Distribution Centre Manager + Food Procurement - Cambridge Foodbank - Cambridge
(2020-12 - 2025-07)
- Managed the flow of all incoming and outgoing donations ensuring appropriate distribution of goods throughout Cambridge food systems
- Maintained positive relationships with donors, community agencies, politicians, corporate groups and the general community
- Trained and mentored foodbank volunteers and managed work experiences of high school co-op students
- Acted as main point of contact in the building to deal with any in person client escalations, safety concerns and other issues requiring First Responder assistance
- Completed all required national, provincial and local reporting requirements for tracking food donations and monitoring adherence to warehouse KPIs
- Ensured all staff, volunteers, students in the warehouse adhered to health and safety protocols with regards to both workers and food safety procedures for transporting and storing food products
Housing Liaison Worker - Starling Housing Services - Cambridge, ON
(2019-11 - 2020-12)
- Developing relationships with private market landlords and property management companies to secure apartments/rental units for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in the Region of Waterloo
- Knowledge of housing and homelessness policies and programs
- Providing support to the relationship between landlords, property managers, community partners and tenants and providing mediation services when required
- Scheduling viewings, attending lease signings, and setting up rent pay directs to landlords / property management companies and ensuring proper documentation is processed
- Strong knowledge of the Residential Tenancy Act and Landlord and Tenant Board guidelines and processes
- Conducting unit inspections and liaising with contractors / cleaners where appropriate
- Collecting and maintaining accurate statistical information and completing monthly, quarterly and yearly funder reports and other internal and external reports as required for program administration
- FACILITATOR: Waterloo Region Housing Matching Table (COVID-19 Response) - Community Housing units are being set aside for people experiencing homelessness in the Region of Waterloo. People are selected for units based on matching and case conference conversations at the matching table with Waterloo Housing and Lutherwood participating.
- FACILITATOR: Region of Waterloo Supportive Housing Matching Table - The Supportive Housing Matching Table is an operational group to ensure equitable access to supportive housing based on client needs and preferences, provider capacity and system pressures. Lutherwood is the lead agency with this initiative and connects supportive housing providers with potential tenants and their community supports. Providing support and guidance to supportive housing providers.
Service Navigator - Starling Housing Services - Cambridge, ON
(2018-10 - 2019-10)
- Working in the Cambridge community providing outreach services to ensure a coordinated approach to housing services and supports for people experiencing chronic homelessness as a member of the PATHS team
- Knowledge of housing and homelessness policies and programs throughout the Region of Waterloo
- Providing housing outreach services to engage and link individuals with complex issues with the appropriate community services and supports throughout the Region
- Supporting community social service agencies to provide information regarding Lutherwood and Regional housing services and provides support to agency workers to enable them to better serve clients who are experiencing chronic homelessness
- Coordinating regular case conferences between tenants, community agencies and significant others to ensure effective service provision
International Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator - University of Guelph - Guelph, ON
(2016-10 - 2018-10)
- Advising international applicants, guidance counsellors and international recruiters on the application process including document submission and verification processes and program specific requirements as they relate to various international curriculums
- Providing outreach support to education consultants, guidance counsellors, and other global recruitment representatives
- Overseeing the recruitment, onboarding and ongoing supervision of five international work study students and a full-time co-op student
- Representing the International Admissions department in various on and off campus recruitment and outreach events
- Responsible for addressing a high volume of student inquiries through various media (live chat, email, telephone, in person) and providing a high standard of customer service
- House Calls Volunteer – University of Guelph: U of G staff, administrators and volunteers knock on the doors of about 4,700 students in campus dorms to let them know they are part of a caring, helpful campus community. This friendly check-in is a way to personally welcome students and find out how they are doing and what they need. Volunteers also make students aware of activities and supports available, including mental health services.
- United Way Canvasser – Admission Services University of Guelph: Participate with a committed team to coordinate the United Way fundraising efforts of the Office of Registrarial Services.
- International Orientation (START) Volunteer – University of Guelph: Support new international students as they join the University of Guelph
Case Manager, Income Support - Region of Waterloo - Cambridge
(2009-05 - 2016-06)
- Determining client's financial eligibility for social assistance through effective case planning and extensive case investigation and documentation while adhering to local and provincial policies and procedures
- Establishing client eligibility for supplementary OW health and employment benefits: medical travel and transportation, employment start up benefits, special diet, employment start up costs, medication and assisted devices
- Assisting new Canadians, refugee claimants, and clients in a sponsorship breakdown to access OW assistance, making referrals to settlement services, ESL courses and conversation circles. Often working with interpreters to assist clients and families
- Acting as an advocate for clients: accessing legal aid services, working with landlords to prevent eviction, contacting utility providers and arranging for payments to avoid disconnections
- Knowledge of job search skills and strategies to assist clients in developing employment plans and making employment referrals
- Identifying clients' skills and barriers to employment to successfully match clients with programs to support employment
- Providing crisis counselling support to clients and ensuring referrals made to the appropriate community resources
User Support Specialist - Region of Waterloo-Cambridge - Waterloo, ON
(2015-06 - 2016-04)
- Providing Ontario Works (OW) policy support to front line staff and management with complex cases
- Participating in policy development processes, program evaluation, and policy reviews
- Conducting in depth file audits to determine that the correct amount financial assistance owing to clients is issued
- Internal Review Committee member and participated in client appeal meetings and made recommendations based on meeting and in-depth case review outcomes
- Providing training and support to front line staff on computer system functionality
- Representing the Income Support department in the community by attending meetings and committees to provide information about the provision of OW in the Region of Waterloo
Family Support Worker, Income Support (Contract) - Region of Waterloo - Waterloo Region, ON
(2013-01 - 2016-04)
- Assessing respondents' ability to pay support to OW clients and examines individual cases to determine whether legal action is necessary
- Providing advocacy and information about family law procedures, processes and paperwork
- Negotiating private agreements between parties when possible and participating in court mediation process with clients and ex-spouses
- Supporting clients throughout all stages of the court process: attending family court proceedings and lawyers' appointments; providing support with completion of paperwork, documentation and lawyers' requests; debriefing and discussing court outcomes
Senior Caseworker, Special Services (Contract) - Region of Waterloo - Waterloo Region
(2011-10 - 2012-12)
- Completing in-depth analysis/investigations of files, including collecting all supporting information and interviewing clients regarding allegations
- Compiling and assembling case synopsis files to assist Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS), Fraud Unit in their investigations of cases where a Criminal Code of Canada or Provincial Offenses Act offense has been perpetrated in relation to the issuance of Ontario Works assistance
- Acting as liaison with WRPS staff and the Crown Attorney's office regarding cases being referred for criminal investigation
