Case Worker - Harm Reduction

Employment Type:   Full-Time, Permanent
Position Status:   Vacant
Work Hours: 35 hours per week (Housing programs operate 24/7 - rotating shifts including evenings, holidays, weekdays and weekends; shares on-call responsibilities or provides emergency coverage in compliance with workplace health and safety standards)
Salary:  $61,479 annually (L7), plus comprehensive benefits
Location:  389 Church Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2E5

Internal Application Deadline:   Friday, September 18, 2026
External Application Deadline:   Monday , September 21, 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 Harm Reduction – Caseworker is responsible for leading the design and implementation of programming that promotes harm reduction principles and approaches that empower tenants and tenant-led initiatives. The goal of the position is to create an inclusive community, encourage participation in the broader community, and develop effective harm reduction strategies to meet the emotional, practical and social support needs of the tenants and the community as a whole. Caseworker also supports tenancy retention through eviction prevention, developing and implementing community development initiatives, with the goal of creating a dynamic and inclusive community.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM, CHURCH STREET
YWCA Toronto Church Street facility includes 120 units of permanent housing. The Case Worker is responsible for providing case management support to women and gender diverse people including: individuals with complex mental health issues and who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness; individuals transitioning from provincially-funded institutions and service systems such as hospitals or prisons; Indigenous women/two-spirit people.  The program goals include housing stabilization, harm reduction, and health promotion. Individual and group support assists tenants to identify and build the skills required to address the barriers they experience in their lives and to maintain their housing.                             

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Uses effective eviction prevention measures to assist tenants to assume and maintain their tenancy obligations;
• Uses harm reduction principles in facilitating and supporting tenant-centered activities (e.g.  tenant committees related to areas of importance for residents such as safety, health and wellness, building-related issues, housing stability, etc.);
• Provides harm reduction strategies that will empower individuals as they address issues related to substance use, mental health, health and wellness and housing;
• Provides crisis prevention, intervention and counseling for women and children and gender diverse people to respond to crisis in ways that support individual and community well-being;
• Engages individuals in identifying needs, developing treatment plans, and assists tenants to problem solve and access relevant community support plans that identify ongoing housing and mental health/addictions support;
• Works with a tenant support network and referral partners to develop individualized support plans that identify ongoing housing and mental health/addictions support;
• Creates and delivers programming specifically designed to build community capacity with the use of a harm reduction framework that will give individuals and groups of residents the opportunity to develop and use harm reduction strategies in all aspects of their lives (health, relationships, independent life skills, housing, etc.).

QUALIFICATIONS

• General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree (example: Bachelor of Social Work in mental health and health field, Occupational Therapy, etc.) (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• 3 - 5 years’ experience working in a supportive housing setting in a direct service setting with children, youth and adults who experience impacts of poverty, homelessness/under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/addictions, or concurrent disorders;
• In-depth understanding of harm reduction, trauma, mental health and substance use;
• Demonstrative experience, knowledge and understanding of harm reduction approaches as a holistic frame work that incorporates supportive housing, community development, advocacy and peer support;
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming;
• Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, client-centered and strengths-based;
• Life Skills certificate an asset; arts based and social media skills an asset;
• Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing Services Act, and Ontario Human Rights Code;
• Excellent crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis;
• Proven experience working independently, developing and facilitating groups;
• Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services and very good knowledge and understanding of community resources;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and excellent oral and written communications skills;
• Working knowledge and application of Anti-Oppression, Trauma Informed, Harm Reduction, and feminist frameworks;
• Knowledge of a second language or culture an asset.

Note: Staff at YWCA Toronto work in dynamic environments that can present both rewards and challenges. To support safety and well-being, all employees are provided with appropriate training, protective equipment, and access to wellness resources. The following working conditions may apply to this position:

• Exposure to unpredictable behaviours and situations, with required adherence to use de-escalation and crisis intervention safety protocols.
• Regular exposure to unpleasant odours, bodily fluids, and pests (such as bed bugs, mice, and cockroaches), with use of PPE and infection control procedures. Potential exposure to second-hand smoke inside of tenants; requiring staff to follow organizational health and safety measures.
• Work involves high emotional demands including vicarious trauma, grief, and compassion fatigue, with wellness supports and EAP resources available.
• Potential exposure to second-hand smoke inside of tenants’ units; requiring staff to follow organizational health and safety measures.
• Interactions includes; tenants who may have pets, requiring adherence to program guidelines for providing clear directions on tenants safe handling and storage practices of their pets.
• This position is based on-site at 389 Church Street and may involve travel within the community, primarily by TTC, when supporting tenants. Staff are expected to follow the organization's travel safety guidelines.

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 : September 09, 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.