Supportive Housing Worker

John Howard Society of Ottawa; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefit plan

4 weeks vacation annually

Defined Contribution Pension Plan

Job summary

John Howard Society of Ottawa is seeking an Enhanced Supportive Housing Worker for an overnight, full-time role at Rita Thompson Residence in Ottawa. You will work from 11pm to 7am, supporting residents who face homelessness, mental health challenges, and other barriers to housing stability.

You’ll apply harm-reduction, trauma-informed, and person-centred approaches to build trust, connect residents with services, and help them achieve personal housing goals in a respectful, inclusive

Qualifications

• Experience supporting individuals experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and harm reduction principles.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to de-escalate crises while maintaining professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, stable home environment for residents using a harm-reduction, person-centred approach.
• Support housing goals and connect residents with community resources.
• Maintain accurate case notes and documentation; work with a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Experience supporting homelessness

Trauma-informed care

Harm reduction

Person-centred support

Crisis de-escalation

Community collaboration

Documentation skills

Dignity and inclusion values

Job description

Salary Range: $46,604.27 To $52,554.36 Annually

Job Posting

Supportive Housing Worker

Title: Supportive Housing Worker Full-Time Position (Overnight)

Location(s): Rita Thompson Residence

Salary: $46,604.27 - $51,066.17 per annum** based on work experience

Hours: 40-hour work week (35 working hours plus 2.5 hours allocated to daily half hour paid lunches and unpaid breaks). 11pm to 7am Sunday to Thursday.

Employer: John Howard Society of Ottawa

About the environment

Employees at JHS Ottawa say the organizational culture is supportive, innovative, and focussed on creating a caring environment for both clients, and staff. At JHS Ottawa, you will find an employer that celebrates the uniqueness of each of its staff members and is committed to promoting an engaging working culture where all employees are encouraged to live their strengths and realise their potential. JHS Ottawa will provide permanent new employees access to a benefit plan, four weeks vacation annually, a Defined Contribution Pension Plan after eligibility waiting period, and opportunities for continual learning and development.

About who we support

Our employees are supporting a diverse client group including youth and adults, all genders, from a wide cross section of social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds who are representative of our broader community. We are accountable to the people we serve by providing the highest quality of service with integrity through the delivery of responsive, innovative and evidence-informed approaches.

About diversity at JHS Ottawa

The John Howard Society of Ottawa is committed to reflecting and responding to the diversity of the people and communities we serve and is seeking that diversity in applicants for this position. We welcome candidates from racialised persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People, women, persons with disabilities, persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, and all candidates who contribute to furthering the diversity of ideas. We also recognise that people from diverse groups have different needs and require different solutions to gain equal opportunity for success in the hiring process. If you require any accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.

About the Role

As an Enhanced Supportive Housing Worker, you will play a vital role in creating a safe, stable, and supportive home environment for individuals who have experienced homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use concerns, and other barriers to housing stability. Working from a harm reduction, person-centred, and trauma-informed approach, you will build meaningful relationships with residents, support their housing goals, and help them connect with community resources that promote wellness, independence, and inclusion. Every day presents an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of people as they work toward greater stability and self-defined success.

As the Successful Candidate, You Have

• Experience supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use concerns, or other complex social barriers.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction principles, Housing First philosophy, and person-centred support practices.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills that allow you to engage respectfully with diverse populations.
• The ability to de-escalate crisis situations and respond calmly, professionally, and effectively under pressure.
• Experience collaborating with community partners, healthcare providers, emergency services, and social service agencies.
• Sound judgement, strong documentation skills, and the ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• A genuine commitment to dignity, inclusion, equity, and supporting individuals in achieving their personal goals.

You’ll Also Be Prepared To

• Support residents through periods of crisis, instability, or significant life transitions.
• Respond appropriately to emergencies, critical incidents, and resident concerns while following agency policies and procedures.
• Facilitate conflict resolution, housing stability plans, life skills development, and community integration activities.
• Maintain accurate case notes, incident reports, and resident documentation.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team while also demonstrating initiative and independence.
• Adapt to evolving resident needs and contribute to a positive, respectful, and welcoming residential community.

You’re a fit with our organisational culture, if you mirror our values in the way you work

• Being committed to providing the highest quality of care for your clients, though responsive, innovative, and evidence informed approaches.
• Driven by curiosity, you adapt to achieve the best results for clients/communities you serve.
• Celebrating the uniqueness and lived experience of every person is part of your nature, and this conviction creates a sense of belonging, safety, and better outcomes for all.
• Working in a way that helps employees and clients live their strengths and reach their potential.
• Leading with compassion and care for others and help JHS build a culture of listening mutual support, and meaningful connections.
• In building meaningful connections across our programs, partners, and neighbourhoods foster inclusion and empowerment.
• In a person-centred approach, recognising the value, expertise, and capacity of each individual to make choices that lead to their best self.
• That systemic inequalities exist, and that all people have the right to be treated with dignity, to live free from discrimination, to have a home, and to access employment, education, and other supports.
• In reducing harm to individuals and communities through a non-judgmental approach that builds resiliency and accountability.
• In the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt, change, and grow while promoting the conditions to inspire positive transformation.

We sincerely thank all applicants who express interest in JHS and this position- only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you believe a job posting on our site may be fraudulent or misleading, please report it immediately by:

Selecting the Report Job Posting link on this posting (hyperlinked to [e-mail])

Contacting us directly at [e-mail]

Reports may be submitted confidentially. All reports are reviewed by our designated team.