How Becoming a Community Worker Changed My Life
Now is the time to join the community sector if you've ever thought about it before.
If we’re going to be honest from the start here, I grew up very privileged. This isn’t to say it was always the best of times, but I had a nice house, food to eat, a loving mother and sister, and my needs for the most part were always met. Because of this, I will never truly understand the experiences of others who grew up in and/or currently experience living below the poverty line. For me, that is all the more reason to make it my responsibility to listen to and learn from people who have lived these realities. Over the last year, my eyes have been opened to the lived experiences of people who aren’t able to meet their needs because of their economic reality during the community-based jobs I’ve had. I’m writing this essay to urge people to think about how they could re-align their lives and careers to support and work with their community and the vulnerable populations in our city.
My first “real” job in the community sector was as an intervention worker at the old decommissioned Royal Victoria hospital that was being used as a quarantine facility for people experiencing housing insecurity that had tested positive for COVID-19 and needed to isolate in an environment where they could consume substances. There was a managed alcohol program and a supervised injection site. I had no previous work in this field besides the volunteer work I did with Mobilizing for Milton-Parc, the Native Women’s Shelter, and my former job experience as a camp counselor. Yet, I showed up to every shift with an open mind and a willingness to learn from clients and coworkers. There was no formal training for this job besides how to put on my PPE to protect myself against COVID-19. My colleagues were much more seasoned professionals. I used my lack of experience to ask questions, try new things and be open to the understanding that I was going to mess up over and over again. I learned so much about how to talk to people and how to truly LISTEN to and hear people. I learned about the experiences of Inuit in Northern Quebec communities. I learned and saw the importance of managed alcohol programs and supervised injection sites. I learned SO much from the intervention workers, social workers, and nurses I was working alongside. My main takeaway though is the importance of care. I didn’t know anything about intervention work when I started but I truly cared and wanted to support the people in my community who were sick with COVID-19. I was given the opportunity to step up to the plate and to work on a team doing work that would support my neighbourhood and vulnerable neighbours and I’m so glad I took it. I will say, I was completely overwhelmed because I was also doing university full-time, organizing my community solidarity project, and had my first ever girlfriend but I wouldn’t change this experience for the world.
My second job was as a community support worker at the Mont-Royal warming tent. At this job I met so many incredible people and workers. I also had so much FUN! This facility was Indigenous-led and was intended to support Indigenous community members. It was amazing to see different styles of leadership and respect for workers. I accompanied clients to healthcare appointments, visited them in other facilities, and even helped someone return to their home community. This job was much more about working with people on a day-to-day and person-by-person basis and was a game-changer for my learning about the social services and healthcare systems in Quebec. I was given a lot more independence at this job because there were fewer workers and I was often working on the weekends. From this job, I learned how to de-escalate crisis situations, how to support people who are in need of emotional support, and learned the importance of professional boundaries with clients. My coworkers came from various professional backgrounds and lived experiences. They taught me so much about what it means to be a community worker. This project ended somewhat unexpectedly and I saw the repercussions of a needed service being removed from a community before people were ready to see it go. At the end of the day, the people who used these services will always be able to take care of themselves as they always have but it was extremely sad to see something people enjoyed so much be shut down. It served its purpose of keeping people warm and creating a safe space during the strictest shut-down yet of the pandemic when people were not allowed to congregate inside and I feel very lucky to have been able to be a part of it.
My third job was as a caseworker at a permanent living facility for people who’ve experienced housing insecurity and need continued support. This job was different from my other jobs because it was “second-line” as the residents already have affordable housing but now just need support in maintaining it and working towards personal goals in their lives. I really enjoyed this job but at this time my exhaustion from working full-time, doing university full-time, and running my community solidarity project caught up to me and I needed a break. They were very understanding and professional. I really enjoyed meeting everyone I did at this job, and I am still in contact with my former colleagues. I haven’t had a paid community job since this one because I really needed to take some time off. I decided it wasn’t in my best interest to continue working full-time while also in university full time and managing Mobilizing for Milton-Parc but that was a decision I had to make for myself based on my current situation. I look forward to having another job in the community sector once I am able to have better control over taking care of myself and my other responsibilities.
I don’t think pre-pandemic Sophie could ever imagine 2022 Sophie and the work I’ve put in to show up for the people and communities I care about. Learning about the experiences of others and meeting all the incredible people I have has completely changed the directory of my life. I no longer care about the same things I used to care about. I am much more passionate about the things I care about now because they mean so much more to me. Becoming a community worker has given me a sense of purpose that I was needing in my life. This isn’t in a capitalist only getting purpose from productivity way but in a way of connecting with other living people and understanding, we all have a role to play in making our communities better, stronger, and more interdependent. I have always had a hard time with wanting to live in a world that is unequal and results in people suffering. After having found myself in these jobs I met people who care as much as I do, who want the world to be better as much as I do, and want to see real change in our lifetimes. Having met these people and learning from everyone I’ve connected to has allowed me to want to continue in this field even when it is hard and overwhelming. When I showed up to my first intervention worker shift, I had no idea it would change my life, worldview, and values in such a drastic way. Overall, I feel more connected to my life and more hopeful for the future. These jobs and the people I met and worked with helped me make decisions for my future based on my new understandings of the world and the person I want to be with the values I now hold.
I reject the idea of healthcare and social workers being “heroes” because I think this gives society a way of praising them for their dedication to their extremely hard jobs while accepting often undervalued pay because of their “moral superiority” to the rest of society. There is a lot of work to be done in terms of workers’ rights in community work and unionizing workplaces. I think this is something we will be able to change over the next couple of years after seeing the repercussions of the pandemic on workers. I also reject traditional non-profits but at the same time, I understand they are the only places providing care for vulnerable populations. It’s a hard line to balance but at the end of the day, someone must do this work because if there is no worker then the clients will not get the services they need. This also isn’t to say you should ever work in an unsafe environment but I’m sure you’ll be able to figure out your comfort levels for yourself. I think it’s a good idea to talk to workers at different organizations to see what their jobs are like and how they are managed because you don’t want to set yourself up for failure at the beginning of a career switch. We are hearing more and more about new projects being started and funding developments for the new year but if these organizations are not able to staff these facilities no one will be able to benefit from them. After 22 months in the pandemic, a lot of workers are finding themselves as I did at my last job, completely burnt out and in need of a break. This is why organizations are in such dire need of workers and new faces to join the field.
My advice to people who want to join the community sector is to be serious about the commitment you are making. Your work will sometimes be hard and make you want to curl up into a ball and cry. This isn’t to say it’s all going to be bad, but you should understand it will be a lifestyle change. You are going to need to take care of yourself. This isn’t capitalist commercial self-care but rather doing the dirty work that needs to be done because if you don’t take care of yourself, it will all crumble underneath your feet. You need to get enough sleep, eat enough food, take care of your physical and mental health, keep in touch with your friends and family and actively seek out things that bring you joy. When working with people who need support from you it takes energy from you that you will need to replenish yourself. Only you can keep track of this, and it is your responsibility to make sure you still have balance in your life and are able to find joy in your time off the clock. This comes with time and experimentation so it might not be perfect at first but reading essays and books from other community workers could give you guidance in figuring out how you can live your life in a way that is liveable for you. I wrote this because I want people to understand that community workers are so desperately needed, and it can bring a lot to your life and future by joining this field. Below I am going to add some organizations doing great work in Montreal that are in need of staff.
Projets Autochtones du Quebec: http://www.paqc.org/en/jobs/
“When you join the PAQ team, you will have a chance to make this city a better place to live. You will work as part of a dynamic and committed team who share and promote the values of the Montreal Indigenous community. This is an opportunity to enrich your knowledge of Indigenous cultures from across the country while making a difference in the everyday life of Indigenous women and men experiencing homelessness, or at risk.
Advantages of working at PAQ:
• Group insurance available for full-time permanent employees
• Meals offered during evening shifts for front-line employees
• Training and development activities
• Paid sick leave benefits
• Flexible hours (depending on the role)
• You will never have a dull day!
Shelter Intervention Worker – Evenings and Overnights
Caseworker
Safe Start Coordinator”
Chez Doris: https://www.chezdoris.org/impliquez-vous/emplois-et-stages/#
“Founded in 1977, Chez Doris is a day shelter that offers a range of services and programs to meet the most basic and immediate needs of vulnerable and homeless women. We are the only day shelter for women in Montreal offering 24/7 services. By offering hygiene products, health and mental health services, socio-recreational activities, housing placement and more, we aim to meet their needs in an inclusive and non-judgmental environment.
Thank you for your interest in working with Chez Doris! In addition to being part of an incredible team, we offer the following benefits to our employees:
Group insurance paid at 100%
Three (3) weeks vacation
10 days of personal leave, payable at the end of the year
Bus pass reimbursed at 50 or 100%
Communauto subscription for work-related travel;
Free meal and coffee at the refuge;
Free menstrual products.
Group RRSP with annual employer contribution of 3% for permanent staff
TFSA available
Two (2) additional holidays during the Holidays
Christmas bonus
Discount Clothing
Free training offered year round
Applications are accepted throughout the year. Chez Doris frequently needs to fill part-time positions, particularly on weekends and on call. For facilitators, preference is given to bilingual candidates with relevant experience, training and / or currently studying.
Team Leader - Front-line services (Weekend) (1)
evening intake Officer (contract)
psychosocial Intervenor (contract)
Discussant weekend
Help Intervenor (Evenings)
Discussant on call
Worker - Housing
Worker - Admissions Housing program
To send your CV (and cover letter) or for any questions: emploi@chezdoris.org .”
The Open Door: https://www.opendoortoday.org/the-team/#open-positions
“The Open Door is a drop-in centre providing services to homeless and low-income people in downtown Montreal. The centre provides food and clothing, laundry services, shelter during the day, counselling, referrals to professional mental health and drug addiction counsellors, and employment assistance. The Open Door also helps its clients obtain medical assistance, free prescription eyeglasses, haircuts, and assistance in coping with gambling, alcohol or substance abuse.
Intervenant
Email: Mélanie adjointe@opendoortoday.org”
Mission Old Brewery: https://www.missionoldbrewery.ca/en/careers/
“Join our team and help give people experiencing homelessness a real chance to get off the street, find a home and reintegrate into the community!
Do you have a passion for helping others? Do you want to be part of a diverse team of dedicated professionals making a real difference? Look no further than a stimulating career at the Old Brewery Mission!
We are currently hiring new staff to provide vital services such as security, health, housing, and psychosocial support.
As part of our team, you can benefit from:
Hands-on experience, training and skills development
A supportive, professional environment
A premium bonus paid for nighttime work
11 paid statutory holidays
10 paid personal days
A free meal from our kitchen available each work day
Easy access to public transport
A full benefits package and more
To apply to be part of our team, please submit your CV online.
Positions:
Welcome Hall Mission: https://welcomehallmission.com/careers/
“If you are looking for a job that will give you the opportunity to participate in our vision, to transform the city of Montreal, Welcome Hall Mission could be the ideal place for you.
Security Agent View full job description
Janitor View full job description
Administrative Assistant View full job description
Warehouse Worker View full job description
General Labourer View full job description
Projet Logement Montreal Intervention Worker View full job description
Cook View full job description
Reintegration Intervention Worker View full job description
Drug Addiction Intervention Worker View full job description
Resilience Montreal: https://resiliencemontreal.com/jobs/
“Resilience Montreal is a non-profit day shelter situated on the corner of Atwater and Sainte Catherine, offering food, a place to sleep, clean clothes, and support to anyone in need.
Intervention Worker: