Housing Counsellor Training Certificate 

Housing Counsellor Training is a 44-hour certificate course offered to volunteers and staff who work with older adults and want to provide more detailed information on housing and resources available in their communities. An excellent opportunity to increase skills and network with other service providers in your area.

The next scheduled certificate training is October 1 to November 26, 2010. Cost is $75.00 The format is 12:30pm - 4:30pm every Friday for 9 weeks.

The course is limited to 14 participants. Early registration is necessary due to its popularity.

The course is delivered in conjunction with expert presenters from Information Services Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities, HRSDC, and BC Housing as well as material developed and presented by Seniors Services Society staff and other experts.

The course is useful for counsellors, peer counsellors, advisers, advocates and service providers working with older adults including realtors, social workers, librarians, notaries; volunteers in shelters, food banks, advocacy organizations and seniors centres, and to individuals interested in housing, homelessness, or older adults issues.

The curriculum typically looks like this:

• Introductions: Introduction to Seniors Services Society and to each other. Discuss course outline, Housing Counsellor job description, Volunteers and the Law, confidentiality and privacy issues.
• Who Do We Serve and How Do We Serve Them: Understanding Aging and how it relates to housing needs.
• Types of Housing for Seniors Information on subsidized rental housing for seniors, SAFER and the Housing Registry.
• Housing with Supports for Seniors Guest speaker from Health Authority presenting on Assisted Living and Residential Care
• More Housing Options: Introduction to the Seniors Housing Directory of BC.
• An Introduction to information Counselling How to use the print and web based resource materials and sources.
• Communication and Counselling Skills Overview of communicating with seniors and an introduction to counselling skills
• The Seniors Housing Directory of BC Practice using the housing directory and client scenarios/role playing.
• Income/Pensions for Seniors Guest speaker presenting on pensions; federal and provincial.
• Community Resources for Seniors Services and agencies available to assist seniors.
• The Client Interview Introduction to the client intake sheet. Role playing and applying knowledge
• Tour Day Tours of Housing for Seniors. Course evaluation and presentation of certificates.