Velma’s House 24/7 Safe Space – Casual Heart Helpers

Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.; Winnipeg; Hybrid; CAD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Shift premiums

Benefits including health and dental

RRSP with employer match

Wellness and training opportunities

On-site parking

Job summary

Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. in Winnipeg is seeking a Heart Helper to support Velma’s House, a low-barrier safe space for women and gender-diverse individuals who are unsheltered or at risk. You will help build trust, provide connection, and encourage engagement with services.

The role emphasizes harm reduction, cultural supports, confidentiality, and collaboration with Elders and care providers to promote safety and wellbeing in a welcoming environment.

Qualifications

• Relates to mental health, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care.
• Knowledge of community resources within Winnipeg is a plus.
• Criminal record checks and clearances may be required.

Responsibilities

• Welcoming and supporting relatives in a respectful, non-judgmental, and caring way.
• Walking alongside relatives by offering connection, support, and encouragement.
• Providing harm reduction support, including safer use supplies and education.
• Responding to overdose situations and following emergency protocols; Naloxone administration when needed.
• Monitoring space safety and responding quickly to people at risk.
• Connecting relatives to health care, cultural supports, and traditional teachings.
• Assisting with system navigation, advocacy, and goal setting; accessing meals, showers, clothing, and resources.
• Completing program stats and incident reports; maintaining confidentiality and consent.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Team player

Education

Related training in mental health

Job description

We are Community Leaders:

Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. is a nonprofit, community based; Indigenous-led human services organization that provides a range of Indigenous identified programs and services that focus on the wholeness, wellness and building on the strengths and resilience of Indigenous People.

The Opportunity:

Velma’s House is an Indigenous led, low-barrier safe space for women and gender diverse folks who are unsheltered, experiencing sexual exploitation or gender based violence. Under the direction of the Manager and Coordinator, Heart Helpers play an important frontline role in supporting the day-to-day experience of relatives who access Velma’s House. This role is about building relationships, offering support, and helping ensure the space remains welcoming, safe, and responsive to community needs.

What You Will Be Doing…

• Welcoming and supporting relatives in a respectful, non-judgmental, and caring way
• Walking alongside relatives by offering connection, support, and encouragement
• Providing harm reduction support, including safer use supplies, education, and meeting people where they are at
• Responding to drug poisoning/overdose situations, including following emergency protocols and administering Naloxone when needed
• Monitoring the space to support safety and respond quickly when someone may be at risk
• Supporting relatives in accessing health care, including nurses, physicians, and other supports
• Connecting relatives to cultural supports such as Traditional Elders, Knowledge Sharers, ceremony, and traditional teachings
• Assisting with system navigation, advocacy, and goal setting
• Providing access to essential needs such as meals, showers, laundry, clothing, and resources
• Following all confidentiality and consent practices to protect the safety and dignity of relatives
• Completing required documentation such as program stats and incident reports
• Supporting overall safety in the space by following established protocols and procedures

Who You Are:

• Strong understanding of issues related to mental health, systematic barriers that the un-housed face, problematic substance use; sexual exploitation
• Knowledgeable on community resources and systems within Winnipeg
• Commitment to cultural reclamation practices and Ways of Being, Two-Eyed Seeing/Doing approach
• Able to communicate effectively, both verbally and written
• Understanding of harm reduction and trauma informed care
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion; including issues impacting the 2SLGBTQ+ community
• Team player who is able to work safely and collaboratively in fast-paced and high-needs environments
• 1-3 years of related training (mental health, family studies, gender-based violence, substance training, community health, etc.), work experience, and combined lived experience are all valued
• Satisfactory completion of recent (as of the last 6 months) Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search; Child Abuse Registry Check; Adult Abuse Registry check
• Current Emergency First Aid Certificate and CPR is an asset
• Mental Health First Aid; ASIST; Non Violent Crisis Intervention or related Crisis Management Training are all assets
• Valid Manitoba Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a vehicle are considered assets

We are Proud to Offer:

• Competitive Salaries and Shift Premiums
• Comprehensive and Immediate Benefits including Health and Dental
• Long-Term Disability & Life Insurance
• Employer Contributed RRSP; up to 5% match
• Employee and Family Assistance Program with Consult + and Telus Health
• Cultural Ways of Being; Mino Pimatisiwin Lodge, Knowledge Keepers and Kookums, medicine picking, sweats, ceremony, smudging on-site
• Wellness Days, in addition to Vacation Days for full time employees
• Work-life balance and casual dress
• Training and Development opportunities
• Free on-site parking
• Social Planning Committee that facilitates employee appreciation and wellness events

Ka Ni Kanichihk remains committed to achieving employment equity; candidates are strongly encouraged to self-declare in their cover letter if they are of Indigenous ancestry.

Ka Ni Kanichihk thanks all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted