SELF-HELP RESOURCE CENTRE

PEER SUPPORT WORKER

Self-Help Resource Centre | Toronto | Jan 2017 – Aug 2020

At the Self-Help Resource Centre, I provided peer-based support to individuals navigating ODSP, income insecurity, housing challenges and other barriers affecting stability and independence. Following a successful internship with the organization, I was hired into the Peer Support Worker role and continued supporting participants through one-to-one and group-based services.

Drawing on both lived experience and professional practice, I helped individuals understand income-support systems, navigate community resources, strengthen self-advocacy and develop practical strategies for managing financial and social challenges.

I also developed and facilitated a community financial literacy workshop focused on budgeting, credit, banking and financial stability for people living on limited incomes. The workshop emphasized practical tools participants could immediately apply in their daily lives.

This role strengthened the peer foundation of my practice and reinforced the importance of working with people rather than for them, an approach that continues to shape how I provide community and employment services today.

PEER PRACTICE & SYSTEM NAVIGATION

ODSP PEER NAVIGATION

I co-developed an ODSP Peer Navigation initiative designed to help people better understand and navigate the income-support system using a peer-based approach.

The initiative combined practical system knowledge with lived-experience-informed support, helping participants understand requirements, identify available resources and build confidence in advocating for themselves.

This work reinforced my belief that effective navigation is not simply about providing information. It is about helping people understand the system, make informed choices and build the confidence to navigate it themselves.

Explore Full Project

PEER-BASED PRACTICE

I provided one-to-one and group-based peer support to individuals navigating income insecurity, housing challenges, social isolation and other barriers affecting stability and independence.

I also facilitated peer support groups that created space for participants to share experiences, identify strengths, develop practical strategies and learn from one another. My role was to guide discussion while ensuring participants remained at the centre of the process.

This work helped shape my approach to peer practice: using lived experience thoughtfully while maintaining professional boundaries and focusing on self-advocacy, choice and individual strengths.

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