Rural Housing Outreach Worker

YMCanada; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training opportunities

Benefits & retirement savings

Free gym membership

Team culture and support

Job summary

YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce is seeking a Rural Housing Outreach Worker to provide outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness across Bruce County. The role focuses on initial engagement, transitional support, safe housing options, and root-cause assessment with a trauma-informed approach.

You will work with communities to connect people to services, build trusting relationships, and promote housing as a human right.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience providing outreach to vulnerable individuals.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Social Services or related field.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Self-motivated and a strong team player with autonomy.
• Able to travel with a valid GDL license across Grey and Bruce Counties.
• Legally eligible to work in Canada.
• Current and satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search within 90 days of start date.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate access to temporary emergency housing for individuals and families in crisis.
• Provide direct outreach support to emergency shelter sites and help develop longer-term housing plans.
• Attend encampments to provide targeted outreach and support per Encampment Protocol.
• Work with other organizations to coordinate supports for housing stability and wellbeing.
• Assist clients to maintain housing retention.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Team player

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Autonomy

Driver's license

Education

Post-secondary degree/diploma in Social Services or related discipline

Job description

Position Title: Rural Housing Outreach Worker

Date Posted: November 9, 2026

Competition File No.: 2026-93

Program Area: Homelessness Response Program

Worksite Location: Bruce County, ON

Travel Requirement: Yes - throughout Grey and Bruce Counties

Position Type: Permanent Full Time

Category:#1

Existing Vacancy: New

No. of Vacancies: 1

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Shifts: Monday to Friday

Salary/Wage: $30.72 – $34.91 per hour

Wages commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Start Date: December 2026

Application Deadline: November 18, 2026 at 4:30pm

The Y is people-powered. Our staff and volunteers provide the spark that helps ignite positive change in the lives of others.

Your Opportunity to be the Spark!

In partnership with the Municipality of Bruce County, the YMCA is looking for energetic, positive and passionate people to provide rural homelessness outreach across Bruce County. There is a focus on individualized outreach with people experiencing homelessness, with staff providing initial engagement and transitional support, offering safe alternatives and evaluating situational and root causes contributing to individual homelessness.

Working alongside people experiencing homelessness and developing a trusting relationship that encourages individuals to maximize the services available to them.

You’ll need to be open-minded, respectful and welcoming to all individuals. You use a person-centered approach and have experience with direct outreach provision with a trauma informed lens. You are a fun, hardworking individual who believes in housing as a human right. You love your work and the difference you make, advocating for individuals in need of hope.

This is challenging work and we are looking for people who feel compelled to do this work because they believe that homelessness is a crisis that can be solved. We need people who believe that housing is a human right. If these comments resonate with you, you may be just the team member that we are seeking. We are dedicated and advocate strongly while fully respecting the autonomy of those we seek to support on a daily basis.

Responsibilities

Through a collaborative homelessness prevention role, the Rural Homelessness Outreach staff will:

• Coordinate access to temporary emergency housing for individuals and families who are in crisis.
• Provide direct Outreach Support to emergency shelter sites and assist participants in developing a plan to longer term, safe and more affordable housing.
• Attend encampments to provide targeted outreach and support in compliance with Encampment Protocol.
• Work closely with other organizations to coordinate supports to assist with housing stability and overall wellbeing.
• Provide on-going assistance to clients to support housing retention.
• Liaise with landlords and room providers to secure and maintain both temporary and permanent housing options throughout Grey and Bruce Counties.
• Work closely with social assistance and employment services staff to ensure that all participants have the opportunity to increase their income through meaningful employment.
• Offer hopeful solutions when people need it most.
• Other duties as assigned.

Just Some of the Benefits of Working at the YMCA

• Comprehensive and ongoing training and long-term and upward career opportunities.
• Benefits and retirement savings.
• Free membership to our Health, Fitness and Aquatics facility.
• Fun, passionate and dependable co-workers.

Job Requirements

• Three (3) years of experience in providing outreach services with vulnerable and resilient people.
• Adaptive and creative with excellent critical thinking skills.
• Post-secondary degree/diploma in Social Services or related discipline.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Self-motivated and a strong team player.
• Able to work with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility.
• Ability to engage in clinical supervision and self-reflection.
• Class G Driver’s License; able to travel throughout Grey and Bruce Counties; must have own vehicle.
• Be a minimum of 18 years of age.
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Have current and satisfactory Criminal Reference Check and Vulnerable Sector Search issued no later than ninety (90) days preceding your start date.
• Provide three (3) professional references.

The YMCA’s Commitment to Protecting Those We Serve

We are committed to our responsibility to protect the children and other vulnerable people we serve. Therefore, all employees and volunteers must provide a current satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search results as a condition of their employment or volunteer engagement. These police record checks are reviewed on an individual basis, and the offense(s) - if any - is considered in the decision‑making process in relation to the requirements of the position, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered gainful employment.

The YMCA’s Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Equality

The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce values the diversity of people and communities and is committed to excellence and inclusion in our Association. We are committed to an environment that is barrier free. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.