Akiva Bartley
Brampton,ON
Summary
Motivated Social Service Worker with comprehensive knowledge of social justice issues and systems affecting marginalized communities. Extensive customer service experience (over 4 years) with exceptional interpersonal skills. Reliable, punctual and works well under pressure. Flexible schedule and strong mathematical aptitude. Previous experience in retail sector, working knowledge of POS system. Passionate about developing and facilitating programs to support communities in need. Collaborative and analytical advocate builds strategic partnerships, advocate for clients and advance change for communities in need.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Housing Supply Representative
Region of Peel
Brampton, Ontario
06.2024 - Current
- First point of contact to provide service and support to landlords for participating and manage their eligibility for Peel Housing Programs.
- Establishes strong outreach and builds relationships with the community, property owners, realtor's, landlords, and other services to obtain new, improve or manage existing housing stock
- Networks with community agencies, coalitions, landlord/property management, and Outreach
Promotes Regional incentives and programs to potential or existing landlords to entice participation in the Region of Peel’s housing stock - Uses current housing market information, trends and resources in order to market the Region of Peel's housing stock
- Cooperates with other housing staff to mediate and resolve complaints from applicants and residents regarding housing unit
- Liaises with landlord site and property management staff regarding tenant placements.
- Facilitates and mediate concerns identified by landlords or other Housing staff to support clients
Regularly visits housing sites regarding new or problematic housing units identified - Provides information and assistance regarding the rent supplement, transitional housing, and other housing and homeless programs to private landlords, community agencies and politicians
- Processes landlord payments and responds to enquiries regarding their statements by analyzing and explaining adjustments
Tenancy Support Agent
Region of Peel
10.2023 - Current
- Primary on-site/in person contact for tenancy enquiries from application to end of tenancy
- Built and maintained on-going relationships with tenants to engage and empower them to resolve issues and participate in their communities
- Utilized knowledge of various Housing Programs and related legislation including the Residential Tenancies Act, Human Rights Code, Housing Services Act.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, many of which are legislated, in a high-volume environment with frequently conflicting priorities.
- Provided education, community resources, support and guidance to tenants Work in collaboration with other regional staff (e.g. Health Services, Client Relationships, etc.) and external agencies to resolve tenancy matters (e.g. unit rentals, outstanding arrears, rent calculations)
- Engaged tenant to identify their needs and work with internal/external partners and community agencies to make appropriate referrals and advocate when required
- Initiated, coordinated and facilitated tenant meetings as required
- Lead and carried out plans related to tenant matters with applicable legislation, policies and procedures (i.e. Site Security Reports, complaints, tenancy records, Tenant Annual Reviews, internal transfers, non-rent related tenancy agreements, etc.)
- Attended Tribunal Hearings/Small Claims Court on behalf of Housing Operations and Management Services
- Documented and maintained accurate records of all communications
- Established professional relationships with community support agencies to support vulnerable and high risk tenancies
- Investigated and respond to political enquiries
- Prepared customized formal notices, forms and letters as required
- Used excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with diverse landlord and tenant populations and their representatives, staff, external agencies, program partners and political advocates
- Demonstrated ability to make calculations accurately along with a working knowledge of financial procedures, including Housing Services Act and Service Manager prescribed guidelines, related to calculating tenant and landlord payments.
Relief Community Shelter Worker
Homes First Society
07.2023 - Current
- Provided support to clients who are facing issues of poverty, mental health, addictions, abuse, social isolation and more
- Used good problem-solving skills to identify, address and resolve service inquiries, requests and/or complaints issues from clients, service providers, and/or the public professionally
- Demonstrated ability to work with people with hoarding behaviours and who have mental health and addiction issues.
- Used case management as a tool to support residents in meeting their goals
- Provided support including work readiness, basic life management skills, anger management, addiction counseling, assertive communication, setting goals, giving and receiving feedback, self-esteem, conflict resolution, problem solving, and managing change
- Applied knowledge of group processes and dynamics
- Applied knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act to support housing goals
- Used excellent organizational and time management skills
- Worked independently and as part of a team
- Communicated effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
- Demonstrated knowledge of community agencies and resources
- Ability to use Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word to create reports, coupled with a willingness to be trained on alternative software a must.
Client Service Worker
City Of Toronto - Shelter, Support And Housing
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Counseled individuals and couples regarding mental health, substance abuse, physical abuse and rehabilitation issues.
- Secured housing, medical care and employment for clients by collaborating with various community agencies.
- Assessed cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs of clients to determine appropriate interventions.
- Perform initial screenings and assess client eligibility for admittance to emergency shelter program
- Admit clients and assist them to integrate into the emergency shelter environment by providing a tour of the program, explaining the rules and policies, fire safety procedures, and housing first philosophy
- Ensure safety and well-being of clients and staff by doing regular facility and bed/room checks
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, community agencies and the public.
- Document shift occurrence information in line with internal policies, including the completion of logs, incident reports, case management notes and recording admittance and discharge information in the SMIS system
- Demonstrated extensive knowledge of issues related to homelessness, including the ability to provide appropriate resources for individuals, families and their dependents
- Demonstrated ability to respond appropriately and in a compassionate manner to callers sharing highly sensitive information that often includes details of traumatic events
- Utilized the principles of case management when
conducting assessments and referrals to address client needs.
Senior Customer Experience Associate
Best Buy Canada Ltd.
07.2022 - 09.2022
- Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Maintained customer satisfaction with forward-thinking strategies focused on addressing customer needs and resolving concerns.
- Answered customer telephone calls promptly to avoid on-hold wait times.
- Offered advice and assistance to customers, paying attention to special needs or wants.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with all levels of staff, the public and clients while maintaining objectivity.
- Ability to work co-operatively as a team member as well as independently with initiative and minimum supervision.
Accounts Receivable Analyst
DATA Communications Management
11.2019 - 05.2021
- Created spreadsheets to analyze and summarize incoming cash receipts for CEO, CFO and other executives.
- Monitored monthly activities and managed vendor invoicing to prepare appropriate financial reports.
- Communicated with internal and external auditors to explain and support processes and reconciliations.
- Verified and posted account transactions, providing weekly and monthly reporting of AP aging to senior management to maintain accounting ledgers.
- Matched purchase orders with invoices and recorded necessary information.
- Managed and responded to correspondence and inquiries from customers and vendors.
- Demonstrated proficiency working in a technical environment with excellent computer skills.
- Demonstrated ability to compile information, perform calculations and prepare and interpret statistics
Education
Diploma - Social Service Worker
Centennial College Ashtonbee Campus
Scarborough, ON04.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Honors Peace Studies and Philosophy
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON06.2019
High School Diploma -
Mississauga Secondary School Mississauga
Mississauga, ON06.2015
Skills
- Point of Sale (POS) system operation
- Knowledge of Harm Reduction
- Late-night shift availability
- Trained in SMIS System
- Proficient in French
- Experience (over 1 year) in assisting persons with psycho/ social/physical, educational, and/or environmental issues in a social service setting
- Adaptability
- Case Conference Preparation
- Substance Abuse Treatment
- Experience working with clients to develop and implement a service plan to reach their identified goals
- Trauma Informed Practice
- Accustomed to shift work
- Considerable experience interpreting and applying legislation to determine program eligibility for clients, as well as making referrals to community agencies
- Dedicated team player
- Emotional Support
- Proficiency in Microsoft Suite
- Excellent Customer Service
- Considerable experience addressing the needs of homeless clients or clients at risk of homelessness, including making referrals to community agencies
- Ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner
Languages
Intermediate in French
Certification
- Positive Space Training
- Anti-Oppression and EDI Training
- Psychological First Aid Training
- Homelessness Among Women and Gender-Diverse People Training
- Exploring Low-Barrier, Gender Focused Approaches to Housing Training
- Harm Reduction for Homelessness Training
- Valid WHMIS certification
- Knowledge of applicable legislation such as Ontario Works Act, Ontario Disability Support Program, Municipal Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), Residential Tenancies Act, Mental Health Act, Child & Family Services Act, etc
- Diploma in Social Services and experience in social/community services
Timeline
Housing Supply Representative
Region of Peel
06.2024 - Current
Tenancy Support Agent
Region of Peel
10.2023 - Current
Relief Community Shelter Worker
Homes First Society
07.2023 - Current
Client Service Worker
City Of Toronto - Shelter, Support And Housing
09.2022 - 04.2023
Senior Customer Experience Associate
Best Buy Canada Ltd.
07.2022 - 09.2022
Accounts Receivable Analyst
DATA Communications Management
11.2019 - 05.2021
Diploma - Social Service Worker
Centennial College Ashtonbee Campus
Bachelor of Arts - Honors Peace Studies and Philosophy
McMaster University
High School Diploma -
Mississauga Secondary School Mississauga
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