Relief Shelter Support Worker ( 5 positions) STOP1386

YWCA Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 41,000 - 43,000; Part time

Job summary

YWCA Toronto seeks Relief Shelter Support Workers to assist women and gender-diverse people and their children in a feminist, trauma-informed shelter program at 80 Woodlawn Ave E, Toronto.

You will conduct intake, provide referrals, and support housing, education, employment and mental health needs, collaborating with partners to help participants reach safe paths to independence.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of trauma dynamics and women abuse.
• Experience in trauma-focused counselling with at-risk/homeless women.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of community resources and supports for trauma survivors.
• Understanding of anti-oppression framework.

Responsibilities

• Apply trauma-informed approaches to support planning.
• Conduct intake meetings and assess participant needs across housing, health, education and employment.
• Liaise with community professionals to access services.
• Provide crisis intervention and counselling.
• Support development of goals and foster independent living.

Skills

Trauma counselling

Client-centered counselling

Harm reduction

Cultural sensitivity

Mental health knowledge

Homelessness awareness

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Advocacy

Education

Undergraduate degree in social work (e.g., BSW)

Toronto Hostel’s Training Certificate (T.H.T.C.)

Life Skills Certificate

Trauma counselling certificate

Second language knowledge

Tools

Microsoft Word

Email

Job description

Relief Shelter Support Worker ( 5 positions) STOP1386

Employment Type: Relief
Position Status: Vacant
Work Hours: Varied as needed
Salary: $30.15 per hour(L5)
Location: 80 Woodlawn Avenue East, Toronto, ON, M4T 1C1
Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 6, 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 Relief Shelter Support Worker works with women, gender diverse people and their children within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma, mental health and oppression. This position acts as a resource to staff and clients in the area of housing, legal, education, employment, mental health and is responsible for working collaboratively with women, gender diverse people and their children to establish a plan which will facilitate a safe and effective path to independence.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO - 1 st STOP WOODLAWN

1st Stop Woodlawn Shelter, funded by the City of Toronto, provides 62 shelter beds to women and gender diverse people including 28 beds for individuals 16 years of age and older, who are in need of shelter or fleeing violence. This includes Second Stage Supportive Housing for participants not ready for independent living. The Housing program provides advocacy referral and support to participants in the shelter and to those who have moved into the community. The Transitional Support program provides aftercare to participants and their children through group work, counselling and connecting women and gender diverse people to supports.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Applies knowledge of the issues of trauma and the dynamics of woman abuse to develop and implement effective support strategies;
• Conducts intake meetings and assessments to identify participant’s needs, provides information and referrals in the areas of health, sexuality, counseling, conflict resolution, housing, employment, education, immigration, income alternatives, and social assistance matters;
• Liaises with professionals and agencies in the community to facilitate access to services by the participants;
• Demonstrates and maintains knowledge of relevant legislation and effective support strategies regarding trauma and the dynamics of women abuse;
  • Works with participants individually and/or in groups to develop and improve social and living skills by assisting them to set goals, follow through on plans, recognize options and make positive choices;
  • Provides crisis intervention and counselling;
  • Uses mediation and counselling skills to encourage and maintain a co-operative, supportive and productive environment for the community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of a clinically supervised undergraduate degree (e.g. BSW) (Cases for Equivelancy will be considered) ;
• An analytical framework that identifies clients' relationships to social systems and the demonstrated practical application of this framework;
• Completion of workshops and courses pertaining to trauma;
• 1 to 3 years’ experience in client centered counselling focused on trauma issues with clients at risk and/or homeless women;
• Completion of Toronto Hostel’s Training Certificate (T.H.T.C.) is an asset;
• Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice;
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports focused on trauma;
• In-depth knowledge of the dynamics of woman abuse and trauma within an anti-oppression framework;
• Demonstrated experience in the development, delivery and evaluation of workshops and groups;
• Understanding of the obstacles homeless women face and experience;
• Experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, e-mail and the Internet;
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health, substance use/addictions, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues and homelessness;
• Life Skills Certificate an asset;
• A certificate in trauma counselling would be an asset;
• Knowledge of a second language and/or culture would be an asset.

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. These positions are 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 not secondable.

Posting date: September 25, 2026

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 before 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 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.