At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!
Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!
We are hiring for an individual to join our Housing Services, ShelterCare team as a Community Service Worker. The ShelterCare program provides a place to stay and staff support 24/7. ShelterCare creates opportunities where individuals experiencing homelessness have access to on-site, integrated housing and health supports so they can become healthier and housed - exiting the cycle of homelessness for good. ShelterCare utilizes a care coordination approach in order to support participants in accessing resources and develop skills to become housed. The Community Service Worker will work with the Participant Experience Specialist to support participants’ inclusion and participation in the ShelterCare Recreational and Life skills program.
This is a contract position, from approximately June 22, 2026 to August 9, 2026. This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week). Schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm. Valid G class driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle preferred. Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) required pre-employment.
This 9 week position is funded by the Canadian Government Canada Summer Jobs program, which requires that the following eligibility criteria be met –
Eligibility (under the Canada Summer Jobs Program):
Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment contract
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
International students are not eligible participants (international students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada)
Key Responsibilities:
Developing social and recreational events and activities to meet the diverse needs of the participants
Researching low-cost community events available in the community
Work collaboratively with the Participants Experience Specialist Assess participants needs
Participant in supervision and team, department or agency meetings and services as appropriate
Provide individual life skills, build social supports and facilitate community connections
Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:
Experience working within a non-profit and/or social services environment
Knowledge of community resources
Facilitation and leadership skills
Education/Experience:
Some post-secondary education in social sciences or recreation would be an asset
Previous experience working in shelters would be an asset
Facilitation and leadership skills
Critical Skills:
Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected
Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem solving skills required
Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community members
Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs
Experience planning recreational/social events and activities
Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service delivery
Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude
Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challenges
Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keeping
Compensation:
At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.
House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.
We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:
Rate of Pay:
At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of “grades” and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate’s past related experience will be taken into consideration.
Grade: 3
Min: $22.08
Mid: -
Max: $23.98
Working Conditions:
Ability to work a flexible schedule up to 35 hours/week, including evenings/weekends as needed
Comfortable working outdoors (tolerant of insects, heat, poor weather)
Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected
This role is being posted to fill a current vacancy.
House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.
House of Friendship supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive, work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive so that our team, and therefore our community, can truly belong and thrive.
We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including, but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process, including applying for this position, please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.
If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let’s talk.
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here:
https://house-of-friendship.hirehive.com/community-service-worker-sc-canada-summer-jobs-waterloo-on-zSrVLD
By end of day June 19, 2026.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not being used in the screening of applications.
