Peer Drop-In Worker

Fred Victor; Toronto; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly wage: $22.21 CAD

7% vacation pay

Employee assistance plan

Job summary

Fred Victor is seeking a Peer Drop-In Worker at the 40 Oak Community HUB in Toronto to support shower and laundry services for clients in a safe, low-barrier environment. You will help with meal service, crisis de-escalation, and program planning, guided by harm reduction principles.

The role emphasizes lived experience with homelessness or related challenges, and collaboration with a multi-site team to provide compassionate, client-centered support.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a community training program is considered an asset.
• Personal experience and use of community drop-in services.
• Lived experience of homelessness, mental health, addictions, indigenous services, newcomer services, or social assistance is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Support 40 Oak Drop-In clients in accessing the shower and laundry program.
• Support the delivery of the 40 Oak meal service/snack program.
• Provide de-escalation and crisis management as needed to maintain safety.
• Assist with planning and implementing programming with staff support.
• Launder towels and hygiene supplies and maintain inventory.

Skills

Lived experience

Crisis de-escalation

Harm reduction

Client services

Education

Community training program (asset)

Job description

INTERNAL/EXTERNALNumber of Positions: 1Reason for Posting: Existing VacancyRate: $22.21Vacation: 7% Vacation PayHours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 2:30pm -10:30pm with some flexibility required

depending on program-needsPosting Date: October 21, 2026Application Deadline: October 30, 2026Location: 40 Oak St., Toronto

Why Fred Victor?

For over 130 years, Fred Victor has been a leader in helping people rebuild their lives in Toronto. Our mission is to improve the health, income and housing stability of people experiencing poverty and homelessness. We are committed to ending homelessness, one person at a time. We work in partnership with women and men from diverse backgrounds who face poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, addictions, and social isolation to address their needs and hopes and advocate for a more equitable society.

The Community Services (CS) department at Fred Victor is a multi-service, multi-site structure that encompasses the 40 Oak Community HUB and community programs, Employment and Training Services, Drop-Ins, Keep Cool Programs, and Food Services. Additionally, it operates social purpose enterprise with catering and community outreach services and spearheads a significant Peer Training Initiative that prioritizes the involvement of individuals with lived experience.

The Drop-in Extended Program will operate during Extreme Cold Weather alerts from November 15, 2026, to April 15, 2027, with extended hours of 2:30pm - 10:30pm. The program will provide respite from cold weather, snacks and beverages, shower and laundry facilities, community referrals and harm reduction services utilizing a low-barrier philosophy.

The Drop-In Services at 40 Oak Community HUB contains a shower and laundry program for the community.

Peer Drop-In Worker’s responsibilities will be to support 40 Oak Drop-In clients in accessing the shower and laundry program. This involves maintaining program hours, monitoring and facilitating client access to shower and laundry services, providing support to reduce barriers to participation, offering guidelines and aid in managing time efficiently, and assisting clients with additional needs such as accessing towels and hygiene supplies. Furthermore, the position entails the responsibility of de-escalating crises as they arise to maintain a safe environment. The Peer Drop-In Worker will utilize their experience of accessing community Drop-In Services to have a direct impact on the shower and laundry service.

Additionally, the Peer Drop-in Worker will support the drop-in team to ensure a safe, clean environment for participants and other peers, staff and volunteers. The Peer Drop-in Worker will assist with planning and delivering responsive programs for community participants based on identified need.

The HUB is the main entry point for all support serves at 40 Oak Street and spans multiple programs including the Drop-In, Housing Department and Food Services. The HUB relies on inter-program collaboration to support the community around accessing individualized supports.

Fred Victor staff represent the community that we serve, and candidates who themselves have lived experience of accessing community employment services and training programs are strongly encouraged to apply.

Does this sound like work you want to be a part of? We offer a supportive and collaborative environment, an opportunity to join a diverse team of caring professionals and a chance to make a difference. With over 75 programs and 25 sites, there are lots of opportunities to grow your career with us. Many members of the management team started in relief and front-line roles.

What You Will Do:

• With the support and leadership of the drop-in team, cultivate a safe and supportive environment for individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, social isolation, food insecurity and mental health or addiction challenges.
• Support 40 Oak Drop-In clients in accessing the shower and laundry program
• Support the delivery of the 40 Oak meal service/snack program
• Provide suggestions to improve quality of service based on expertise of accessing community drop-in services
• Provide peer support to fellow peer workers to create an environment that supports growth, feedback, positive communication, and resource sharing
• Make referrals to community members to other Fred Victor programs, provide site-specific referrals and support to services for tenants and community members
• Collaborate closely with the Drop-In team, and other staff within the 40 Oak Community HUB
• Provide support to reduce barriers to participation
• Offer guidelines and aid in managing time efficiently
• Assist clients with individual needs such as accessing towels and hygiene supplies, harm reduction supplies and food
• Plan and implement programming with staff support
• De-escalate crises as they arise to maintain a safe environment
• Ensure clients have access to a clean and safe space
• Maintain daily statistical records and sign-up sheets as required
• Launder used towels and robes to ensure an adequate supply for participants
• Attend and participate in team meetings and supervision meetings
• Assisting with other Drop-In tasks as needed

What You Bring to the Team:

• Graduation from a community training program is considered an asset
• Personal experience and use of community drop-in services
• Lived experience of homelessness, mental health, addictions, indigenous services, newcomer services, or social assistance is considered an asset

What Sets You Apart:

• Strong attention to detail and ability to handle multiple demands
• Demonstrate self-motivation and initiative
• Demonstrated understanding of professional boundaries and confidence in asserting and maintaining strong boundaries
• Excellent client services skills and ability to manage client expectations and provide reasonable alternatives where needed
• A strong understanding of harm reduction principles
• Ability to maintain supportive relationships with clients and team members while working under pressure
• Skilled in providing informal counselling and resource navigation support to clients
• Understanding of relevant Health & Safety and cleanliness procedures
• Ability to work from a trauma informed, anti-racist/oppression and client centered approach

Working Conditions:

Employee works within the Shower and Laundry program in the 40 Oak Community HUB. The role involves standing for long periods of time and involves stairs. There is the possibility of being exposed to pests such as bed bugs and cockroaches as well as bodily fluids. All employees must expect to be in potentially threatening situations on a constant basis. It is an emotionally challenging position and at times a physically demanding job.

Compensation and Benefits:

• For the Peer Drop-In Worker, Fred Victor offers an hourly rate of $22.21
• 7% vacation pay
• Access to employee and family assistance plan

Accessibility & Accommodation

Fred Victor is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment where employees feel valued and respected, and where every employee has the opportunity to realize their potential.

We welcome and encourage applicants who identify as racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons across the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identities and have livedexperience.

If you are a person with a disability and require accommodation and/or assistance during the application process, please contact us in advance. We strive to provide reasonable accommodations whenever requested. Information received relating to accommodation requests will be treated with confidentiality.

A Police Record Check is required by the final candidate prior to hiring.

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