Part-Time Shelter Support Worker- Community Care (Evening)- DAV1372

YWCA Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

YWCA Toronto is seeking a part‑time Shelter Support Worker – Community Care to provide participant‑centred services across four shelter programs. The role involves traveling between shelters in the Toronto area to ensure continuity of services and support for women and gender‑diverse people and their dependents.

The position requires a college diploma in social services, strong crisis intervention skills, and knowledge of Toronto Shelter Standards.

Qualifications

• College diploma in Social Service Work or related field; equivalency accepted.
• 1-3 years in direct service with diverse participants affected by poverty or trauma.
• Experience leading groups and developing programs.
• Counseling and group-work experience; client-centered.
• Knowledge of gender-based violence and trauma within anti-oppression framework.
• Knowledge of Toronto Shelter Standards and related acts.
• Crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills.
• Fluent in MS Office and client management software.
• Excellent spoken and written communication.
• Second language knowledge is an asset.
• Valid driver's license and vehicle; travel within Toronto area.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized support during program activities, crisis intervention as needed.
• Assist with meal services and ensure nutritious, culturally diverse food.
• Provide front desk coverage and handle inquiries.
• Accept shift coverage requests and transition between shelter sites to ensure continuity.
• Build respectful relationships to promote trust and engagement.
• Assist with conflict resolution and de-escalation.
• Model safety, inclusion, and mutual respect.
• Respond to medical incidents per policy and emergency services guidance.
• Share information while maintaining confidentiality across shelter programs.

Skills

MS Office

Internet

Client management software

Oral communication

Written communication

Travel flexibility

Driver's license

Vehicle access

Second language (asset)

Education

College diploma in Social Service Work or related field

Job description

Employment Type: Part‑Time, Contract

Position Status: New Position

Work Hours: 28 hours per week (Thursday- Sunday 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm)

Salary: $30.15 per hour (Level 5)

Location: 348 Davenport Road Toronto, ON, M5R 1K6

Contract Start Date: September 17, 2026

Contract End Date: April 30, 2027

Application Deadline: Monday, September 7, 2026

JOIN OUR TEAM

Join YWCA Toronto, where intersectional feminism, community voices, and social justice drive lasting change. We welcome women and gender diverse people of all identities into a workplace rooted in equity, collaboration, and inclusion.

The Shelter Support Worker – Community Care provides supportive, participant‑centred services across YWCA Toronto’s four shelter programs and will be required to work at any shelter location based on operational needs. The incumbent supports women and gender‑diverse people, and their dependents experiencing varying forms of homelessness as well as intersecting social and systemic barriers by promoting dignity, safety, autonomy, and well‑being. This role is designed to collaborate with interdisciplinary staff teams in each program to support high‑quality, integrated services. The Shelter Support Worker – Community Care plays a key role in ensuring the continuity and enhancement of services across all shelter sites located in the Toronto area.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – YWCA DAVENPORT

YWCA Davenport provides up to 80 emergency shelter beds to young women and gender‑diverse people (16 – 24 years of age) and adult women and gender‑diverse people (25 and older) and is staffed 24 hours a day. This pet friendly shelter is funded by the City of Toronto and adheres to Toronto Shelter Standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide individualized support during program activities, including emotional support, safety planning, de‑escalation, crisis intervention, and brief counselling as needed.
• Assist with meal services by supporting meal set‑up, service, and clean‑up to ensure access to nutritious and culturally diverse food.
• Provide front desk coverage if required, including answering inquiries, responding to phone calls, and monitoring entry and exit.
• Accepts shift coverage requests via YWCA Toronto staffing phone and transitions between shelter sites in a timely and professional manner to ensure continuity of services and operational coverage.
• Build respectful, supportive relationships with participants to promote trust, safety, and engagement.
• Assist with conflict resolution and de‑escalation between participants to maintain a respectful and safe living environment.
• Model and reinforce community norms related to safety, inclusion, harm reduction, and mutual respect.
• Respond to drug poisonings, medical incidents, or injuries in accordance with organization policy and direction from emergency services and/or law enforcement.
• Shares relevant information appropriately, maintains confidentiality across shelter programs, and works collaboratively with colleagues to foster a positive, dynamic, and effective team environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of a college diploma (example: Social Service Work, Community Service Work) Cases for equivalency will be accepted.
• 1-3 years experience working in a diverse, direct service setting for participants that range from youth to seniors who have experienced impacts of poverty, violence/trauma, mental health/substance use or concurrent disorders and other sources of marginalization or oppression.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming.
• Supportive counseling and group‑work approach that is flexible, client‑centred and strengths‑based.
• In‑depth knowledge of the dynamics of gender‑based violence and trauma within an anti‑oppression framework.
• Working knowledge of the Toronto Shelter Standards, Residential Tenancies Act, Mental Health Act and Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills.
• Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services.
• Very good knowledge and understanding of community resources.
• Fluent in MS Office, internet, and client management software.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Knowledge of a second language or culture an asset.
• Valid drivers license and access to a vehicle with 2-million‑dollar liability is an asset.
• This position requires travel within the Toronto area on a frequent basis utilizing the most economical mode of transportation.

Note:

Required to travel between 4 shelter programs if needed during shift; Shifts can be scheduled at any site during rotation.

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 not within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter if you are a YWCA Toronto Employee. For YWCA Toronto employees, this position is secondable.

Posting date:

August 25, 2026

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.

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.

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 may use AI‑supported tools to assist with parts of the recruitment process; all hiring decisions are made by people and guided by our commitment to equity and fairness.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent‑Sensitive Workplace.