L.A. Metro Peer Counselor

HELPLINE YOUTH COUNSELING•Long Beach, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Homeless and Housing department at HYC is seeking a Metro Peer Counselor to join our team. The Metro Peer Counselor is part of the Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) Street Based Engagement multi-disciplinary team at HYC. This team is responsible for providing services to people experiencing homelessness on the Metro Rail Stations and/or Bus Routes. The Metro Peer Counselor will have the primary responsibility of using their lived experience and knowledge to provide outreach and engagement, support advocacy, and direct services to clients. The Peer Counselor will travel with the HYC Metro team to a variety of settings including but not limited to transit stops on the bus and rail line stops/stations, homeless encampments, shelters, drop-in centers, and other areas designated by the Los Angeles Department of Health Services (DHS). The role involves offering emotional support, sharing experiences of personal recovery, and facilitating access to community resources. This position will be assigned to the Metro Blue Line from Slauson to Downtown Long Beach stop.

Requirements

Must be available to work between the hours of 6:30 am-8:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Occasional weekends as needed.
Have reliable transportation a valid driver's license, auto insurance, and the ability to qualify for Helpline Youth Counseling’s insurance coverage
High School Diploma
One year of experience working with homeless individuals or have a minimum of two years of experience providing direct health, behavioral health, substance use counseling or ICMS SBE.
Lived experience with homelessness, or mental health/substance use recovery
Knowledge of case management techniques including trauma informed care, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, housing first model
Ability to maintain professionalism and possess a high level of tolerance and understanding for individuals with urgent and multiple case management needs
HMIS experience highly desirable
Clear and concise oral and written communication skills
Strong time management skills and the ability to coordinate multiple tasks with time sensitive deadlines

Nice To Haves

HMIS experience highly desirable

Responsibilities

Provide peer support to people experiencing homelessness that are encountered on the Metro Blue line
Provide outreach, counseling, and case management services to people experiencing homelessness
Conduct intakes, assessments, enroll individuals in LA HMIS, and document according to the timeframe provided in the contract and according to HYC policies
Meet with enrolled clients on a regular basis to review, evaluate, and support both long- and short-term goals established
Assist clients with establishing mainstream benefits and gathering necessary vital documents such as birth certificates, IDs, or social security cards
Work with local law enforcement officers and interim service providers to ensure a smooth transition to interim housing
Participate in case conferencing, internal and external meetings, trainings, and other functions as directed by Program Manager and DHS
Assist with applications for supportive and subsidized housing and build relationships with prospective landlords
Facilitate connections with community-based organizations and agencies to provide comprehensive services to clients
Perform follow-ups and wellness checks on existing clients assigned
Maintain and execute confidential information in accordance with HIPAA standards
Other duties as assigned by the Program Manager and DHS. Not all duties and responsibilities assigned are included here and is designed to provide typical examples of work performed