CASUAL SHELTER WORKER
Location: Lindsay, Ontario
Organization: Women's Resources of Kawartha Lakes
Position Type: Relief/Casual Shelter Counsellor
Wage: $27.72 + 4% Vacation Pay
Reports To: Residential Services Manager
Application Deadline: July 31, 2026 at 12:00pm
Start Date: As soon as possible
Positions Available: (2-3)
Women’s Resources of Kawartha Lakes provides emergency shelter, counselling, and support to women and their children experiencing abuse in the City of Kawartha Lakes. We are currently seeking compassionate, dedicated women interested in casual, relief work within our 18-bed emergency shelter.
This casual position provides no guaranteed hours. Casual staff may receive some advance scheduling; however, the majority of shifts will be short-notice call-ins. Employees must be available to work overnights, weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts as needed to support 24/7 shelter operations.
All services are provided within a feminist, anti-oppression, anti-racism, trauma-informed framework.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide supportive counselling, safety planning, crisis intervention, and risk assessments to women and their children, in person or on a crisis line.
- Maintain a safe, welcoming, and clean shelter environment.
- Assist with shelter operations including admissions, documentation, shift communication, and adherence to agency policies.
- Support residents with system navigation (housing, income supports, childcare subsidy applications, tax forms, legal services, etc.).
- Advocate confidently and professionally with community agencies on behalf of residents.
- Respond effectively in a fast-paced, high-risk environment where priorities shift quickly.
Required Skills & Qualifications
Mandatory availability for overnight shifts, as well as evenings, weekends, holidays, and short-notice calls.
- Post-secondary education in Social Service Work, Social Work, or a related field.
- Strong understanding of feminist gender analysis, violence against women, and anti-oppression/anti-racism principles.
- Demonstrated skills in risk assessment, crisis intervention, de-escalation, trauma-informed support, and harm reduction.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in Windows, databases, and electronic documentation.
- Knowledge of community services, housing systems, social supports, and legal resources.
- Ability to work independently and within a team-based environment.
- Current First Aid/CPR, NVCI, and ASIST (or willingness to obtain).
- Commitment to maintaining a clean, safe, and supportive shelter environment.
- Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, including stair climbing, lifting and carrying supplies, housekeeping duties, and responding to emergency situations.
- Must be able to pass a Vulnerable Sector check.
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum two years’ experience in a residential or VAW shelter setting.
- Experience supporting women with mental health concerns and/or substance use using trauma-informed, harm-reduction practices.
Accessibility & Inclusion:
· Women’s Resources welcomes and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the hiring process. Please contact us to let us know how we can support your participation.
· Women’s Resources has an exemption to hire women only.
To Apply:
Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications to:
[email protected] by July 31, 2026 at 12:00pm
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.
Women’s Resources is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Indigenous people, racialized persons, people with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Pay: $27.72 per hour
Work Location: In person
