Entry level jobs for the Housing and Homelessness sector

We are SIFA Fireside, the support service for any adult in Birmingham that faces homelessness. For 40 years we have supported Birmingham’s most vulnerable people through Homelessness Intervention, Prevention and Recovery services.

The purpose of the role is to support the development of SIFA Fireside through effective communications and campaigns. This role reports directly to the Head of Fundraising and Communications and is critical in raising our profile, raising funds and communicating the difference that SIFA Fireside and our supporters make to people experiencing homelessness in Birmingham. From external communications and awareness-raising campaigns to assisting with internal initiatives, this is a varied role which will work to maximise and strengthen our impact in the community.

Key Tasks (selection of):

1. Overseeing a range of communications campaigns covering schools and corporate fundraising, team challenges and social events as well as affecting change on a local and national level.

2. Supporting with organising a range of events including increasing awareness and fundraising initiatives both at SIFA Fireside and out in the community.

3. Writing press releases and promoting newsworthy stories before pitching to media outlets.

4. Taking responsibility for SIFA Fireside’s social media strategy, responding to supporter enquiries online and providing statistics as requested.

5. Review and update SIFA Fireside’s website, in liaison with the Head of Fundraising and Communications.

6. Assisting with corporate volunteer conversions (incl. liaising with volunteers, arranging photographs, supporting with feedback forms).

7. Exploring and assisting with creative ways to bring SIFA Fireside’s work to life via, for example, video and infographics.

8. Leading on internal communications initiatives to ensure consistency across the organisation.

For an informal chat, please contact Robb Sheppard.

Contract: Permanent

Hours:  Full time – 35 hours per week

Salary: Grade 3 - £31,600 per annum

Location: Hybrid – expected to work from Sheffield Shelter hub less than 60% of working hours and from home the rest of the time.

Closing date: Sunday 1st March 2026 at 11.30pm

Would you like to help people understand and enforce their housing rights? We are looking for new people to join Shelter’s emergency helpline as Telephone and Online Advice Services Advisers.

You won’t need previous housing advice experience as Shelter will provide full training and support to develop your knowledge and skills.

About the Role 

Our Emergency Helpline provides legal advice and assistance to members of the public who are facing a housing or homelessness crisis. This is a high-pressure environment and you will need to be able to respond immediately and effectively to the situations you are presented with. Clients will typically be experiencing a housing emergency and some will be vulnerable or extremely distressed.

You will need to use your initiative to help resolve your clients’ issues such as liaising with third parties, local authorities and reviewing legal documentation.

The Helpline is open Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm and Advisers work a 6-week shift rota.

If you are interested in learning more about the role, we are holding two online drop-in sessions between 10am and 11am, and 5pm and 6pm on 24 February 2026. Please see the advert on our website for contact details.

About you 

With experience of delivering services to the public, you will be able to communicate complex legal information clearly both verbally and in writing, work independently and be confident enough to challenge external parties to realise your clients’ housing rights. Emotional resilience will also be crucial to effectively help clients who are distressed, experiencing trauma or may be at risk of harm. You will need to be proficient in IT, including Microsoft Office and typing. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are key to everything we do at Shelter and you will be expected to actively promote these principles throughout your work.

About the team 

Shelter’s Sheffield-based telephone and online advice services play a crucial role in our fight to defend the right to a safe home, encompassing our emergency Helpline, a remote casework service and expert advice services for professionals. Known internally as TOAS, we are the largest service in Shelter and the client data we capture is used to inform and support the organisation’s strategy as well as providing information for media, policy and research, so you will play a key role in fighting the housing emergency.

How to Apply 

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement with responses to the points in the ‘About you’ section of the job description, of no more than 350 words per point.

CVs without supporting statements will not be considered

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

At YMCA DownsLink Group, our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

Guildford Foyer provides 24/7 supported accommodation for up to 34 young people aged 16–25, many with complex needs, including unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people. We use a trauma‑informed, psychologically informed approach to help residents build life skills, set goals, and move towards independent living. Our Support Workers, Night Workers and Bank Workers offer guidance around housing, budgeting, living skills, education, employment and community engagement.

We are recruiting a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our team. Key responsibilities include:

Housing

• Support young people to understand and maintain occupancy agreements and house rules.
• Encourage timely rent payments and promote a positive payment culture.
• Stay informed on housing law and welfare benefits affecting young people.
• Address issues such as rent arrears or property damage using restorative approaches.

Coaching and engagement

• Coach young people to identify aspirations and build independence skills.
• Promote personal responsibility, engagement with support services, and community connections.
• Ensure strong safeguarding practice and maintain professional boundaries.
• Keep accurate records on In‑Form, tracking needs, risks and outcomes.

General

• Work as part of a rota, including lone working, providing calm and objective support.
• Contribute to a positive team culture and manage challenging situations effectively.
• Take part in ongoing training and reflective practice.

At times, this role will involve lone working, but you’ll be fully supported with a thorough induction, training, and the opportunity to get to know the team and service before starting on the rota. Full role details are available in the job profile.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

This is a dynamic and varied role, ideal for someone passionate about supporting and empowering young people to grow and thrive.

Experience and knowledge

• Experience in housing, support work, or working with young people at risk.
• Ability to manage a caseload of young people with complex needs and support them toward independence.
• Knowledge of statutory/voluntary services for young people.
• Strong safeguarding awareness and ability to maintain professional boundaries.
• Confident and accurate in completing logs, incident reports, and H&S checks.

Skills and abilities

• Clear written and verbal communication, with strong record‑keeping skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships and advocate/signpost where needed.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good IT and keyboard skills.
• Able to de‑escalate challenging situations and manage behaviour appropriately.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 8 March 2026 at midnight.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

To provide a professional reception service to clients accessing SIFA Fireside. Ensure that clients access the correct service whilst maintaining confidentiality when dealing with all information and material.

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of some of the issues our clients face including homelessness, mental health, substance use or the criminal justice system and if you are stable in your recovery and feel motivated to use your experience to support others through a similar journey then we would love to hear from you.

Benefits: Progressive career development opportunities and training, 36 days holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays with length of service increments, contributory ethical pension scheme, flexible working options, enhanced staff wellbeing package, invitation to join our Employee Voice group and EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) group, central location for transport links.   Key tasks as follows :-

· Providing client reception and administrative support to all client services.

· Establishing and maintaining client booking systems and appointment allocations across a variety of services.

· Communicating information with clients on service availability and eligibility.

· Carrying out initial screening for housing appointments.

· Accurate record keeping and use of CRM tools (Customer/client Relationship Management).

· Attending Homelessness Intervention team meetings.

· Checking on client exclusions and alerts on entry to the building.

· Registering attendance at the Support Centre.

· Operating within organisational health and safety procedures.

· Build effective, positive relationships with clients maintaining professional boundaries and ground rules.

· Dealing with difficult and challenging client behaviour.

· Day-to-day management of the client reception, working alongside volunteers and staff to ensure the professional operation of the reception.

• Managing correspondence, including phone calls and messages, emails, letters and packages, alongside volunteers.
• Managing the storage of confiscated prohibited items from clients and reporting to the correct manager for removal where appropriate.
• Support the induction of volunteers to client reception duties, in liaison with the Volunteer Lead.
• Perform photocopying and scanning as required.
• Support business reception as required.
• Undertake other tasks as requested by your line manager or other senior manager.

Asset Compliance Officer (Housing)

Part-Time – 3 Days per Week
£16–£20 per hour (Umbrella)
Bedfordshire - Hybrid Working

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Compliance Officer to support the delivery of statutory compliance and cyclical safety programmes within a social housing environment.

This is a part-time opportunity (3 days per week) offering hybrid working and a competitive Umbrella rate.

The Role

You will provide high-quality administrative and operational support across building safety and asset compliance programmes. Working closely with contractors, internal teams and residents, you will help ensure statutory inspections, remedial works and certification are delivered on time and recorded accurately.

You will play a key role in maintaining compliance across core safety areas including gas, electrical, fire safety, asbestos, legionella and lifting equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and administer cyclical compliance programmes and statutory inspections
• Schedule and allocate inspections to ensure timely completion
• Review and validate certification to ensure legislative compliance
• Maintain accurate compliance records and audit data integrity
• Raise and manage works orders, ensuring correct coding and contractor allocation
• Monitor remedial works and escalate where necessary
• Liaise with residents and contractors to secure property access
• Support legal access processes where statutory inspections are refused
• Monitor budgets, track spend and support financial reporting
• Produce accurate reports and meeting documentation

About You

You will have:

• Experience in asset management or building safety compliance within social housing
• Knowledge of one or more statutory compliance areas (gas, electrical, fire, asbestos, legionella, lifting)
• Strong data validation and reporting skills
• Experience managing contractors and compliance documentation
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
• Strong communication skills and a customer-focused approach
• Experience using compliance management systems (e.g. Asprey, Keystone or similar)
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word