Job Description

Make a difference in the lives of young adults aging out of care

Who We Are:

Aunt Leah's Place is a nonprofit that helps prevent homelessness among youth aging out of government care and young mothers. Our

LINK Program

provides a continuum of support for young people, focused on offering housing outreach, life skills, and community connections -- a network of care that mirrors what parented peers might receive.

What You'll Do:

Aunt Leah's Link program supports youth aging out of foster care and families at risk of homelessness by helping them secure and maintain safe housing. As an Outreach Worker on the LINK Housing team, you'll work directly with youth in the community -- in shelters, homes, or on the street -- to help them secure and maintain safe, stable housing. You'll build trust, support them through challenges, and connect them to housing and other essential services. As an Outreach Support Worker, you'll walk alongside youth through housing transitions, advocacy, life skills, and crisis management. You'll work one-on-one in the community--whether it's helping someone view an apartment, access mental health support, or prevent eviction.

This is

hands-on, relationship-focused work

that combines housing advocacy, case planning, and outreach in a trauma-informed, strength-based environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Support youth in finding, securing, and maintaining housing Assist with housing readiness, viewings, budgeting, and subsidy applications Advocate for participants with landlords, housing providers, and services Educate youth on tenant rights, responsibilities, and resources Prevent evictions and provide support during housing transitions Coordinate with internal staff and external partners Embrace the principles of

Housing First

, including choice, flexibility, and harm reduction Document support activities and maintain participant records in our system (OTIS)

Who You Are:

You bring empathy, resilience, and experience working with vulnerable youth You have a background in Child and Youth Care, Social Services, or a related field You're comfortable working independently and in the community You understand trauma-informed practice, housing systems, and youth development You're organized, flexible, and a natural problem solver

Job Summary:

As part of the Link Team, the Link Outreach Worker provides housing outreach supports. Link is a unique program focused on providing a continuum of supports for youth aging out of government care and families. Link focuses on housing, preventing homelessness, and improving the quality of life for former youth in care with the goal of providing supports akin to what parented peers receive.

Reports To:

Link Program Coordinator

Salary:

$24.50 an hour

Qualifications:

Post-secondary Child and Youth Care Diploma, Social Services Diploma, or equivalent Minimum of one to two years' relevant experience in providing support to youth or; a relevant combination of education and experience combined with general suitability

Requirements:

Satisfactory Criminal Record Check (including vulnerable persons) and Local Police Information Check Undergo & Maintain a MCFD Contracted Agency Caregiver Clearance First Aid - Level C w/ CPR Food Safe Certificate Agrees to the Society's Code of Ethics Follows Aunt Leah's Practice Guidelines

Assets:

A valid Class 5 BC Driver's License, and access to a vehicle; with $5,000,000 in business liability insurance, and clean driver's abstract RentSmart training Mental Health First Aid Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA):

Communication (verbal and written) Ability to follow and implement program policies and procedures Interpersonal abilities and team work skills Cultural safety/competency Creative problem solving Crisis management, de-escalation and conflict resolution skills Ability to work independently Flexibility/Adaptability in managing multiple priorities Computer/Technical Literacy Planning/Organizing & Budgeting Skills Report Writing & Documentation Knowledge of Residential Tenancy Act Knowledge of principles of Housing First

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Direct Care (Outreach):

Provide outreach and support to participants in various environments including shelters, correctional facilities, hospitals, the streets, and market, public, and private housing dwellings, etc.

Support, encourage, and collaborate with participants through developing a trusting relationship and using a trauma-informed approach to practice. Responsibilities include:

Facilitate housing readiness

Support with budgeting as it pertains to housing - understanding rent amounts based on the type of housing, location, etc.

Connect participants to tenant resources, including the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) and the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC)

Connect participants to affordable housing

Support participants with housing searches, attending housing viewings, and providing advocacy with landlords

Connect participants to emergency housing, supportive housing, and private market housing options, as needed

Collaborate with Link Coordinator and Rent Subsidy Officer to determine participants' eligibility for Aunt Leah's housing subsidies

Support participants with Aunt Leah's housing subsidy applications, if applicable

Connect participants to external housing subsidies, as needed

Provide housing advocacy and supporting housing maintenance

Support participants with tenancy challenges, to prevent evictions

Conduct housing set-up shops with eligible participants

Educate participants about tenants' rights and responsibilities

Connect participants to RentSmart and other housing-related workshops at Aunt Leah's

Conduct monthly home visits

Attend housing-related appointments with participants, as needed

Refer participants to other internal and external services, including mental health, education, and employment supports, as needed

Facilitate communication between participants and landlords and provide advocacy, as needed

Prevent homelessness through moving support

Support participants through eviction process, including during dispute resolutions

Support participants during moves and re-housing process

2. Direct Care (Housing First):

Embrace the six principles of Housing First:

Rapid access to housing with supports:

Support participants with finding and securing permanent housing as rapidly as possible

Assist participants with moving in or rehousing if needed

Understands that housing readiness is not a requirement to secure housing

Offering participants' choice in housing:

Provide choice in terms of housing options as well as the services participants wish to access

Separating housing provision from other services:

Understand that acceptance of any services, including treatment, or sobriety, is not a requirement for accessing or maintaining housing

Providing tenancy rights and responsibilities:

Educate participants on tenancy rights and responsibilities, in accordance to the Residential Tenancy Act

Support participants with landlord relationships and advocacy within the public and private sectors

Integrating housing into the community:

Understand that, in order to respond participant choice, minimize stigma and encourage client social integration, more attention should be given to scattered-site housing in the public or private rental markets

Strength-based and promoting self-sufficiency:

Provide case planning to facilitate participants' self-determined goals towards independence and self-sufficiency

Collaborate with internal and external life skills, education, employment, mental and physical health, and housing services

3. Direct Care (other duties):

Inform past participants of upcoming events and activities, and participate in the planning and facilitating of events and activities as required

Assist with weekly drop in for participants as needed

May supervise and facilitate workshops for participants as needed

Follow up on internal and external referrals, as requested by Aunt Leah's Case Managers and Link Coordinator

Create, review, and modify service agreements with participants on a regular basis

Educate, inform, and advocate for participants regarding benefits and entitlements (government assistance, housing subsidies, etc.)

Perform other related duties as directed

4. Financial Responsibilities:

Responsible for submitting receipts for weekly expenses on Float Card or other budgeted expenses

Ensure that expenses follow budget guidelines

5. Health and Safety:

Ensure that drop in/resource area is clean and tidy and maintained to Health and Safety Standards

Participate in annual review of Aunt Leah's Health and Safety Policies and Procedures

Participate in emergency drills in the office as required

6. Professional Development:

Participate in ongoing professional development

Meet with Link Program Coordinator regularly to prioritize workload between in office work and outreach

7. Communication:

Internal:

Complete daily log, monthly outcomes tracking, case notes in Outcomes Tracking and Information System (OTIS) database, and critical incident reports

Attend meetings, including team meetings and monthly Staff Development

Collaborate with Aunt Leah's life skills, education, employment, and housing departments

Liaise and seek direction from the Link Program Coordinator in crisis situations

Attend Aunt Leah's events as directed by Supervisor; this may include but is not limited to youth recreational overnight trips, day trips, and workshops, etc.

External:

Ensure participant numbers and activities are maintained to a certain level to ensure continued funding

Liaise with community partners, professionals and other stakeholders with the goal of connecting youth to relevant services and agencies

Position is funded by Reaching Home, BC Community Gaming Grant, and BC Housing

8. Confidentiality:

Communication between Outreach Workers and youth is confidential

Link Outreach Workers will follow Aunt Leah's Society Policies and Procedures and Aunt Leah's Code of Ethics (includes Child and Youth Care Association of BC Code of Ethics, Aunt Leah's Privacy Policy, BC Rights of Youth in care & UN Rights of the Child)

9. On-Call:

Participate in on call as scheduled

While on call, is able to support and attend as required

10. Physical Demands

This position requires some lifting of heavier objects

Working Conditions:

Hours of work will be 37.5 hours a week - 7.5 hours a day, generally Monday to Friday, with occasional evening and weekend hours, as needed

Work can be performed in an office environment and/or in the community

Primarily based out of the New Westminster Office; may be required to work from the Seymour Office in Vancouver

To Apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter with salary expectation, quoting

LINK OUTREACH WORKER

in the subject line. Short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Thank you for your interest in joining Aunt Leah's Independent Life Skills Society!

We encourage qualified people of all gender expressions and identities, sexual orientations, visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities to apply if you are interested in supporting our mission and mandate and like what we have to offer.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $24.50 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Company events Dental care Disability insurance Employee assistance program Extended health care Life insurance Mileage reimbursement Paid time off RRSP match Vision care
Flexible language requirement:

French not required
Schedule:

Day shift Monday to Friday On call
Application question(s):

This position is NOT remote. This position is primarily worked out of our New Westminster Office; this position may require travel to various locations within Metro Vancouver. Are you able to meet this requirement? YES or NO
Experience:

supporting multi-barrier, vulnerable/ marginalized youth: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:

Standard First Aid (required) Food Safety Certification (required)
Work Location: In person