and addiction treatment services.

The role emphasizes harm reduction, trauma-informed care, AR/anti-oppressive practices, and collaboration with local organizations to improve access to a wide range of supports

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in a related field or relevant work/lived experience.
• Lived experience with the priority population or work with marginalized groups is an asset.
• Strong commitment to harm reduction principles and practices.
• Experience with overdose prevention and response.
• Awareness of health issues in a diverse community and anti-oppressive approaches.
• Strong communication, decision making, and teamwork abilities.
• Must be drug and sex positive.
• Proficiency with computers and software applications.
• Knowledge of Regent Park area and community issues.

Responsibilities

• Build rapport with individuals who may distrust services using a non-judgmental approach.
• Provide supportive outreach in public spaces, encampments, shelters, or where individuals may be located.
• Assess immediate needs (food, water, hygiene items, clothing, shelter access).
• Evaluate risk factors (self-harm, overdose, risk to others) and prioritize safety.
• Respond to mental health crises or substance use emergencies with de-escalation and supportive interventions.
• Distribute naloxone and educate on its use.
• Assist with coordinating emergency responses when needed.
• Help connect individuals to healthcare services and housing resources.
• Coordinate referrals to shelter and safe bed options.
• Foster partnerships to enhance access to supports and services.
• Collaborate with other service providers for coordinated care.

Skills

Harm reduction

Crisis de-escalation

Cultural competency

Communication skills

Overdose response

Interpersonal skills

Computer literacy

Education

Degree/diploma

Tools

Naloxone distribution

Job description

We are a dynamic community-based health centre promoting social justice and health equity in the Regent Park neighbourhood and Downtown East area of Toronto. We operate out of several locations and provide a wide variety of services including: primary health care, chiropody, physiotherapy, health promotion, social work, community health, immigrant and refugee services, harm reduction and homeless programs, addiction and recovery services, Pathways to Education, infant and child development programs, parenting programs, and youth employment services. We currently have the following opening:

We are currently hiring for twofull-timepositions(35hours/week)

Hourly Range: $28.02 - $33.75 plus benefits and HOOPP Pension

Position Summary

As a member of the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub Team, the Outreach Worker supports individuals in the downtown east community of Toronto who are experiencing homelessness, serious mental health and/or substance use issues. Effective outreach is essential for supporting individuals in crisis, offering connection, and building a foundation for long‑term recovery. The Outreach Worker supports the team by engaging individuals in their immediate environment, typically outdoors, in shelters, or in encampments. The goal is to build trust, provide immediate support, and connect individuals to necessary services, such as housing, healthcare, addiction treatment, and mental health services.

The Outreach Worker utilizes health promotion, community engagement, social justice, harm reduction, trauma‑informed, and anti‑racist/anti‑oppressive (ARAO) frameworks to promote the mission and values of RPCHC.

Responsibilities Include:

• Build rapport with individuals who may be distrustful of services, using a non‑judgmental and empathetic approach.
• Offer support without pressure, allowing individuals to make their own decisions about accepting help, respecting their autonomy.
• Working in teams, engage with individuals experiencing homelessness in public spaces, encampments, shelters, or other places they may be located.
• Evaluate immediate needs such as food, water, hygiene items, clothing, and access to shelter.
• Evaluate risk factors (e.g., self-harm, overdose, harm to others) and prioritize urgent safety concerns.
• Respond to mental health crises or substance use‑related emergencies by using de‑escalation techniques and providing calm, supportive interventions.
• Distribute naloxone (Narcan) and educate individuals on how to use it in case of an opioid overdose.
• Assist in coordinating emergency response if needed, by calling emergency services for a medical emergency or mental health crisis supports.
• Assist with connecting individuals to health care services, including general medical care, dental services, and mental health support and treatment.
• Work with individuals to refer them to shelter and safe bed options.
• Foster partnerships with local organizations and service providers to help increase access to a wide range of supports, from healthcare to social services to housing resources.
• Work closely with other service providers to ensure a coordinated approach to service delivery.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Degree/diploma in a related field or relevant work/lived experience
• Lived experience within the priority population and/or experience working with racialized people, indigenous people, people who engage in sex work, prisoners/ex‑prisoners, people with mental health issues, people who have experienced trauma, people who have experienced homelessness or street involvement is considered an asset
• Excellent understanding and commitment to harm reduction practices and principles
• Demonstrated experience with overdose prevention and response, and ability to physically intervene in an overdose situation
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the health issues of a diverse community
• Understanding of impacts of systemic oppression on marginalized individuals and communities
• Demonstrated interpersonal, decision making, conflict management, critical thinking, organizational skills and ability to work collaboratively within and across teams
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Must be drug and sex positive.
• Proficiency in the use of computer technology and various software applications.
• Understanding of Anti-oppression principles and ability to work effectively with people of various cultural, age and economic backgrounds
• Knowledge of the Regent Park area and issues affecting the community
• Commitment to valuing diversity, equity, partnerships and advocacy in keeping with Regent Park Community Health Centre’s Strategic Direction.
• Must have full COVID 19 vaccines for the protection of clients and staff

Regent Park CHC is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. Applications are encouraged from qualified individuals who are Indigenous people, members of racialized communities, individuals of diverse sexual orientation and gender identification, persons with disabilities and others protected under the Human Rights Code as well as individuals with lived experience in the Regent Park community. This is a bargaining unit position within OPSEU Local 5115.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. RPCHC is committed to developing an inclusive, selection process and work environment. If contacted, please advise the hiring manager if you require any accommodation during the interview process.