Housing Project Worker

Housing Project Worker Hours of work: Full-Time, 37.5 per week (5 days per week) Contract: 2-year 9-months Fixed Term Salary: £28,000 per annum Location: Overstream House, Cambridge CB4 or at other locations within Cambridge About Us Wintercomfort works with people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or with a history of homelessness. We provide services to aid every stage of recovery - from immediate basic welfare needs to long term help in identifying and dealing with the problems which are undermining their stability, and enabling them to engage with education, employment and specialist health services.  National statistics rank the numbers of rough sleepers in Cambridge within the highest 20 UK local authorities. Wintercomfort is the only day-time service in the city, providing year-round advice and support for homeless or vulnerably housed people. Over the past three decades Wintercomfort has continued to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the homeless community. Our specialist Housing Team provides expert advice and support to help people successfully navigate the search for housing and crucially, support them to sustain life away from the street. About you and the Role This is a full-time community outreach and homelessness prevention role, working as part of the Wintercomfort tenancy sustainment and homelessness prevention project worker team. The Wintercomfort Housing Project Worker will provide practical, person-centred, housing-related support for people identified through community outreach and within Overstream House who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The postholder will deliver frontline casework, advocacy and practical support to help vulnerable individuals secure, maintain and transition into safe, independent living. This will include supporting people to understand the options available to them, complete practical tasks, access appropriate services, strengthen housing stability and work with local partners to prevent housing crises from escalating. Key Responsibilities Community and Centre-Based Engagement – Build trusting relationships with people in familiar community settings and within Overstream House, including those who may feel unable to approach statutory services independently. Engage people at the earliest possible stage, identify practical support needs, and offer approachable, consistent support that encourages ongoing participation. Housing-Related Support and Homelessness Prevention – Provide practical housing-related support and homelessness prevention assistance while recognising that the charity does not provide formal housing advice to people at risk of losing their accommodation. Supporting individuals to gather information, complete forms, attend appointments, understand correspondence and access appropriate statutory, voluntary or legal services where specialist advice is required. Casework, Advocacy and Practical Support – Manage a caseload of people with varied and sometimes complex needs, providing one-to-one support, clear action planning and regular follow-up. Liaise with landlords, local authority housing teams and other agencies, accompany people to appointments where appropriate, and help individuals navigate housing-related processes, benefits, financial support, grants and wider welfare systems without providing regulated or specialist advice. Partnership Working and Referral Pathways – Develop and maintain productive working relationships with local authority services, landlords, voluntary sector partners, legal advice providers and internal charity services. Make timely referrals into welfare, counselling, women’s services, wellbeing support, training opportunities and other specialist provision where further advice or support is required. Safeguarding, Risk and Complex Needs – Recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, mental health issues and other factors that may affect a person’s ability to engage with support. Work within organisational policies and professional boundaries, ensuring that risks are identified, recorded and escalated when necessary. Housing Stability and targeted intervention – Provide support to service users to both secure new accommodation and sustain their current homes, including mediation with landlords, accessing legal support, addressing anti-social behaviour. A core focus involves identifying high-risk groups and delivering targeted trauma informed interventions to those navigating complex mental health challenges, dual diagnosis, or substance misuse, as well as individuals fleeing difficult circumstances or leaving prison, hospital or care systems. Records, Outcomes and Service Development – Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case records on Inform, monitoring activity and outcomes to demonstrate the impact of the outreach programme. Contribute to service learning, identify gaps in provision, and support the development of effective community-based responses to homelessness and hous