Part-time Support Worker

Are you a person who is passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples experiencing homelessness and is interested in providing culturally supportive and safe models of care? The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEH) is seeking Support Workers to work with the Indigenous Street Community and support those who recently transitioned into culturally supportive housing.

WHO WE ARE: The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) has a vision to lead long-term, systemic change to better meet the needs of our people living away from home and experiencing homelessness. Our work is centered on the voices of Indigenous peoples who have shared their immediate needs, lived experiences, and perspectives on solutions. Through research and experience, we have learned that a culturally-supportive model of care is key, and strategies that include cultural supports provide better outcomes in terms of transitioning and sustaining housing for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness. Our goal is to build a culturally safe community and provide opportunities for reconnection to family and ancestral lands, culture, and tradition, to strengthen Indigenous identity and purpose.

Our Vision: Our way is to care for all our people, from the youngest to the oldest. We are all one. Some of our people living away from home are suffering, isolated and homeless. We stand together to end homelessness.

Application Submission: You are required to submit a resume and cover letter that highlights Indigenous ancestry, Indigenous community/organization involvements, education, certification, relevant experience, and how your knowledge, skills, and abilities will support and contribute to the ACEH and our community through a cultural lens. Applications missing this will be automatically screened out of the selection process. Applications will be received until positions are filled. Only qualified candidates will be shortlisted and interviewed.

This position is open to all applicants. Preference will be given to qualified candidates with Indigenous ancestry. The ACEH values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its employees, we encourage members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply.

Job Details:

Position Type: Part-time / Casual

Current Available Lines:
• SPAKEN House – Part-Time Day Line – Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (24 hours per week)

Location: Victoria, BC

Start Date: Conditional on receiving a clearance letter through the Criminal Records Review Program.

Compensation: $28.84 per hour PLUS $2.06 per hour night shift premium for hours worked between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

Union Dues: This position is included in the bargaining unit and requires union membership. For all hours worked at unionized sites, a deduction of 1.85% for union dues will be deducted in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

Benefits:

• For positions working 24+ hours per week:
• Extended Health and Dental Benefits
• Employer-matched RRSP (up to 5%)
• 3 weeks (15 days) paid vacation annually (6% accrual, pro-rated for part-time)
• 5 paid sick days per year
• Additional sick leave accrued at 1 day per month
• 3 unpaid personal days per year

For casual positions:

• 10.64% in lieu of vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, and benefits
• 5 paid sick days per calendar year
• 3 unpaid personal days per calendar year

Casual Availability Requirements:
Casual employees are required to maintain the following minimum availability:
• Availability for four (4) 12-hour shifts per month, including:
o Two (2) day shifts (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
o Two (2) night shifts (7:00 PM – 7:00 AM)
• Casual employees must work a minimum of two (2) 12-hour shifts per month, where work is available, in order to maintain active casual employment status.

Key Deliverables:
• Build respectful, culturally supportive relationships with Family Members.
• Provide one-on-one support, wellness checks, referrals, advocacy, and crisis intervention support for Indigenous family members experiencing housing instability, substance use, mental health, and other complex barriers.
• Maintain the safety, cleanliness, and day-to-day operations of ACEH housing sites, including completing building checks, wellness checks, cleaning duties, and documentation.
• Respond to emergencies, overdoses, conflict, and high-risk situations using trauma-informed, de-escalation, and harm reduction approaches.
• Support Family Members with goal setting, life skills, cultural programming, and connection to community resources and ACEH programs.
• Complete case notes, incident reports, and shift documentation in CAMS and communicate effectively during shift exchanges and team meetings.
• Support communal living expectations and contribute to maintaining a respectful, safe, and welcoming environment for Family Members, guests, Elders, and staff.
• Participate in mandatory meetings, training, and organizational initiatives including cultural and land-based healing opportunities.
• Support meal preparation, house activities, and other operational tasks as required.
• Work collaboratively across multiple ACEH housing programs and locations based on operational needs.

Qualifications and Education Requirements
• Minimum 1 year of related experience working with vulnerable peoples and/or providing care. Preference will be given to applicants who have worked with Indigenous peoples and have relevant Indigenous post-secondary education and/or training.
• Valid First Aid and CPR Certification.
• Consent to a Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check for Working with Vulnerable Adults.
• Naloxone Overdose Training and Certification considered an asset.
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) Certification considered an asset.
• Food Safe Certification considered an asset.
• Experience or personal insight working cooperatively with people with disabilities, lived experience, mental health challenges, and addictions is considered an asset.
• Experience working within non-profit organizations, family support services, social services, and Indigenous support programs is considered an asset.

Preferred Skills and Abilities
• Progressive understanding of persistent mental illness, addictions, trauma, and other challenges and how these impact people’s overall health, wellbeing, and quality of life.
• Ability to work in a holistic, professional, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental manner with a broad range of personalities, cultures, lived experiences, and abilities.
• Ability to effectively respond and adjust to unexpected events, assess high-risk situations, problem-solve, provide crisis intervention, and manage conflict in a culturally supportive manner.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and maintain strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong written, electronic, and verbal communication skills to support collaborative practice and respectful, culturally safe environments for Family Members, staff, guests, and volunteers.
• Ability to apply a harm reduction approach when responding to complex situations and supporting Family Members.