Diversion Case Manager
Clinical and Prevention Services Department
Onsite
Full Time, Contract (12 Months)
Level 8
Requisition Number: SDC-2026-001
Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day.
More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.
For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.
Overview: This position is an exciting opportunity to be part of ground-breaking Shelter Diversion work. The Diversion Case Manager is a creative, out-of-the-box thinker, responsible for delivery and development of Covenant House Toronto’s Shelter Diversion program. The purpose of Shelter Diversion is to assist young people (ages 16-24) identify safe alternatives to staying in a shelter, so that experiences of homelessness are rare, brief and nonrecurring
The Diversion Case Manager will offer immediate, direct support to youth who are experiencing homelessness, or are at imminent risk of homelessness. Collaborating with young people, the Diversion Case Manager will explore alternatives to staying in shelter. This may involve engaging with young people’s family, friends and natural supports, and mediating with landlords and housing providers to help youth maintain or quickly access safe, stable housing. The Diversion Case Manager will offer short term, follow up Case Management to youth diverted from shelter to support the sustainability of their housing situation.
The role requires that services are delivered from a Client-Centered, Trauma Informed, Harm Reduction, Anti-Oppressive, Housing First for Youth, and Strengths/Resiliency based approach.
We are currently recruiting for 1 Full-time, Contract Diversion Case Manager. This is a replacement position within the organization.
Responsibilities:
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Engage with young people who are experiencing homelessness, or at imminent risk of homelessness, with a focus on problem solving their housing situation to identify and secure safe alternatives to a shelter stay
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Engage family members, friends and chosen supports of youth to secure safe alternatives to a shelter stay
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Liaise and mediate with landlords and housing providers to prevent immediate housing loss and/or support housing retention
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Provide short term, follow up Case Management services to youth to support housing stability
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Manage the distribution of emergency funding to young people to prevent housing loss, or secure safe housing options.
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For young people who do not have Diversion options provide immediate navigation supports to access shelters, drop-in programs, and other resources
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Facilitate group based activities, workshops and presentations as required
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Work collaboratively within the Covenant House Toronto team, the youth shelter system and broader community
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Work with stakeholders and partners to develop and promote this specialized youth service
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Contribute to ongoing analysis, evaluation and quality improvement of the program
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Maintain all required documentation including assessments, case notes, and evaluation tools and measures to support research and evaluation of Shelter Diversion.
Qualifications
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Minimum BSW or equivalent in education and experience required. MSW preferred
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Registered Social Worker in good standing with OCSWSSW preferred
- 3 years’ experience working with youth at-risk of and/or experiencing homelessness
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Ability to advocate for, and promote homelessness prevention
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Excellent ability to engage in collaborative problem solving conversations with young people, family members, natural supports, landlords and housing providers, with a demonstrated ability to generate effective solutions that meet youth’s needs
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Previous experience making referrals and supporting young people access additional resources
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Demonstrated ability in working with a trauma informed, harm reduction approach and from an Anti-Black racism, anti-oppression and culturally safe perspective/framework
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Excellent communication (both oral and written) and organizational skills and ability to work independently, proactively, and collaboratively
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Understanding of issues related to youth homelessness, 2SLGBTQ identities, mental health and substance use problems and disorders, and neurodiversity and disabilities
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Knowledge of community resources and systems relevant to youth at-risk of, and experiencing homelessness
Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet all qualifications. If you are excited about the role but your resume doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the description, apply anyway. You may still be the right candidate for this or other roles.
What we Offer:
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Meaningful work.
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Competitive compensation.
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Benefits such as Health, Dental, Vision, Personal Days, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.
- Employee perks which include discounts on gym membership, city bike rentals, auto & home insurance and more.
Interested candidates are welcome to apply directly to this posting on or by June 8, 2026. Only those selected to move forward in our recruitment process will be contacted. No agencies or phone calls please.
Use of AI and Technology in the Hiring Process
Covenant House Toronto does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make or inform hiring decisions. However, we do use an external applicant tracking system (ATS) to help manage applications efficiently.
While our ATS may apply automated filters or sorting functions, all applications are reviewed and evaluated by human recruiters. No hiring decisions are made by AI.
Commitment to Equitable Recruitment
At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.
In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.
