Women's Support Worker - Veronica Block

Requisition Number: WOMEN002292
Type: Internal & External - Part-Time (Indeterminate) - Subject to recall as per article 13.5 of the Collective Agreement
Hours of Work: Avg.20 hours/week; (Saturday through Monday from 3:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. with every second Monday free from work)
Compensation: $31.56 /hr. (Wage Grid #11), plus a generous leave, benefits and pension package
Program & Location: Veronica Block Support Recovery Housing for Women – Downtown Eastside, Vancouver
Union: BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU) - This position requires union membership
Deadline: By noon May 11, 2026

About Us:
Atira Women's Resource Society, an award-winning nonprofit organization known for its inclusionary hiring practices and where a job is more than a pay cheque. We offer the opportunity to work alongside a remarkable group of women working to make the world a more just place, one woman, one child, one home, one job at a time.

About the Job:
Reporting to the Program Manager, the Women’s Support Worker is responsible for the day-to-day work of supporting women (and children) with a wide array of emotional and practical work. Activities range from active listening/one-to-one support and group support, accompaniments and advocacy, assisting families moving in and moving out, supporting women to keep their rooms/units clean, facilitating community kitchen, communal meals and celebrations, preparing and delivering food, assisting with medication and health care, including administration of naloxone to responding to emergency situations and keeps accurate records, files, log notes & statistical information as per Atira’s practice & policies. We encourage creativity and leadership and make space for staff to develop and implement programming in collaboration with women and their co-workers.

Please note: This program serves individuals who identify and live full time as women, including those who have experienced gender based violence and misogyny.

To ensure a safe, accessible, trauma informed, and culturally responsive environment for residents, this position requires staff who identify and live full time as women. The presence of women staff is essential to meeting residents’ needs related to safety, dignity, privacy, and effective support.

Applicants must identify and live full time as women (including cisgender, transgender, Two Spirit, intersex women) or non-binary to be eligible for this position.

This requirement is consistent with established best practices under human rights laws for providing services to vulnerable groups and reflects our commitment to providing community based, gender responsive service delivery and supports the development of trust, safety, and meaningful engagement between (residents/tenants/ participants) and staff.

About You:
You are a feminist, passionate about the work of ending violence against women and children. You embrace Atira’s mission, vision, values and philosophy. You have a well-developed understanding of and commitment to anti-oppression work and intersectionality. You are familiar with colonialism especially as it applies in Canada and you understand the impact of the residential school system. You are committed to working with women who are struggling with substance use and or mental wellness and understand and are comfortable working within a harm reduction environment. You support women who choose abstinence, but understand abstinence is just one option for women struggling with substance use. Your definition of woman includes transgender, two spirit and intersex women, and transfeminine individuals. You are sex worker positive.
You question actions inconsistent with our values and you treat everyone with fairness and respect independent of their status or disagreement with you. You expect great things from yourself and your co-workers. You inspire others with your passion for women’s anti-violence work and your eagerness for excellence. You contribute to an environment where women can flourish and grow and you seek what is best for women, rather than what’s best for you or your team. You challenge the status quo to improve quality and sustainability and you take smart risks and make tough decisions without agonizing.
Lived expertise is an asset, as is living in the community in which you work. Atira strives to hire staff who reflect the women we serve and because this is a program specifically for First Nations, Metis and Inuit women and children, hiring preference will go to First Nations, Metis and Inuit women.

The program provides services to Indigenous women and children (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). To ensure residents receive culturally safe, trauma-informed, and community-rooted support, this role requires staff who have lived experience and a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, and ways of being.

This position is therefore subject to a bona fide hiring requirement. Candidates must self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

This requirement reflects established best practices in community support work, where participants benefit from seeing their cultures, languages, and lived experiences represented in the staff who support them. Representation strengthens trust, enhances communication, and contributes to culturally grounded, effective service delivery.

Additional Requisites/Assets:
• Diploma in a related human / social service field
• One (1) year recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Food Safe Certification is a required
• A valid First Aid certificate is required
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention certificate is required (Atira to provide within 3 months of employment)
• All positions are subject to a Criminal Records Review (Paid by Atira)
• Covid-19 (Including Booster) and annual flu vaccinations are recommended

At Atira, we value diverse experiences and recognize that some applicants may face barriers to obtaining required certifications. If you are passionate about this role, meet the other qualifications, and believe you have the necessary skills and experience but do not currently hold a valid First Aid certificate, we encourage you to contact us you can contact us at People & Culture Recruitment. Atira is committed to being an inclusive employer and may be able to connect you with resources to support you in meeting this requirement.

Application Process:
Provide a cover letter with a current resume describing how you meet or exceed the above-noted qualifications. Resumes with a Cover Letter unique to Atira are guaranteed a review. Candidates who lack the experience and qualifications set out in the posting may not be considered, although an exceptional cover letter and transferable skills may overcome lack of experience for some positions. Please go to atira.bc.ca/careers for a current list of postings.