Are you a changemaker? Come on INN!
Who Are We?
We’re an amazing team, doing amazing things every day. Inn from the Cold is the largest organization in the Calgary region dedicated to supporting families experiencing a housing crisis.
At Inn from the Cold, we offer more than a job; we provide an opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of families in need. Our values guide us — compassion, accountability, respect, inclusivity, courage, and innovation. We are driven by our vision of a thriving community where every child and family has a safe and stable place to call home.
We prioritize people, recognizing the uniqueness and worth of everyone who walks through our doors. Our commitment to reconciliation and equity is not just a statement; it's a journey we're dedicated to, actively working alongside Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities to dismantle oppressive structures. As a trauma informed organization, we create a safe and supportive environment, promoting healing and resilience.
We are a multidisciplinary team united by a shared vision, mission and values. Collaboration is at the heart of our work, and we believe that diverse perspectives drive our success. It is this diversity and the respect and value we have for each other and our community that makes us stronger.
If this sounds like a place where you would want to work, please review the position below to see if there’s a fit with your skills and experience.
What Are We Looking For?
- Position Title Triage & Housing Solutions (THS) Worker
- Job Type Full Time
- Schedule Wednesday to Saturday 9:00am - 7:00pm
- Department Programs
- Reports to Manager, Prevention and Diversion
Position Overview
The Triage and Housing Solutions (THS) Worker is the first point of contact at Inn from the Cold for families experiencing housing instability or homelessness. Families may reach out by phone (24/7 Helpline), email, or through referrals from community partners, and it is the THS worker's role to respond promptly, assess their situation, and identify the most appropriate and optimal housing solution for the family.
The Triage & Housing Solutions Worker ensures that families receive the right support at the right time by focusing on strategies to maintain or obtain housing, leveraging support at Inn from the Cold and in the community and connecting them with financial assistance, mediation services, housing programs, and other relevant resources.
The Triage & Housing Solutions Worker engages with the family in problem-solving conversations to understand the factors contributing to their housing crisis and explore safe and immediate alternatives within the family’s support network and natural supports or through available community resources. When no other safe options exist, shelter may be provided as a temporary solution, pending their transition into stable housing, with on-site housing-focused case management and wraparound support.
What You’ll Do
1. Family Engagement & Housing Crisis Assessment
- Respond promptly to families seeking assistance via phone, email, or referral, approaching every family with the belief that they can secure and sustain housing with the right support.
- Build trust and rapport with families in crisis, using a strengths-based, client-centered and trauma-informed approach to conduct an initial triage assessment to understand the urgency and specifics of the family’s housing crisis.
- Conduct a needs/housing assessment that centers on resilience, to compassionately understand the family situation, the factors that led to their housing crisis, and the full range of available options to guide them toward receiving the right service at the right time, rather than simply determining shelter eligibility.
- Ensure a complete understanding of imminent risk so that safety is prioritized in all decisions.
2. Housing Problem-Solving & System Navigation
- Support families in reducing stress and uncertainty by helping them navigate available options and make informed decisions about their next steps.
- Work with families to identify and collaboratively support their capacity to leverage their strengths, social networks, community supports and other Inn from the Cold programming.
- Encourage families to consider temporary housing options with family, friends, or other natural supports when safe and appropriate.
- Identify and connect families to financial assistance, housing retention programs (e.g. The INN's Prevention & Diversion program), or other organizational and community-based supports that could improve housing stability or help prevent homelessness, ensuring they are aware of and can access available resources.
- Provide warm referrals to external agencies for housing, financial assistance, employment support, mental health services, and other needs, when possible.
- Refer families to partner agencies when specialized services (mental health, domestic violence, legal aid) are needed.
- Collaborate with Inn from the Cold's family shelter team to ensure seamless transitions if shelter entry is necessary.
3. Program Admission Support
- Facilitate admission into programs and provide clear and compassionate information about what to expect, what supports are available and concrete next steps.
- Ensure families understand the focus of program supports, including connections to housing-focused case management and other resources to help them regain stability.
- Encourage families to engage in planning for stable housing from the outset, reinforcing that Inn from the Cold programming is a step within a broader housing solution and that families thrive best in their own home and community.
4. Documentation, Collaboration and Resource Knowledge
- Maintain accurate records of family service requests and interactions, assessments, and referrals to track service effectiveness and identify trends, using HOMES database, Program Drive folders, and Microsoft Teams.
- Contribute to ongoing improvements by identifying barriers, recommending solutions, and participating in team discussions to refine triage and housing strategies.
- Work closely with shelter staff and other organizational teams to ensure a seamless connection between triage, shelter supports, and housing-focused case management.
- Stay informed and engaged with community partners in a constructive way, sharing insights and feedback to strengthen collaboration and improve service coordination.
5. Organizational Commitment
- Maintain strong and positive interpersonal working relationships with co-workers, shelter manager and organizational leadership.
- Work collaboratively with and update program leaders as needed and provide other program staff with information pertinent to the needs of families entering programming.
- Participate in organizational activities including supervision, team meetings, town halls and organization-wide events.
- Participate in required training and professional development opportunities.
- Be a champion for families and services as a team member of Inn from the Cold.
- Practice in alignment with The Inn vision, mission, and values.
- Adhere to all organizational and program policies and procedures.
- Develop and maintain a network of strong community relationships.
This position description reflects the general duties of the position, but it is not intended to be a detailed description of all duties that may be inherent in the position. The Triage & Housing Solutions Worker might be asked to perform other duties as required or assigned.
What You Bring to Our Mission
- Diploma in social services or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, lived experience and professional experience.
- Experience working with families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
- Ability to engage with empathy and build trust with families in distress, often remotely via phone or email.
- Experience in housing support, crisis response, case management, and/or social work.
- Strong strengths-based problem-solving, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Knowledge of housing resources, financial assistance programs, community-based support and other social service resources.
- Excellent communication skills, particularly in explaining complex options in a clear and supportive manner.
- Ability to prioritize and make decisions quickly in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work collaboratively with INN staff, other service providers, and families.
- Current First Aid/CPR Level C and Suicide Intervention certificate (ASIST) are assets.
- Strong organizational and proficient documentation, record-keeping, and reporting skills using a client information management system.
- Computer literacy skills are required, including the ability to use MS Office 365 and Teams.
- Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in the English language; other language skills/knowledge are assets.
- Police check and Child Intervention check are required for employment.
What We Offer
We provide people with meaningful work and are committed to offering equitable benefits and total compensation to all staff, including:
- Competitive salary, where all employees are paid a living wage at minimum
- Focus on health and wellbeing, including access to employer paid extended health benefits, dental benefits, annual health spending account and employer matched RRSP contributions
- Commitment to your mental wellbeing with free and confidential support through the Employee & Family Assistance Program
- Work life balance, including paid vacation starting at three weeks, wellness days, and 12 paid statutory holidays
- Supportive and flexible work environment, with ongoing training and development opportunities
- Potlucks, celebrations, employee engagement initiatives and plenty of fun
- Strong commitment to advancing reconciliation, aligning with the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Recognition that people are a combination of many intersecting identities; we work to cultivate an environment that welcomes the whole person and harnesses the strength in diversity, creating a rich and inclusive workplace.
Our Commitment
Join us in a workplace where your actions contribute to breaking down barriers, fostering equity, and creating a truly inclusive and antiracist space. At Inn from the Cold, you're not just an employee but a crucial part of a community, making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The INN is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is valued and prioritized. We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you are passionate about our mission and can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We value unique perspectives and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of talents and skills. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity or expression, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, place of origin, source of income, mental and physical disability, age or veteran status.
Join Our Team
We are excited to hear from you! We invite you to join our movement to end family homelessness in our city. If you are passionate about making a difference and meet the qualifications above, please submit your resume and cover letter at innfromthecold.org/careers
The successful candidate must satisfactorily complete a Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Search and a Child Intervention Record Check.
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until a successful candidate is found.
Inn from the Cold is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process. To request an accommodation, please contact us at [email protected] before your interview.
