About Kilala Lelum
Kilala Lelum Health and Wellness Cooperative is a community-led organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, culturally safe health and wellness services to Indigenous individuals and communities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). Grounded in Indigenous knowledge and practices, we work to address health inequities and foster wellness through an interprofessional, team-based model of care.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an individual who is passionate about promoting health and wellness equity in the DTES to join Kilala Lelum in the role of Housing Coordinator (0.8 FTE). Kilala Lelum aims to provide members (patients) with access to decolonized primary care, Allied Health services, and Elder-led cultural care through an outreach-based, culturally-safe, strength-based, trauma-informed, member-centered, and harm reduction approach.
Job Summary
Taking a housing-first approach, the Housing Coordinator (0.8 FTE) aims to support members experiencing absolute homelessness with housing requests and housing-related services. The Housing Coordinator establishes supportive and structured relationships with members and partners in the DTES to improve access to housing, cultural connections and healthcare services.
This role largely focuses on advocating for members and establishing/maintaining public relations within the housing community.
Compensation
- $35.35 per hour at 32 hours per week
- Extended Health Benefits and Dental available after successful completion of 3 month probationary period
- RRSP matching up to 5% available after successful completion of 3 month probationary period
Roles and Responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of 20-30 members;
- Contribute to the process of creating and amending Housing Plans;
- Advocate for members in weekly meetings with BC Housing and maintain/foster ongoing communications with them;
- Develop and maintain a strong relationship network with other supportive housing societies in the DTES;
- Create housing care plans for members and ensure that post-housing needs are met;
- Facilitate the use of community services/resources (e.g. food sources);
- Delegate tasks to and work closely with Outreach Workers;
- Advocate for members with tenant rights, connect with Tenant Rights and Advisory Centre, and attend/advocate for members in court appearances, ensuring their holistic health needs are centred;
- Support members with pest control, storage, and other procedures;
- Accompany and/or transport members for housing-related needs (such as to access temporary accommodation during pest control);
- Communicate and collaborate with Social Navigators and the interprofessional care team at Kilala Lelum;
- Manage the Kilala Lelum storage unit for members’ short-term storage;
- Document work in OSCAR Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Lu’Ma Coordinated Access Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS); and
- Manage administrative duties for the position.
Qualifications and Skills
- Minimum two (2) years of recent relevant work experience, with strong preference for experience working in housing services and/or with: people affected by houselessness and housing insecurity, women-identifying people who’ve experienced intimate partner violence, people who experience health challenges including chronic disease, substance use, and mental illness;
- Demonstrated ability to create a system to manage schedule and coordinate service delivery independently to a caseload of 20-30 members;
- Demonstrated understanding, commitment, and ability to be culturally safe and culturally appropriate with patients;
- Intermediate computer skills to operate a computerized OSCAR EMR, communicate via email, manage a budget, and submit spending reports;
- Knowledge and experience in trauma-informed and strength-based practice, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented care;
- Ability to establish and maintain rapport with members;
- Ability to deal effectively with conflict, manage aggressive behaviour, and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques;
- Ability to work independently and as part of an integrated team;
- Ability to advocate, set boundaries, and delegate responsibilities;
- Ability to establish/maintain satisfactory work relationships with the public and other employees; deal tactfully and effectively with co-workers, public, and staff from other agencies; maintain confidentiality; and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; and
- Training in de-escalation or non-violent crisis intervention, mental health first aid, vulnerability assessment tool (VAT), and/or a certificate or diploma in a related field (ex: Community Services Worker, Counselling) is considered an asset;
- Experience working in the DTES is considered an asset;
- Experience and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultures is considered an asset;
- Mandatory completion of a cultural competency course through orientation process; and,
- Valid BC Driver’s License strongly preferred.
Working Conditions
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position (walking up to 5km/day, physically moving belongings, cleaning, preparing for pest control, etc.)
- Approximately 0.5 FTE onsite at 121 Heatley and approximately 0.3 FTE offsite service delivery
Supervision Provided
- This position is supervised by the Allied Health Manager and Allied Health Lead.
Additional Information
- Successful candidates will be required to complete a Criminal Record Check.
To Apply
Please submit an updated resume and cover letter to the HR Lead, nour kachouh, [email protected]. Please outline your interest in the role and how your background and experience make you a good fit. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. This role will be posted until the position is filled.
Equity Statement
Kilala Lelum is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and we encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or membership or self-identification as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
Kilala Lelum Model of Care
Our model of care represents our united vision of trying to promote health equity and wellness for members in the DTES. We work to achieve this by providing culturally safe, trauma-informed and Elder-led services, which reflect the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As we do our work, we are guided by our values of equity and wellness, respect, kindness, Indigenous culture, love, Elder leadership, and, especially important, laughter. Each staff member and community member involved at our centre plays an important role in achieving our vision.
