Job Title: Housing Outreach Worker

Company: John Howard Society of Victoria

Location: In Person, Victoria, BC

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Work hours: 37.5 hour per week, Mon - Fri, 8 am to 4:00 pm

Salary: $32.45 per hour

Benefits: Pension plan, Paid time off, Life insurance, Dental care, Extended health care, Disability insurance, employee and family assistance program

Help Veterans Find and Maintain Stable Housing The John Howard Society of Victoria is seeking a compassionate, resourceful, and community-focused Housing Outreach Worker to join our Veterans Housing Supports Program (VHSP).

This role supports Veterans and former RCMP members who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. Working directly in the community, you will assist participants in securing housing, navigating complex support systems, accessing perks and services, and maintaining housing stability through individualized, wraparound support.

If you are passionate about housing, outreach, advocacy, and helping people overcome barriers to achieve long-term stability, we encourage you to apply.

Who We Are

John Howard Society of Victoria is a fast paced growing, dynamic and innovative social service organization that strives to create safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all. Our goal is to help individuals achieve greater independence by providing support with housing, life-skills, education, employment, and community-based services.

At John Howard Society of Victoria we come from various backgrounds and share a common goal of wanting to make things better in our community, for our community. We believe in creating a dynamic work workplace that adapts to your needs.

What We Offer

- Competitive Benefits: Enjoy paid vacation, sick and personal time, health and dental plans, long-term disability, critical illness and Pension Plan
- Supportive Environment: Our Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities are designed to help you succeed both personally and professionally. We invest in our employees' growth through training programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.
- Engaging Culture: Be part of a friendly team that values your input! With numerous employee engagements, you can make your voice heard and contribute to meaningful change for our clients and our community.
- Employee Engagement: We often organize team and social gatherings to strengthen relationships and foster camaraderie to create a supportive network among colleagues.
- Impactful Work: Employees at JHS Victoria are driven by a shared mission to make a positive difference in the community. Engaging in meaningful work enhances job satisfaction and connects team members to a greater purpose.

About the Program The program provides housing and wraparound support to veterans and retired RCMP officers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our program focuses on individualized support services to improve integration and connectedness to support structures, including housing attainment, rental assistance, basic needs, and access to counselling or treatment. Grounded in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, participants are supported through service planning, case management, and optional one-on-one or group counselling, with the aim of fostering stability, dignity, and community connection.

Position Summary

The Housing Outreach Worker provides individualized housing and outreach support to Veterans and former RCMP members who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The position works directly with participants to identify housing needs, develop housing and stability goals, locate and secure appropriate housing, and provide ongoing support to help individuals maintain stable housing.

The Housing Outreach Worker provides broader systems navigation and practical support, connecting participants to income and financial assistance, Veterans Affairs Canada benefits and services, health and mental health care, substance use supports, and other community resources. Through community-based outreach, the Housing Outreach Worker meets participants where they are, builds engagement, and helps individuals navigate complex service systems and access the supports they need.

Working collaboratively with participants, landlords, Veterans Affairs Canada, community agencies, and other service providers, the Housing Outreach Worker helps coordinate supports and strengthen each participant’s connection to appropriate resources. The position maintains accurate case documentation, monitors participant progress, and contributes to program outcomes and reporting requirements.

This is an in-person, community-based role with regular outreach throughout the service area and no opportunity to work remotely.

What You'll Be Doing

Housing and Client Support (40%)

- Identify, apply for, and secure secure, stable, and appropriate housing for veterans, including private market, supported housing, and transitional options.




- Works in collaboration with the client to conduct a Needs Assessment, and then formulate a comprehensive service plan that is reviewed and modified with client on a regular basis. Conduct 3, 6, 9, 12 month check ins to ensure client is working towards

their goals.
- Work under a person-centered model of support to foster opportunity to achieve individualized, measurable short and long-term goals. provide services for all clients who have experienced homelessness and lived experiences of facing multiple barriers such as substance use, disabilities, mental health, poverty, and trauma
- Provide flexible and mobile outreach services, including case management, advocacy, and informal counseling, in environments such as streets, shelters, hospitals, corrections facilities, housing sites, and offices.
- Provide individually tailored services to each client—i.e., housing placement, landlord mediation, independent living skills, vocational guidance, appointment escorts, information and access to integrated substance use treatment and mental health services.
- Educate, inform, and advocate for clients regarding benefits and financial entitlements, rental subsidies (SAFER, BC Housing,
- PWD, IA), housing registries, employment supports, and community-based low-barrier resources.
- Support housing set-up through coordinating access to rent supplements, damage deposits, tenant insurance, and essential furnishings and household goods (groceries, appliances, clothing, etc.).
- Provide veterans with comprehensive, wraparound case management services, tailored to their individual needs and goals.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for client support, offering regular check-ins, crisis response, advocacy, and systems navigation.
- Assist veterans in completing Veterans Affairs forms and navigating federal, provincial, and municipal income supports (e.g. VAC benefits, EI, income assistance, disability benefits, etc.).
- Refer and connect clients to internal and external mental health supports, including the in-house counselor, substance use services, and culturally relevant resources.
- Coordinate care with community partners including health authorities, peer-led veteran organizations, and Indigenous support agencies when applicable.

Outreach and Community Engagement (30%)
- Conduct outreach activities, including organizing and participating in community events, workshops, and presentations to raise awareness about veteran services.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with community agencies, veteran-focused organizations, stakeholders, and service providers to enhance referrals and collaboration.
- Initiate and foster strong relationships with landlords and housing providers to increase housing options, negotiate tenancy opportunities, address tenancy concerns, and promote long-term housing retention.
- Track and maintain a database of landlord contacts and available housing units, regularly updating it to reflect the evolving housing landscape.
- Adapt to new changes and pivot strategies as necessary to meet veteran needs effectively.
- Liaise with landlords, partner organizations, funders, community partners, and stakeholders to develop and maintain working relationships.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with landlords and housing providers to support client housing placements, negotiate

tenancy opportunities, address potential concerns, and promote long-term housing retention.
- Document systemic and structural barriers faced by veterans (e.g., discrimination in housing, service gaps), and provide regular feedback to leadership to support advocacy and policy improvement.
- Support policy shifts by documenting barriers faced by clients and providing insights to leadership and funders.
- Explore innovative community partnerships to expand housing access, enhance wraparound supports, and reduce service duplication

Reporting (30%)
- Maintain accurate records of case management activities, outreach efforts, and outcomes, including demographic information, housing status, support services accessed, referrals made, and follow-up actions.
- Maintain up-to-date, detailed case notes, individualized support plans, consent forms, and housing documentation in accordance with privacy legislation and organizational policies.
- Prepare and submit a monthly internal report outlining client progress, housing outcomes, service gaps, and engagement statistics.
- Support the completion and ongoing maintenance of the veterans data collection tool (Excel or other format), ensuring accurate monthly updates for all active clients.




- Contribute to quarterly program reporting for funders by providing aggregated data and client success stories.
- Collaborate closely with the veteran’s counselor and other professionals to ensure case planning and progress are documented and integrated across service streams.
- Ensure timely and accurate documentation to support evaluation, quality improvement, and accountability to funders and stakeholders.

Perform other duties and projects as required and not limited to the responsibilities as mentioned.
- The assigned percentage of job responsibilities may vary based on organizational and operational priorities.

What We’re Looking For

Qualifications

- Post-secondary education in social services, human services, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
- Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience in housing, outreach, case management, community-based services, or supporting individuals experiencing complex barriers.
- Demonstrated knowledge of housing systems and resources, including housing search and navigation, affordable housing, rent supplements, and income supports for Veterans.
- Knowledge or experience working with Veterans Affairs is an asset.
- Proficient in verbal and written English at a professional level, with excellent communication, organization and interpersonal abilities.
- High proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, SharePoint) and case management systems.
- Criminal Record Check.
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle, insured for business up to $5,000,000 for liability, and which can be used to transport clients.
- Emergency First Aid certification is an asset.
- Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information effectively and possess strong integrity.

Skills and Competencies
- Demonstrated knowledge of military culture and the unique needs and barriers Veterans may experience following release from service.
- Strong knowledge of housing navigation, community resources, income and financial supports, and health and social service systems.
- Strong ability to engage and build rapport with individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, mental health concerns, substance use, trauma, or other complex barriers.
- Demonstrated ability to assess client needs, identify priorities, and develop practical, client-centred goals and support plans.
- Ability to manage a diverse caseload, prioritize competing needs, and provide consistent follow-up in a fast-paced environment.
- Work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
- Strong interpersonal, de-escalation, conflict resolution, and professional boundary-setting skills.
- Ability to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and person-centred services to individuals from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
- Strong advocacy and systems-navigation skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with landlords, service providers, government systems, and community partners.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case documentation and program records.
- Solid organizational, time-management, and administrative skills, with the ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
- Results-oriented approach with the ability to work toward client outcomes, program targets, and contractual deliverables.

You may be a great fit if you are:
- Passionate about supporting Veterans and preventing homelessness.
- Skilled at building meaningful relationships with individuals facing complex barriers.
- Comfortable working independently in community settings.
- Organized, adaptable, and solutions-focused.
- Confident advocating for clients and navigating complex service systems.
- Experienced in housing support, outreach, case management, or social services.
- Committed to trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally responsive practice.
- Looking for a role where you can make a measurable difference in people's lives every day.

Creating Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Communities at JHS Victoria: At John Howard Society of Victoria, we proudly embrace the rich diversity of the communities we serve, and we’re excited to invite applicants from all backgrounds to join our team! We understand that everyone’s journey is different, and we are committed to providing the support needed to ensure equal opportunities for success throughout the hiring process.

John Howard

Society of Victoria will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email [email protected] if you have a need for any accommodation. We’re here to help!

Ready to Make a Positive Impact?

If you’re passionate about making a positive impact in people’s lives and meet the qualifications for this role, we’d love to hear from you!

Please submit your application on the portal. Submission deadline is September 18, 2026 and we’ll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. So don’t wait—apply today and take the next step in your journey with us!

📌 Housing Outreach Worker (Victoria)
🏢 John Howard Society of Victoria
📍 Victoria