Intensive Case Worker

COSTI’s Hostel Services program offers temporary shelter and comprehensive settlement and housing support to individuals experiencing homelessness, including families, refugees, women fleeing domestic violence, and single adults. 

At COSTI Shelters, we are committed to creating inclusive spaces for individuals, ensuring they feel supported and respected. Through high-quality Housing services and tailored programs, we help residents transition smoothly and integrate into the broader community.

With a longstanding history as one of Toronto’s settlement providers, COSTI takes pride in being a trusted leader in refugee settlement services and support.

This is a full-time contract, on-site position scheduled to work 35 hours per week

(Funding for this position has only been confirmed until March 31, 2027. Continued employment beyond that date is subject to funding availability and operational requirements)

8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (2 positions) 

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (4 Positions) 

12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (4 Positions)                                               

Duties

• Conduct comprehensive client assessments to identify individual and family strengths, barriers, settlement needs, housing goals, and service requirements through collaborative engagement with clients.
• Collaborate with clients to develop individualized settlement plans, housing stability plans, safety plans, and service goals that promote independence and long-term success.
• Develop trusting and professional relationships with clients by utilizing trauma-informed, client-centred, anti-oppressive, and harm reduction approaches.
• Deliver effective interventions for clients experiencing complex settlement, housing, health, immigration, or psychosocial challenges through coordinated case management and multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Support clients in achieving sustainable housing and income stability by building collaborative relationships with service providers and community agencies, coordinating access to appropriate resources and supports, facilitating joint problem-solving, and providing advocacy when needed to address barriers to service access.
• In partnership with Region of Peel Housing Service Workers, support clients in securing and maintaining permanent housing by conducting housing searches, completing rental applications, communicating with landlords, negotiating tenancy arrangements, and providing tenancy sustainment supports.
• Deliver settlement counselling and orientation services to support successful integration into Canadian society, including access to healthcare, education, employment, legal services, financial assistance, language training, and community programs.
• Provide life skills coaching and referral to practical supports in areas including budgeting and financial literacy, landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, household management, obtaining identification and documentation, employment readiness, volunteer opportunities, transportation, healthcare navigation, addiction treatment, and mental health supports.
• Empower clients using strength-based practices that promote self-determination, resilience, independence, and informed decision-making throughout their settlement journey.
• Coordinate referrals and collaborate with internal and external service providers to ensure seamless access to appropriate supports while minimizing barriers to service.
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with hospitals, shelters, settlement agencies, mental health providers, addiction services, law enforcement, educational institutions, legal clinics, housing providers, and other community partners to strengthen service delivery.
• Advocate on behalf of clients to ensure equitable access to housing, income supports, healthcare, legal services, and settlement resources while promoting client rights and dignity.
• Maintain accurate, objective, timely, and confidential client documentation, case notes and outcome measurement tools in accordance with COSTI policies and Region of Peel standards.
• Monitor client progress and update case plans to reflect changing needs and goals.
• Participate actively in multidisciplinary case conferences, team meetings, housing consultations, supervision, quality improvement initiatives, and ongoing professional development.
• Maintain knowledge of current housing legislation, immigration processes, settlement programs, community resources, and best practices to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of program objectives and organizational priorities.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, Social Service Work, Settlement Studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, and client risk assessment practices
• Comprehensive knowledge of housing issues, policies, advocacy and support services
• Minimum 2-years’ experience working with individuals and families who are currently unhoused or facing imminent risk of becoming unhoused and experiencing psycho/social/physical, emotional and/or environmental challenges.
• Strong knowledge of the refugee determination process and related legislation, including experience working with refugees, survivors of torture, persecution, war, or abuse.
• Experience supporting LGBTQ2+ refugees and newcomers, including individuals who have experienced persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, is considered an asset.
• Understanding of and commitment to working from a harm reduction, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed care approach.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-volume environment supporting individuals experiencing complex trauma while maintaining professional boundaries and utilizing appropriate self-care practices
• High-level proficiency in desktop applications, including Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook and Teams
• Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully, both oral and written.
• Fluency in other languages is an asset.
• Ability to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment and recognize emergency situations.
• Must be available to work rotating shifts in person, including evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays, based on operational requirements.
• Required to provide a valid Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) Police check.
• Valid Naloxone, CPI/UMAB and Standard First Aid/CPR/AED certification

NOTE: Current employees are required to indicate their internal candidate status when applying through Workday to ensure accurate applications review process.

LOCATION:                                        Highway 427 & Highway 401, Mississauga,                

STARTING SALARY:                        $32.19 - $33.75 per hour 

                                                              (Job Evaluation Pending)

DURATION:                                      October 5, 2026, to March 31, 2027

POSTING DATE:                               September 16, 2026

CLOSING DATE:                               September 29, 2026

We currently do not use artificial intelligence or automated systems to screen or evaluate job applications