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 collaborative 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)…