Part-Time Shelter Support Worker - Community Care ( Evening) , YWCA Arise

Employment Type: Part-Time, Contract
Position Status: New Position
Work Hours: 21 hours per week (Sunday- Tuesday 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm )
Salary: $32,921 annually (Level 5 prorated), plus comprehensive benefits
Location : Confidential Address - Downtown Toronto
Contract Start Date:  April 20, 2026
Contract End Date: April 30, 2027

Application Internal Deadline: Monday, March 30, 2026
Application External Deadline : Wednesday, April 1, 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 - Community Care provides supportive, participant-centred services across YWCA Toronto’s four shelter programs and will be required to work at any shelter location based on operational needs. The incumbent supports women and gender-diverse people, and their dependents experiencing varying forms of homelessness as well as intersecting social and systemic barriers by promoting dignity, safety, autonomy, and well-being. This role is designed to collaborate with interdisciplinary staff teams in each program to support high-quality, integrated services. The Shelter Support Worker – Community Care plays a key role in ensuring the continuity and enhancement of services across all shelter sites located in the Toronto area

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – YWCA ARISE
Arise Shelter is a 27-bed emergency shelter for women and gender-diverse people, with or without dependents, who are fleeing intimate partner violence. The program includes a Transitional Housing and Support Program that provides continued, community-based support for up to two years after residents leave shelter.
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

• Provide individualized support during program activities, including emotional support, safety planning, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and brief counselling as needed.
• Assist with meal services by supporting meal set-up, service, and clean-up to ensure access to nutritious and culturally diverse food.
• Document program activities, participant engagement, incidents, and outcomes in accordance with organizational and funder requirements.
• Support participants in accessing health care, mental health supports, income assistance, housing services, and other community resources in collaboration with assigned case managers.
• Develop, facilitate, and support group, clinical, recreational, and life-skills programming across shelter programs.
• Model and reinforce community norms related to safety, inclusion, harm reduction, and mutual respect.
• Accepts shift coverage requests via YWCA Toronto staffing phone and transitions between shelter sites in a timely and professional manner to ensure continuity of services and operational coverage

QUALIFICATIONS

• General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of a college diploma (example: Social Service Work, Community Service Work) Cases for equivalency will be accepted .
• 1-3 years experience working in a diverse, direct service setting for participants that range from youth to seniors who have experienced impacts of poverty, violence/trauma, mental health/substance use or concurrent disorders and other sources of marginalization or oppression
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming
• Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, client-centred and strengths-based
• In-depth knowledge of the dynamics of gender-based violence and trauma within an anti-oppression framework
• Working knowledge of the Toronto Shelter Standards, Residential Tenancies Act, Mental Health Act and Ontario Human Rights Code
• Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills
• Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services
• Very good knowledge and understanding of community resources
• Fluent in MS Office, internet, and client management software
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Knowledge of a second language or culture an asset
• Valid drivers license and access to a vehicle with 2-million-dollar liability is an asset
• This position requires travel within the Toronto area on a frequent basis utilizing the most economical mode of transportation.

Note: Required to travel between 4 shelter programs if needed during shift; Shifts can be scheduled at any site during rotation

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefit
• Multi-Sector Pension Plan: Employer’s contribution of 5.75% and Employee Contribution of 3.25%
• Time off: Starts with 20 Vacation Days, 1.5 Days Per Month Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Health Promotional Days and 4 Float Days
• Other Benefits: Child Care Benefits, Maternity/Parental Leave Supplementary Employment Benefits, Educational/Sabbatical Leave, and Financial Assistance for Professional Development

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is secondable.

Posting date: March 19, 2026

 

YWCA Toronto transforms lives. As the city’s largest multi-service women’s organization, we help women and gender diverse people escape violence, move out of poverty and access safe, affordable housing.

We work tenaciously to break down barriers that hold women and gender diverse people back from achieving equality.

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate before hiring.

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender-diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

YWCA Toronto may use AI-supported tools to assist with parts of the recruitment process; all hiring decisions are made by people and guided by our commitment to equity and fairness.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.