Occupation
Housing support worker
Housing support workers help people find accommodation and keep it — dealing with applications, arrears, landlords, and the problems that put a tenancy at risk. Some posts are based in shelters or supported housing; others are outreach roles that visit tenants at home. Waiting lists are usually long, so a large part of the job is managing expectations honestly while chasing every option that exists.
Also known as: Housing officer · Tenancy support worker · Homelessness outreach worker · Supported housing worker
Occupation content
Part of Community, social and public services
What the work involves
- Assess housing need, eligibility, and risk for new clients or applicants
- Help clients complete housing, benefit, and subsidy applications and gather documents
- Mediate with landlords and negotiate repayment or repair arrangements
- Visit tenants to check on tenancy sustainment and property conditions
- Refer clients to income, health, addictions, or legal services and coordinate the plan
- Maintain case records, waiting-list entries, and safeguarding referrals
How people commonly enter
- A college certificate or diploma in social service work, community services, or housing studies
- Entry with relevant frontline experience plus employer training in housing law, safeguarding, and de-escalation
- A degree in social work, social policy, or a related field for supervisory or statutory housing roles
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Not typically licensed
Typical work context
Public facing · Client sites · Varied work · Team based · Shift work
Related interests
Social (helping) · Conventional (organizing) · Realistic (hands-on)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Community, social and public services.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- O*NET OnLine — occupation search: social and human service assistant · United States
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- UK National Careers Service — Housing officer job profile · United Kingdom
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- Canada Job Bank — Career planning and occupation exploration (ESDC) · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Community, social and public services in Canada, not a figure for Housing support worker. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Community, social and public services family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Community, social and public services: education pathways
Some roles in Community, social and public services may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Community, social and public services: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)