Start Date: March 2025

About The Refugee Centre

The Refugee Centre is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting refugees, refugee claimants, and newcomers through legal aid, housing advocacy, employment assistance, and social integration programs. We are expanding our housing support services and are seeking a Housing Officer to assist refugees and newcomers with housing search support, tenant rights education, and mediation services.

Position Summary

The Housing Officer will play a key role in helping refugees and newcomers navigate the complex housing landscape by providing housing search support, legal education on tenant rights, and direct case assistance. This role will involve workshops, one-on-one support, landlord mediation, and emergency shelter coordination. The Housing Officer will work closely with legal staff, outreach teams, and external housing organizations to ensure refugees and newcomers can access safe and stable housing.

Key Responsibilities

1.  Housing Search Support & Tenant Rights Education
   • Provide housing search support to refugees and newcomers, helping them understand lease agreements, tenant rights, and housing options.
   • Offer one-on-one housing information sessions to assist clients in navigating rental markets and avoiding exploitative situations.
   • Organize housing workshops to educate newcomers on tenant rights, housing responsibilities, and eviction prevention strategies.
2. Case Management & Housing Legal Support
   • Conduct one-on-one consultations for complex or urgent housing issues, such as eviction threats, rent increases, and landlord disputes.
   • Coordinate with housing lawyers to assist clients facing legal challenges related to tenancy.
   • Provide landlord mediation and housing accompaniment for clients experiencing housing disputes, ensuring fair and just resolutions.
   • Coordinate emergency shelter support when clients face immediate housing instability or homelessness.
3.  Resource Development & Team Collaboration
   • Create and maintain a housing resource bank for internal use, updating available housing listings, emergency contacts, and landlord networks.
   • Work closely with the Outreach and Housing Director to ensure up-to-date resources and strategies for client support.
   • Attend housing team meetings to discuss cases, update resources, and coordinate advocacy efforts with legal and outreach staff.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: 
  • Bachelor's degree or certification in Social Work, Housing & Urban Studies, Public Policy, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience:
  • Minimum 2 years of experience in housing advocacy, tenant support, or social services.
  • Experience working with refugees, asylum seekers, or vulnerable populations is a strong asset.
• Skills:
  • Strong knowledge of tenant rights and housing policies in Quebec.
  • Ability to mediate landlord-tenant disputes and provide effective housing search assistance.
  • Excellent organizational and coordination skills.
  • Strong public speaking and facilitation skills for workshops and one-on-one consultations.
• Languages:
  • Fluency in English and French (spoken and written) is required.
  • Additional languages (e.g., Arabic, Spanish) are an asset.
• Other Requirements:
  • Ability to work some evenings and weekends as needed for outreach and workshops.
  • A valid driver’s license is a valuable asset but not required.