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Assistant Housing and Homelessness Program Manager

Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre
June 15, 2026
Full-time
On-site
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
 Assistant Housing and Homelessness Program Manager 

Department  
 Housing 

Salary Range: $60,000 - $68,000/ per year (depending on experience)

Employment Term: 1 year contract with options for annual renewal, Full time hours (35 hours/ week)
 
Application Deadline: July 3rd 2026

Overall Purpose of the Job  
The Assistant Housing and Homelessness Program Manager AHPM is a part of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre’s housing team and provides support to The Housing Program Manager (HPM) in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Homelessness & Housing Project as well as managing the housing team throughout various locations. 

The AHPM is responsible for working alongside the HPM with families who are homeless or may lose their housing, are in transition housing and people who are being released from the Federal / Provincial institutions.  It’s a requirement that in this role you service all vulnerable populations while working in tandem with organizations (Income Assistance, Children and Family Services, Tenancy Rights, Corrections, Addiction and Mental Health and Indigenous Support Services. 

A part of this position for management is to provide support through a trauma informed person-centered, anti-oppressive, decolonized, and Indigenous lens with an emphasis on harm reduction principles. An integral part of this position is having the ability to work with a two-eyed seeing approach to organizational management practices while providing Indigenous based support services for community members with the goal of achieving sustainable housing in the community.  
 
Safety is of the upmost importance in offering housing support to the vulnerable population and this role will require strict confidentiality and crisis intervention & prevention skills. In this role you mist positively embody certain skills (effective communication skills, managing stressful situations, crisis, and be flexible). This job description will change as the workplace changes. 

Key Accountabilities  


  • Utilize and maintain the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre’s (MNFC) database and input client information using HIFIS & IRHDA
  • Ensure that program delivery is congruent with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre's mission, vision and philosophy
  • Support the completion of quarterly reports, track and record client outcomes for multiple funders
  • Use a collaborative approach while managing housing team to work through complex cases
  • Alongside the HPM, manage the housing team, provide respect, direction, support, team building, training, performance evaluations and positively lead by example
  • Help develop program policies to meet the needs of the Indigenous community experiencing homelessness while prioritizing the confidentiality and dignity of all clients
  • Track project/ program budgets and spending to ensure accurate spending/ record keeping of expenses, provide quarterly reports and write proposals for new funding opportunities
  • Organize programming and events to support the wellbeing of staff and clients to access culturally safe support 
  • Attend networking meetings to advocate for Indigenous housing and build community partnerships
  • Support individuals and families to navigate appropriate systems related to obtaining and maintaining housing. 
  • Provide intake, assessments and referral service, assistance in accessing resources, crisis intervention and eviction prevention services, outreach mediation for clients
  • Working in partnership with both private and non-profit sector of the housing market to ensure appropriate placement of families
  • Maintain accurate, comprehensive documentation regarding all interactions with clients.  Documentation must be in accordance with agency standards and adhere to funder requirements.
  • Managers are expected to be involved in all areas of management of employees (ex. performance, discipline, training.) 
  • Connect clients to community resources, supports and meaningful activities as required 
  • Liaise and develop relationships with landlords and property managers within HRM 
  • Maintain client confidentiality, privacy and clear boundaries
  • Compile statistics and data that will assist with the outcomes and evaluation of this housing initiative 
  • Commit to the development of the MNFC and participate in internal committees, projects and activities
  • Assist in program and service development to ensure that quality, effective and client centered programs and services are delivered
  • Is responsible for keeping informed of ESIA policies for the benefit of the clients
  • Networks and collaborates with community organizations to integrate poverty, homelessness and women, trans gendered issues into the development of project proposals.
  • Develops and maintains a positive interaction with community agencies for the benefit of the clients
  • Familiarity with policies pertaining to Income Assistance, Disability Support, Mental Health and Tenancy rights. 
  • Work collaboratively and positively lead an interprofessional housing team.  Team expectations include regular meetings, planning events, team debriefing and team building 
  • Adhere to all policies governing the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
  • May perform other related duties as assigned

Reporting Relationships
This Job Reports to: 

  • Housing Program Manager
 
Job Titles and number of incumbents reporting to this job: (if applicable) 
Housing Support Case Managers 
Service Navigators 
Housing Outreach Case Managers 
 
Contacts: 
Internal 

  •  MNFC other department staff

External 

  • Landlords
  • Foodbanks/ furniture banks
  • Clothing banks
  • Metropolitan Regional Housing Authority
  • Affordable Housing Association of NS 
  • Tawaak Housing Association
  • Social Services & Justice & Policing 
  • Other non-profit housing associations
 
Innovation: 
Collaborate- establish collaborative relationships with clients, networking partners, funders and employees 
 
Respond-safety resolve crisis situations and respond nonjudgmentally to problematic behavior 
 
Advocate-help develop and implement service plans, and be a strong advocate for the client 
 
Understand-demonstrate understanding of oppression and marginalization of the homeless  
 
Teamwork-make positive contributions to the team, respect, support and provide direction when needed 

Decision Making: 
Decision making- use sound decision making judgement when working with vulnerable population and refer to the Executive Director for direction when processes are not created for safety situations  

Impact of Results: 

  • Reduced number of homelessness in HRM 
  • Increased number of individual goals achieved 
  • Increased number of clients receiving support due to advocacy 
  • Increased number of clients with financial stability and move-out transitions 

Dimensions (Approximate) 


  • Number of clients who have successfully been housed/ sustained housing 
  • Number of clients who have achieved personal goals 
  • Number of client’s support interactions per year 
  • Number of community service collaborations 
 
Working Conditions Examples: 
Physical Environment: Travel is required for this position for meetings/ to other MNFC locations.  Some office time will be required to complete computer work and paperwork.  
 
Physical Effort: This position may require lifting to 50 lbs to safely fulfill the physical demands of the job including: purchasing office equipment and supplies. 

Sensory Attention: The Assistant Housing Program Manager must always have the cognitive ability to make the best management decisions involving our housing team employees.  The AHPM must ensure by managing the department/ team our community members/ clients have the basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. 
 
Mental Pressures: This position has a high degree of stress due to the extremely vulnerable and complex population that is supported by the AHPM. It is a position which challenges your abilities, beliefs, tolerances, biases and to some degree has an impact on your ability to mentally process the daily struggles, trauma and injustices the community members must face.    The Housing Program Manager must also manage inter employee conflict, work attendance, vacation schedules and any other work-related issues that arise to ensure that the team has the support it needs to function as a cohesive entity.  
 
Qualifications and Experience Required for the Position:  

  • Diploma / certification in community social services; or education in mental health, addictions, concurrent disorders/ co-occurring disorders and social work.
  • Two years of recent, related work experience with an emphasis on mental health, substance use disorders, homelessness and/ or social services.
  • Experience in a management position, guiding and leading employees is an asset 
  • Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.  
  • Comprehensive understanding of Indigenous women’s, transgender issues, poverty, homelessness, trafficking and their root causes
  • Demonstrated understanding of Housing First and Harm reduction principles and approach
  • Utilizes a social justice perspective
  • Comprehensive knowledge of community resources, programs and services including ESIA, local/ provincial housing, subsidy programs and residential tenancy rights and regulations
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
  • Reliable means of transportation (must own a working vehicle) 
  • Provide a current driver abstract
  • Provide a copy of a valid class 5 driver’s license
  • Provide proof of motor vehicle insurance with 2 million in liability insurance
  • Experience using Microsoft Office (word, excel, outlook, access, power point) 
  • Must have a working cell phone (be accessible 24/7) 
  • Core Competency Training: Management, Mental Health/ First Aid, ASIST and NVCI
  • Required Vulnerable Sector Check & Child Abuse Registrar must be provided prior to start of position

Application Deadline: July 3rd 2026