Job Description

**Indigenous Women are encouraged to apply. First preference will be given to all qualified Indigenous applicants.**
Why make ONWA your career choice?
Make a difference in the lives of Indigenous peoples by supporting and advocating for positive change. ONWA prides itself on providing all employees with a total rewards package that is generous and supports our workforce and their family members:

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• Competitive salaries
• Generous paid vacation time
• Paid time off at Christmas above paid vacation time
• Additional paid stat and civic holidays
• 35 hour work week and may include, remote work
• Comprehensive benefits program including health, medical, paramedical, dental, vision and EAP. All premiums covered by the employer.
• Competitive Retirement Savings Plan up to 16% with organization match pending position
• Paid sick days
• Paid cultural/personal wellness days
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance
• Ongoing professional development.
• Possible reimbursement on portion of cell phone and internet expenses
• Remote work offered for various positions
• Paid management days

VISION:
At the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), we celebrate and honour the safety and healing of Indigenous Women and Girls as they take up their leadership roles in the family, community and internationally for generations to come.
SCOPE:
The Housing Worker advocates and supports Indigenous people 16 years of age or older who are or are at imminent risk of homelessness throughout the province. Priority is given to Indigenous people who are at a greater risk of losing their children to the child welfare system and or who are at a greater risk of becoming in conflict with the law because of their homelessness.
The Nihdawin Program assists Indigenous people in these circumstances and supports their traditional roles within our culture. The Housing worker provides advocacy and support in the areas of housing; maintaining existing housing and finding affordable sustainable housing for Indigenous people, acting as advocates with Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, the court system, schools, landlords and medical services. Nihdawin recognizes the importance of providing wraparound supports and services to attend to the needs of Indigenous people as they strive for personal recovery, to maintain their families and live their best lives.
QUALIFICATIONS:

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• Post-secondary diploma/degree in social work, indigenous learning, women’s studies with a minimum three (3) years’ work experience in community service delivery.

• Knowledge of housing systems.
• Proven experience in and knowledge of victims’ issues surrounding housing and homelessness, poverty, and addictions.
• Proven experience navigating mental health, addiction, and housing systems on behalf of community members

• Strong communicator - excellent written, oral, and facilitation skills.
• Experience in advocacy with demonstrated experience providing services to Indigenous families and/or communities. The ability to speak Ojibway and/or Oji-Cree is an asset.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to create and maintain a confidential, welcoming, friendly, and safe environment for Community Members.
• Knowledge of and relationships with other service agencies, ability to network and create/maintain these relationships.
• Strong organizational/time management skills with an ability to plan ahead to define measurable objectives and outcomes and meet objectives in a timely manner.
• Must be dependable, able to follow instructions, respond to management direction and be able to improve performance through management feedback.
• Working knowledge of MS Office Software, internet, and general office equipment.
• Valid G Class Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle with appropriate insurance.
• Current, valid vulnerable sector criminal records check. Valid 1st Aid/CPR.
• A cellular phone and internet access is required within this position.
• Must be willing and able to work a flexible working from home arrangement if required. This may include a combination of virtual remote work in your home and in office arrangements. This will be based on operational needs and will be determined by the ONWA.
• Ability/willingness to travel and to work flexible hours.
• ONWA is committed on implementing measures to protect its community members, staff, and other stakeholders from COVID-19. As a result, ONWA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy. Exemptions will be made for those with a valid medical exemption; proof of the exemption will be required

KEY CORE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

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• Inter-cultural Competency Informed – Understands to incorporate a personal responsibility to increase sensitivity, awareness and implementation of ONWA’s cultural teachings and organizational practices in both professional conduct and work related deliverables.

• Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis Informed – Understands to incorporate an intersectional approach to gender, race and discrimination and subsequent intergenerational impacts affecting Indigenous women and their families.

• Trauma-Based Practice Informed – Understands to incorporate a trauma-informed approach to recognize and respond to all forms of trauma and the necessity of supporting Indigenous women in a culture of tradition and safety in her healing journey.

• She is Wise Leadership Informed – Understands to incorporate the Four Agreements within daily responsibilities and combined with ONWA’s cultural teachings contribute to the empowerment and leadership of Indigenous women within their communities.

RESPONSIBILITIES - SPECIFIC:

• Provide direct services that are holistic in nature, for the delivery of services to address the needs of Indigenous individuals that are homeless or at imminent risk of being homeless, the hidden homeless, the newly homeless and those that episodically access

• To provide an increased focus and provision of services available and referrals to legal/financial services for Indigenous people in conflict with the law to increase support services and specialized services to help Indigenous people and their families, especially those that are at risk of intervention services from a Children Aide Society due to the risk of homelessness.

• Strong advocacy skills to act on behalf of the Community Member and provide guidance to empower them to represent themselves when interacting with potential landlords.

• Establish and build relationships with existing and potential landlords within the city as part of the Housing First Approach.

• Transport Community Members or arrange transportation for Community Members as required for a variety of reasons as it relates to supporting our Community Members

• Provide up to date housing lists and accompany Community Members to

• Educate self on changes to OW/ODSP benefits and programs to assist with start-up costs and utility entitlements.

• Provide referrals to services in the community to assist with clothing and food supports and additional programming that will benefit the Community Member in attaining goals set out in their plan of care.

• To provide Community Members with mental health/addiction issues with referrals to treatment, counselling and help lines.

• To reduce the Indigenous homelessness population through the facilitation of greater access to support networks appropriate to individual need (ie: connection to employment and education services; access to addiction and mental health supports; access to culturally specific supports; referrals to the necessary services; direct support for crisis as well as psychosocial issues; and housing support) to help them move towards stabilized living environments.

• To provide Community Member with the opportunity to participate in culturally relevant, safe programming and activities, including but not limited to ceremony, Elders consults, traditional crafts, use of medicines, etc.

• To directly respond to the Indigenous people and their families of this community in need, with measurable outcomes.

• Apply appropriate counseling methods relevant to individual Community Member’s needs, including but not limited to one on one, group and/or sharing circles, meeting with Community Member/Elder.

• Assist, advise, teach, and guide Community Members through process of evaluation of personal situations and taking positive action. Completing Plan of Care based on Indigenous methodology and two eyed seeing approaches, teachings with Community Member. Develop treatment / support plans encompassing Indigenous culture and teachings with the Community Member setting measurable and realistic goals.

• Ensure Indigenous culture, traditions, and values are included in all aspects of service delivery in a wholistic manner and respectful of the Community Member’s needs to promote their healing

• Demonstrated ability to assist in wrap around complex care situations to support community member needs and plan of care.

• Proven ability to ensure confidentiality, and show respect, patience, and empathy towards Community Members.

• Demonstrate strong case management/crisis response/intervention skills/needs/risk assessment skills.

• Prepare case reports, carefully document information, and maintain accurate case records, draft correspondence, impact statements and program reports, including program evaluation.

• Maintain accurate logs and up to date Community Member

• Demonstrate initiative and work within established procedural guidelines as needed, liaise with stakeholders and service providers to provide integrated services and/or pertinent specialized information to enhance program effectiveness and Community Member outcomes.

• Existing connections to and knowledge of local community resources and

• Develop/maintain networking with service providers for referrals to assist Indigenous people in securing sustainable housing.

• Other duties as assigned.

AUTHORITY:
To execute duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Housing Worker will be directly accountable to the Branch Manager for the proper completion of the functions outlined in the job description.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
As Indigenous leaders, ONWA is continuing full operations including hiring, while working from home and in office, as supporting our community members is a priority. ONWA is scheduling all interviews, providing training, onboarding and orientation for new employees, through the use of virtual tools.