Position Title: Casual Frontline Worker

Competition # 2026-007

Salary Range: $23.48 starting

$0.50 increases every 4 months (dependent on number of hours worked) up to max $26.97

Position Type: Unionized, Unifor 8300

Status: Currently vacant

Please submit resume and cover letter to [email protected]

Why Shepherds of Good Hope?

For over 40 years, Shepherds of Good Hope (SGH) has been a leader in responding to the diverse and complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. Through the services and supports we provide across the city, we are committed to ending chronic homelessness in Ottawa.

You’ll be joining an organization that provides around-the-clock, comprehensive services to individuals from all walks of life in our downtown shelter and drop-in building, and supportive housing programs across the city.

Working at SGH is more than just a job – it’s a commitment to dignity, compassion, and support for people who need it most. As a frontline worker, you will stand alongside people as they navigate new realities, honoring their lived experiences and helping them on the journey toward stability and self-determination.

This role calls for someone who leads with empathy, believes in equity and harm reduction, and understands that meaningful change happens through relationships.

SGH is an inclusive setting, with dynamic and innovative programs that offer fulfilling work with flexible schedules to meet your needs. You’ll find permanent and part-time positions and many opportunities to upgrade your skills and advance your career. When you grow, we grow.

Ready to join us? There is a place for you here!

You are:

- Passionate
- Driven
- Hard Working
- Empathetic and Respectful
- Open Minded
- A Fast Learner
- A Good Listener and Communicator
- A Team Player

We are:

- Passionate
- Far more than a shelter and soup kitchen
- A leader in harm reduction programming
- A growing supportive housing provider
- A mini hospital (it’s true- right in our shelter building!)
- A strong community partner
- An innovative and progressive organization
- A caring and supportive employer
- A diverse and dynamic staff team

We Invest in Our People!

We Can Offer You:

- Incremental raises of 50 cents every 4 months of full-time work
- Employee and Family Assistance Program for all employees
- Access to internal job opportunities, including full- and part-time contract and permanent positions, which offer a competitive benefits package (health, paid vacation and RRSP matching).
- Opportunities for career advancement with pathways into case management, coordinator, management and other leadership positions.




- Access to an array of internal and external trainings, conferences and professional development opportunities.
- A unionized environment with strong advocates for you. All non-leadership positions, including casual employees, are unionized.

An Experience Like No Other!

What You’ll Be Doing:

- Meeting people where they are without judgement
- Supporting them to meet their needs, including:
- Provision of basic needs like food, shelter, clothing and hygiene
- Provision of medication according to program protocols
- Referrals to internal and external supports and advocacy when needed
- Engaging with service users and residents, including conducting intakes, supportive counselling, motivational interviewing, recreation and life skills development
- Keeping detailed records, including log notes, incident reports, medication records and utilizing the shelter booking system
- Crisis intervention, including assessing and de-escalating situations when possible, utilizing internal and external resources including security guards, nurses and emergency services according to situation and following emergency procedures
- Working as a part of an interdisciplinary team of health care and social workers, emergency services and partners within the housing and homelessness sector to ensure all community members’ needs are met
- Maintaining health and safety standards within program including program cleanliness, in partnership with cleaning staff
- Ending chronic homelessness by supporting people to transition to and maintain housing
- Additional duties as required

Potential Hazards:

- You may encounter people in crisis, under the influence of substances and with complex issues
- You may be required to perform duties such as the cleaning and sanitizing of bodily fluids and disposal of safe injection materials
- You may be required to respond to overdoses and other medical situations

What We Need from You

- Post-Secondary education in Social Sciences, Human Services, or comparable field of study and/or
- 2 years of experience in service user facing fields of work (i.e. customer service, hospitality, food services, etc.)
- Ability to work using a health promotion approach and harm reduction philosophies.
- Effective conflict resolution, problem-solving,



and decision-making skills; good judgement.
- Knowledge of trauma, mental health, substance use disorder and poverty issues is an asset.
- Experience with Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and behaviour/ intoxication assessments is an asset.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and related software is required.
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada
- Must by at least 18 years of age
- Able to lift up to 25kg.
- Able to read text and communicate orally in English. Ability to communicate in French is considered an asset.
- For successful candidates:
- A recent vulnerable sector check completed at maximum 3 months prior to employment offer.
- Health and Safety Training completed during onboarding and updated annually.

Scheduling Expectations:

- Casual staff must be available for six (6) shifts per week, with a minimum of two (2) shifts being overnights and two (2) shifts on the weekend per week.
- Shifts are awarded on a seniority basis. For new casual staff, the most common shifts available are overnight and weekend shifts or emergency/sick replacement shifts.
- It is an expectation that casual staff will work a minimum of 2 shifts per week.
- It is an expectation that casual staff will work at different locations across the city of Ottawa.
- All casual staff are expected to be available for 50% of holidays, including either Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Shepherds of Valuable Hope is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible workplace where people feel respected, supported, and valued. We believe that diverse lived experiences, perspectives, and identities strengthen our organization and enhance our ability to serve our community.

We encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, including but not limited to people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, genders, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds.

We are committed to providing an accessible and barrier-free recruitment process. Accommodations are available at any stage of the hiring process upon request, and all information shared will be kept confidential.

Job Type: Casual

Pay: $23.48 per hour

Benefits:

- Casual dress
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule

Application question(s):

- Are you available to work weekends and holidays?
- Are you available to work overnights?
- Are you available to work at least 2 shifts per week?

Work Location: In person

📌 Casual Front Line Worker (Canada)
🏢 Shepherds of Good Hope
📍 Canada