Research Assistant - Modelling Costs to Municipalities Addressing Homelessness

Position: Research Assistant - Modelling the Costs to Municipalities for Addressing Homelessness
Position Information

Position Number P2708 Position Title Research Assistant - Modelling the Costs to Municipalities for Addressing Homelessness Supervisor Department Business Administration Supervisor Kerry Rempel Location Kelowna Other Flexible Work Options Any Okanagan College Location, Eligible for Hybrid Work, Remote Work (BC Only) Your Opportunity

In accordance with Letter of Understanding #3 - Research Projects, and under the direct supervision of the College Professor, the Research Assistant assists and supports the supervisor with research-related activities pertaining to the professor's professional background and within the supervisor's research areas of interest and expertise.

Functions and Duties

The Research Assistant will assist the supervisor by performing the following duties:

1. Assists with research for educational purposes.

2. Assists in identifying perspective subjects for research.

3. Assists in researching information for grants, research grants and research papers.

4. Searches literature sources pertaining to the relevant areas of research.

5. Assists in collecting, recording, compiling, summarizing data, and disseminating information.

6. Participates in research activities related to the subject area being investigated such as events, interviews, reading articles, listening to speakers.

7. Performs other duties as assigned

Position Specific Functions

Research Project

Description:

In British Columbia, as in other parts of Canada and beyond, the costs of addressing significant social challenges is being faced more and more at the community level. In the past, the BC Government and the Federal Government assumed the responsibility of supporting collective social resources. Today, more and more communities are pushing back on governments to recognize the added burden and to address this by potentially considering a shift in policy or a redistribution of taxes collected.

This project is supporting the preparation for a future research project that seeks to create models for identifying and calculating the costs of addressing social challenges such as homelessness. This future model will be part of a larger project that seeks to compare the relative burden born by different sized communities and in different BC geographies. It may also lead to further research aimed at identifying alternative tax policy.

Visit  to gain a quick understanding of the background of this project.

Research Assistant will:

* Utilize AI, library resources and experts to identify how these costs have been modelled in the past

* Identify leading researchers and experts with relevant information

* Identify communities who have modelled these costs (in BC, but also Canada)

* In discussion and in collaboration with research supervisor, contact and arrange for online meetings with communities who have done this modelling already

* Summarize and document all research information in a structured way

* Create reference database using Zotero (free software)

* Complete other tasks as assigned by the project supervisor

Education and Experience

Students with a minimum of one-year post-secondary education in the specified educational program listed below.

Prior work experience is an asset.

Skills and Abilities

Current knowledge in research methodology for educational purposes.

* Excellent research skills with the ability to synthesize data/information and develop/deliver findings and recommendations.

* Proficiency in the use of a variety of computer software applications.

* Works effectively both independently and as part of a team

* Well-developed organizational skills.

* Detail-oriented.

* Excellent communication skills to maintain effective correspondence with professors and partners

* Excellent time management skills to coordinate research and academic activities

Position Specific

Education and Experience

Applicants should:

* Be willing to learn new technology (Zotero, AI, Search Tools)

* Be proficient with suite of Microsoft software (excel, word, onenote)

* Be able/willing to utilize Teams as a tool to manage and store files as well as to communicate

* Be self-directed and able to work independently with guided supervision

Other considerations:

* 3rd year standing preferred but not required

* Students in all disciplines will be considered, but should have a willingness go beyond their program content for this project

This position is funded through Okanagan College and is meant to support OC researchers with RA support provided by OC students. To be eligible applicants must be a current OC student or a recent graduate (within 6 months) of an OC program.

Desired Start Date 01/19/2026 Position End Date 03/31/2026 Schedule

Schedule to be discussed and decided between the RA and the supervisor.

This position is funded for 50 hours of work between the start date and March 31, 2026.

Hourly Rate  Appointment Type Support Non-Regular Student