Employment Type: Full-Time, Contract

Position Status: Vacant

Work Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: $57,888 annually (Level 6), plus comprehensive benefits

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Contract Start Date: November 23, 2026

Contract End Date: January 7, 2028

Internal Application Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026

External Application Deadline: Monday, November 9, 2026

JOIN OUR TEAM

Join YWCA Toronto, where intersectional feminism, community voices, and social justice drive lasting change. We welcome women and gender diverse people of all identities into a workplace rooted in equity, collaboration, and inclusion.

The Shelter Support Worker - Housing Counsellor is responsible for providing a full range of services to women living in the shelter which includes, but is not limited to: supportive counseling and referral; crisis counseling; conflict resolution and community building; and the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops in the area of housing. They work within a team-oriented team within a theoretical feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression. As a specialist in the area of housing, they acts as a resource to staff and clients.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – Women’s Shelter

Women’s Shelter is a 33-bed emergency shelter supporting women and gender-diverse people, with or without dependents, who are fleeing violence. The program includes a Transitional Housing and Support Program that offers up to two years of post-shelter support to promote safety, stability, and long-term housing outcomes.

Our shelters operate 24/7 and are grounded in feminist principles, trauma-informed and strengths-based care, harm reduction, anti-oppressive practice,



transparency, and a spirit of inclusion. In addition to shelter accommodation, all programs provide nutritious and culturally diverse food, access to health care, crisis intervention, supportive counselling, individualized service planning, clinical and recreational programming, as well as opportunities to engage in advocacy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Applies knowledge of the issues of trauma and the dynamics of woman abuse and homelessness to develop and implement effective support strategies;
- Provides case management support services to residents in accordance with set goals
- Accompanies women to appointments and acts as an advocate when necessary
- Acts as primary worker for women assigned, with responsibility for planning, goal setting and follow up during the women’s stay
- Provides crisis intervention and Counselling for women in shelter
- Applies knowledge, stays current and demonstrates skill in the area of housing support services and acts as a resource to staff and clients
- Acts as a resource to staff on housing options, resources and issues and provides updates on changes in legislation and public (e.g. Tenant Protection Act, Priority Housing guidelines, Social Assistance/ODSP) and maintains record in these areas




- May be required to assist the Transitional & Housing Support Worker in providing crisis support to ex-residents regarding housing issues; assists ex-residents to maintain housing by advocating with landlords and housing providers and by offering other emergency assistance
- Develops, implements and evaluates workshops that address client housing needs and to assist them to move into the community and reach their goals
- Completes intake forms and maintains daily records on resident activity, organizes files; keeps a communication log; documents appointments and activities for the residents and staff
- Adhere to policies and procedures of YWCA Toronto and City of Toronto Shelter standards
- Shares on-call duties

QUALIFICATIONS

- In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of a clinically supervised undergraduate degree (e.g. BSW) (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
- An analytical framework that identifies clients' relation to social systems and the demonstrated practicalapplication of thisframework;
- Knowledge and understanding of mental health, substance use/addictions, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues and homelessness;
- Completion of workshops and training pertaining to housing counseling;
- 1 to 3 years’ experience in client centered counseling to at risk and/or homeless women with a focus on housing, support and motivational techniques;
- Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice;
- Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports focused on housing, employment, education, Immigration and Refugee, Family and Criminal Legal systems;
- In-depth knowledge of the dynamics of woman abuse and

📌 Shelter Support Worker – Housing Counsellor (Toronto)
🏢 Ywc
📍 Toronto