Housing Support Coordinator
Role: Housing Support Coordinator, Refugee Services
Position Type: Full-time, (37.5 hours/ week)
Compensation: $54,888/year
Location: Ottawa, ON
Reports to: Senior Manager, Transition Homes
Start Date: July 1st, 2026
About Matthew House Ottawa
Since 2010, Matthew House Ottawa has welcomed and supported hundreds of refugee claimants, and provided quality used furniture to 7000 families in need.
About this role
The Housing Support Coordinator plays a crucial role in developing and supporting Matthew House Ottawa’s Housing program. The role is heavily focused on staying current with the evolving Ottawa housing market and rental benefits, as well as building strong relationships with private landlords, rental agencies, and specialized partners who can support vulnerable clients.
A core priority of this position is ensuring that every single client is equipped for success through mandatory housing search orientations. Operationally, the Coordinator will drive a tiered case-management approach, dedicating major focus and resources toward clients who are ready to transition out of the program, while maintaining structured, intentional check-ins with those who are not yet ready. The coordinator will be primary based out of our office at Matthew House office at 700 Industrial Avenue but will regularly travel across our various reception housing locations as the job requires to engage, meet with, and support clients throughout their journey. This position is ideal for individuals passionate about supporting vulnerable populations, promoting equitable access to longer-term housing, and managing a housing support team. The Housing Support Coordinator will report to the Senior Manager | Transition Homes.
Key Outcomes & Responsibilities
1. Building connections with landlords and affordable housing agencies:
Outcome: Strong and sustained partnerships support increased housing access for residents.
Cultivate Landlord Networks: Establish, maintain, and serve as the primary liaison with homeowners, landlords, and rental companies interested in renting rooms or properties to Matthew House residents.
Specialized Housing Partnerships: Proactively identify, build, and maintain partnerships with community resources and niche housing providers specifically equipped to support clients requiring extra or specialized support.
Landlord Mediation & Retention: Act as a temporary point of contact for landlords during the initial transition phase to mediate minor conflicts, reinforce tenant responsibilities, and protect Matthew House Ottawa’s reputation and long-term landlord partnerships.
Market Tracking: Stay current on available housing benefits and programs (COHB, OMHB, Social Housing Registry updates) and ensure this vital information is shared immediately with residents and staff.
Community Sourcing: Work with volunteers and the broader community to actively identify new rental opportunities.
2. Supporting refugee claimants’ long term housing search
Outcome: Residents secure safe, affordable housing and are equipped to independently maintain long-term tenancy.
Early Engagement: Maintain a dedicated, daily on-site presence at assigned reception homes to meet, connect with, and assess clients from the very get-go of their arrival.
Mandatory Orientations: Deliver comprehensive housing search orientations early in the client's stay, outlining reasonable expectations for long-term housing and ensuring clients receive the tools and knowledge needed for independent searches.
Attendance Tracking: Track attendance for orientations and flag any missing clients to their assigned Refugee Settlement Coordinators.
Market & Rights Education: Provide practical, up-to-date education on the Ottawa housing market, rental processes, and tenant rights, constructively addressing unrealistic expectations through guidance on viable options and trade-offs.
Hands-on Search Support: Provide direct support in finding safe, affordable housing, including filling out applications, coordinating and accompanying clients to property visits, and reviewing lease agreements.
Furniture & Material Referrals: Coordinate and submit client referrals to the Matthew House Ottawa Furniture Bank and other partner material-aid agencies to ensure transitioning clients can fully furnish and outfit their new homes.
Utility & Move-Out Setup: Assist transition-ready clients in obtaining tenancy insurance and setting up essential utilities (such as Hydro, Enbridge, and internet) as needed.
3. Management
Outcome: Housing services are well-organized and supported, with strong supervision and up-to-date resources ensuring staff can effectively help residents secure stable housing.
Resource Directory: Research Ottawa housing options to create, maintain, and update a centralized record of landlords, housing opportunities, and community service directories.
Internal Collaboration: Work closely with Refugee Settlement Coordinators and on-site staff to assess client needs, match suitable residents to housing opportunities, and ensure a seamless workflow that integrates housing goals without duplicating case management efforts.
Team Supervision: Provide direct training, essential materials, supervision, and ongoing support to the Housing Support team.
Data & Reporting: Track housing activities, placements, and landlord interactions, ensuring accurate entries in MHO’s database so the team is aligned on each resident's settlement journey, and provide regular reports to the Senior Manager | Transition Homes.
Perform other duties assigned by the Senior Manager | Transition Homes.
Qualifications & Experience
Education: Post-secondary education in Social Services, Community Support, or a related discipline.
Experience: At least 1 year in housing support, refugee services, or case management.
Communication: Fluent in English (required); French and other languages are assets.
Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote).
Housing Knowledge: Familiarity with Ottawa’s housing market, tenant rights, and housing resources.
Cultural Sensitivity: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to support diverse populations.
Compliance: Valid Police Records Check (Level 3 – Vulnerable Sector).
Transportation: Access to transportation preferred; may be required to travel between locations.
Other Requirements
Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends based on operational needs.
Willingness to adhere to confidentiality and safeguarding policies.
In-person work required across multiple housing sites.
May include extended hours to respond to resident or facility needs.
Fast-paced, supportive, and collaborative environment serving newcomers to Canada.
Performance Metrics & Success Indicators
Housing Placements: Number of successful transitions into long-term housing.
Partnership Development: Quantity and quality of new landlord relationships.
Resident Support: Positive feedback from clients on services received.
Documentation Accuracy: Timely and accurate updates to housing records and reports.
Team Contribution: Collaboration with internal staff and responsiveness to feedback.
NOTE: This job description may be updated as needed to meet the evolving requirements of the program and the organization.
Please email your resume to HumanResources@matthewhouseottawa.org, an expression of interest clearly addressing how you meet the requirements and can carry out the essential functions of this position. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Matthew House Ottawa’s name derives from our Christian roots: we are motivated by our desire to feed, clothe and shelter the strangers in our midst and to serve people who can use our help.
Vision
Matthew House Ottawa is a faith-based, transformative model of excellence caring for Ottawa’s marginalised population.
Mission
Matthew House Ottawa is a faith-based, volunteer-driven, charitable organization that helps Ottawa’s marginalised population to establish connected, safe, healthy, and dignified homes within our community. We do this by:
Providing shelter, food and refugee settlement assistance, including volunteer opportunities, in a family atmosphere to refugee claimants so that they may begin their journey to independence as members in Canadian society; and,
Distributing quality used furniture and household goods to Ottawa’s marginalised population
Values Statement
Faith Based: We live by our Christian faith and care for the stranger in response to God's call (Matthew 25:35).
Loving Service: This ministry seeks to express loving service towards each person we serve, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Compassionate: We are passionate, caring, and enthusiastic in support of people's needs and seek to express a ministry of loving service toward each person we serve.
Respecting Human Dignity: We believe in respecting the value and dignity of each person receiving our services and those who serve in this ministry.
Engaging Community: We believe in building relationships with individuals, groups and other organizations to create fellowship and mutual support to help those in need.
Building Community: We believe in helping our clients to integrate into their new community to build a happy, healthy home, live in personal safety, and achieve their potential within our society.
Accountable: We are accountable to our clients, volunteers, and community partners and treat all who come in contact with this ministry with integrity, fairness, consistency, and honesty.
Environmentally Conscious: We encourage waste reduction, reuse, and recycling through our programs to promote healthy environments.