Director, Youth Housing and Homelessness Strategy

YouthLink believes in the potential of every youth. We are dedicated to providing them with the support, guidance and opportunities they need to make positive life choices. We provide youth with brief and ongoing counselling, in-home wraparound support, shelter, housing, educational support, and safe drop-in spaces. YouthLink works towards equitable outcomes for youth in our community and, as such, is committed to equity-based hiring practices.

We welcome applications from candidates who reflect the communities we serve, particularly candidates from Black communities, Indigenous communities, and racialized people, persons with disabilities, members of diverse gender identities and people with lived experiences. We are seeking candidates who demonstrably operate and practice from an equity and trauma-informed lens. We encourage applications from passionate professionals who will help us dismantle systemic barriers and will embrace working outside of Euro‑centric practices.

Health & dental coverage for you and your family with 100% premium cost paid by employer.

*Annual vacation with pay at 1.66 working days for each calendar month to a maximum of

20

working days per year.

*5 ‘authorized absence’ days for family illness or emergency circumstances that prohibit employees from reporting to work.

*3 paid agency days every calendar year after 3 calendar months’ service.

Maternity / parental /adoption leave top-up payments (to top‑up Canadian government unemployment benefit payments)

100% premium cost for long‑term disability coverage paid by employee.

Eligibility to participate in pension plan after 2 years of continuous service with generous matching contribution from employer.

Director, Youth Housing & Homelessness Strategy (Permanent, Full‑time, 35 hours/week)

(Non‑Bargaining Unit Position)

The Director of Housing and Youth Homelessness Strategy, in collaboration with the senior leadership team, is responsible for setting the strategic direction for YouthLink’s Shelter and Housing portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Director, and as part of the senior leadership team, this role provides executive leadership to the team in YouthLink’s shelter and housing portfolio in service of the mission. As an executive leader at YouthLink, this position requires the highest level of character and strong judgement to navigate complex organizational situations.

Internally, the Director will be a “hands‑on” leader and change agent, ensuring the highest caliber of trauma‑informed, client‑centered care grounded in the principles of Housing First for Youth within YouthLink’s emergency shelter and transitional housing programs. The position is responsible for managing all functions within the Shelter and Transitional Housing program, including workforce planning, recruitment, supervision and training of the program managers and team members. The Director will ensure the provision of high‑quality, trauma‑informed, youth‑centered and culturally responsive services, handling client and facilities issues and crises, and ensuring all safety policies and procedures are in place and well monitored.

Externally, the Director works with the City of Toronto, Home Depot Canada Foundation, and other funders to ensure shelter standards and funding targets are consistently achieved.

As a driver of system‑level change, the Director partners with other senior level service providers to advocate for programs and initiatives to ensure any experience of homelessness for Scarborough’s youth is rare, brief and non‑recurring.

The Director is responsible for seeking and securing funding opportunities, securing YouthLink’s ability to launch an innovative programme that positions YouthLink as a leader in preventing and resolving youth homelessness.

Based in Scarborough, this position must be deeply competent in, and committed to, promoting equity and Black excellence in everything YouthLink does.

Highlights of Your Role Strategic Leadership & System Planning

Develop and implement a youth housing and homelessness strategy aligned with the organization’s mission and strategic plan.

Monitor trends in youth homelessness, housing policy, and best practices to inform service development.

Embed Housing First for Youth principles in every aspect of YouthLink housing program.

Lead program innovation, including service models that prioritize homelessness prevention, housing stability, life skills, and long‑term independence.

Represent the organization in local and regional housing and homelessness planning tables.

Act as a spokesperson and advocate on youth homelessness issues at community tables and public forums.

Identify opportunities to expand or enhance housing supports based on emerging needs.

Contribute to organizational strategic planning and cross‑departmental initiatives.

Funder Applications, Monitoring & Reporting

Ensures the Shelter and Housing programs have adequate financial resources to meet the needs of the community.

Support fund development efforts related to housing and homelessness programs, including proposals and funder relations.

Seek funding opportunities and actively participate in building program logic models and outcome indicators.

Participate in fundraising activities to support the financial stability of the program.

Monitors program impact progress and outcomes and completes progress reports for leadership team and funders.

Builds and monitors program budgets, meets with finance team and leadership team to adjust spending priorities.

Responsible for budget management and ensuring service delivery on scope within budget.

Ensure housing portfolio has the policies in place that reflect the agency’s values and guide programming and decision making.

Program Operations & Service Excellence

Build and implement a strong operational plan for the housing portfolio, with supporting budgets that will ensure youth in the shelter and housing system have optimal and equitable outcomes.

Provide overall leadership and ensure efficient, effective service delivery for:

10‑bed emergency youth shelter (24/7 operations)

41‑bed transitional housing program

Ensure programs operate in compliance with funder requirements, Toronto shelter standards, legislation, licensing standards, and organizational policies

Champion trauma‑informed, harm reduction, culturally responsive, and youth‑centered approaches.

Champion combating and dismantling anti‑Black racism and elevating

Oversee service quality, program outcomes, and continuous improvement processes.

Support development of individualized, goal‑oriented case planning that prioritizes safe and sustainable housing exits.

Ensure excellence in data collection and reporting. Use data to inform service improvements and demonstrate impact.

Develop a measurement framework, including fidelity measures, regular reporting on KPIs and system indicators, evaluation reports, data analysis for program and outcome evaluation.

Oversee City of Toronto, Public Health, and other regulatory audits.

Provide leadership, supervision, and coaching to program managers.

Models and builds a strong workplace culture, maintaining team and organizational values that ensure a healthy work environment where everyone feels safe, supported, engaged and motivated.

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and staff wellness

Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of skilled housing and shelter staff

Ensure staff are trained in crisis response, de‑escalation, housing stabilization, and equity‑informed practice

Participate in labour relations processes where applicable (in collaboration with HR).

Participate in on‑call rotation .

Additional duties as required.

Highlights of What You Bring Education

Bachelors degree in a related field is required.

Coursework or ongoing study that demonstrates the desire for continual learning in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB).

Specialized training in Housing First For Youth principles.

Master’s degree in a related field is an asset.

Experience

7+ years of leadership experience working in the youth homelessness sector, with at least 3 years of senior leadership (Director level) experience.

Demonstrated track record of success in implementing Housing First for Youth principles in youth housing programming.

Experience leading and managing an emergency shelter and/or transitional housing program.

Proven experience in de‑escalation, trauma‑informed care, and harm reduction.

Demonstrated experience in implementing equity strategies in an organization.

Proven track record of driving/supporting system‑level change, ideally related to youth homelessness.

Experience leading in a unionized environment is an asset.

Hours of Work

This role is part of the on‑call rotation. Leading a 24/7/365 environment will require frequent “non‑traditional” hours to ensure support of the program.

Other Requirements

Broad Record Police Check is required.

Medical clearance including tuberculosis testing is required.

Ability to work in a pet friendly environment.

Full job description available here: https://youthlink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/JD-Director-Youth-Housing-Homelessness-Strategy-Feb-2026.pdf

How to Apply

Sub...