STUDENT PLACEMENTS IN COMMUNITY & HOUSING SERVICES
If youth or their families are struggling to meet some of their basic needs, YSB is there to help them feel safe and cared for. YSB’s Community and Housing Services are designed to provide food, shelter, safety, health services — and even a sense of belonging — for those who otherwise might go without.
Downtown Services and Drop-In
147 Besserer St.
Program Overview
The Downtown Services and Drop‑in is a street-front program of YSB. Located in Ottawa’s downtown core, the centre provides a safe place for youth aged 16 to 20 who are unstably housed, live in poverty, or are living on the streets. Here, youth connect with peers facing similar challenges in an environment of acceptance and respect. Working with counsellors, youth identify their needs, set goals and get connected to the support and services they need to achieve those goals. For some, this means filling basic needs—free access to telephones and the internet, showers, a food bank, clothing, laundry facilities, and a healthy meal. For others, the Drop-in is a lifeline to housing, crisis counselling, addictions treatment, health care and support on the journey to independence. The Drop-in is open from Monday to Friday from 12 – 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 – 6 p.m.
Students will have the opportunity to work alongside staff, assisting clients with whatever the need may be. This may include referrals to community partners, short-term crisis counselling, housing assistance, etc. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about various community resources, do intakes, and help with groups.
Recommended programs:
- Social Services Worker
- Child and Youth Care
- Community and Justice Services
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Criminology
- Techniques de travail social
- Techniques d’éducation specialisé
- Techniques de réadaptation et de justice pénale
Evelyn Horne Young Women’s Shelter
Downtown
Program Overview
This program offers young women aged 12 to 20 immediate access to safe housing. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Evelyn Horne Young Women’s Shelter is always ready to welcome youth with nowhere else to turn. The shelter has 30 beds and offers both emergency shelter and transitional housing for up to a year. A lesbian/bisexual/transgender positive and culturally sensitive environment, the shelter provides a safe place for all young women. But it’s much more than a place to stay. Each young woman discusses her unique situation with shelter staff, who work with her to identify her needs and connect her with the services she may need to achieve independence. Young women who lack family support are connected with youth workers who help them develop a full “community plan” and get the skills they need to live independently. While participating in programs designed to help young women set goals and work towards them is encouraged, it is not necessary. All youth have the choice simply to have their basic living needs met, or to pursue opportunities to secure long-term housing and improve their lives. The shelters also help young people remain healthy by offering information on sexual health and addictions within a safe and non-judgmental environment. For young women aged 16 to 21, transitional housing is offered for stays of up to one year. These units give youth the opportunity to live semi-independently while they work towards their goals.
Students will have the opportunity to work right alongside staff and will interact with clients on a day to day basis. Students will provide support with intake, goal planning, programming, and developing life skills.
Recommended programs:
- Social Services Worker
- Child and Youth Care
- Community and Justice Services
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Criminology
- Techniques de travail social
- Techniques d’éducation specialisé
- Techniques de réadaptation et de justice pénale
Young Men’s Shelter
Downtown
Program Overview
This program offers young men aged 12 to 20 immediate access to safe housing. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Young Men’s Shelter is a 30 bed facility that is always ready to welcome youth with nowhere else to turn. Additionally, transitional housing is offered for up to one year, giving youth the opportunity to live semi-independently while working towards their goals. A gay/bisexual/transgender positive and culturally sensitive environment, the shelter provides a safe place for all young men. But the shelter is much more than a place to stay. Each participant discusses his unique situation with staff at the shelter, who work with him to identify his needs and connect him with the services he may need to achieve independence. Young men who lack family support are connected with youth workers who help them develop a full “community plan” and get the skills they need to live independently. While participating in programs designed to help young men set goals and work towards them is encouraged, it is not necessary. All youth have the choice simply to have their basic living needs met, or to pursue opportunities to secure long-term housing and improve their lives. The shelters also help young people remain healthy by offering information on sexual health and addictions, within a safe and non-judgmental environment.
Students will have the opportunity to work right alongside staff and will interact with clients on a day to day basis. Students will provide support with intake, goal planning, programming, and developing life skills.
Recommended programs:
- Social Services Worker
- Child and Youth Care
- Community and Justice Services
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Criminology
- Techniques de travail social
- Techniques d’éducation specialisé
- Techniques de réadaptation et de justice pénale
Housing Case Management
Various Locations
Program Overview
In this program, a team of Housing Based Case Managers (HBCM) support precariously housed Youth who are in search of stable, longer term housing. Encompassing the principles of a Housing First model, HBCM’s not only work with youth to help them find housing, but they help support them in maintaining it as well. Using an assessment tool called the SPDAT, HBCMs evaluate the needs expressed by the Youth accessing the program, listen to and help them develop their goals and then support them in completing their goals. This involves advocating to landlords on behalf of Youth for housing, developing relationships with community partners, crisis counselling, referrals to other services to address mental health, employment, educational needs, and recreational needs, providing life skills training and overall supporting them with any barriers they face.
Students will have the opportunity to work alongside a Housing Based Case Manager and will get to work directly with clients to support them in finding and maintaining housing. Note that HBCMs meet clients where they are at which requires them to travel around the city. The student would therefore be travelling with their supervisor.
Recommended Programs
- Bachelor of Social Worker
- Social Services Worker
- Techniques de travail social
Ethno-Cultural Community Program
147 Besserer
Program Overview
The Ethno-cultural Community Program reaches out to immigrant and ethno-cultural youth and their families to identify the needs of immigrant communities in Ottawa. We help to reduce barriers that may prevent immigrant and ethno-cultural youth from getting the services and resources they need. We also work with community members and other agencies to introduce new programs where a need has been identified.
Through education sessions and outreach, we help to develop cross-cultural knowledge and awareness. Outreach is often done by youth, for youth. Members of the Ethno-Cultural Youth Advisory (EYAC) deliver workshops and information sessions about the unique issues facing youth from particular immigrant communities. They also make recommendations to decision-makers on how to address those issues. Youth and families can also contact the program for crisis help, support and referral to services.
Students will have the opportunity to work alongside the Ethno-cultural worker in developing Youth engagement and outreach activities, working collaboratively with the EYAC committee and supporting initiatives that specifically deal with the needs of ethno-cultural youth.
Recommended programs:
- Social Services Worker
- Child and Youth Care
- Community and Justice Services
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Techniques de travail social
- Techniques d’éducation specialise
- Techniques de réadaptation et de justice pénale
Special Requirements for All Community & Housing Placements:
Student placements may run in the fall or winter semester, or both, as required by the school program. Placements do not typically run in the summer semester.
Please note that our student placements are unpaid and many of our opportunities will require the ability to work a rotational schedule. Shifts may occur in the evenings and on weekends and may vary week to week. Due to the 24/7 nature of the shelters, students may be required to work 12 hour shifts in those programs.
LANGUAGE: Bilingualism is preferred, but not essential, for the Downtown Services and Drop-In, the Young Women’s Shelter and the Young Men’s Shelter. In the Ethno-cultural community program, it is preferred that the student speak English and either French or another language. Please specify your language abilities on your application.
Only female candidates will be considered for placement at the Young Women’s Shelter.
How to Apply:
Please apply directly to the student placement opportunity of your choice at https://www.ysb.ca/about/careers/.
For any questions, please contact:
Sarah Firlotte, Human Resources Administrator
2675 Queensview Dr.
Ottawa, ON K2B 8K2
613-729-0577 extension 1228
Cover letters should include the following:
- School name, program name and name of placement facilitator
- 1st and 2nd choices for placement
- Students who do not specify two areas of interest or who state that they are interested in “any” placement opportunity will not be considered in the 1st round.
- Date range of placement
- Total hours and number of days/week of placement
- Language abilities
- Please clearly state your proficiency in English and French (and other languages if applicable)
- Why you are interested in working with YSB and why we should choose you
Application deadline for Fall Placement: 2nd Friday in April
Application deadline for Winter Placement: 2nd Friday in October
For more information, or to find out which unit would be of interest to you, please visit: Community and Housing Services
Screening Requirements:
Standard screening requirements for student placements include:
- TB testing
- Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector
- Two professional references