Peer Specialist

Abode • San Jose, CA

14h • Onsite

About The Position

Abode Services is seeking a Peer Specialist for its Outreach program in San Jose, California. This part-time onsite role is scheduled for 20 hours per week, Tuesday through Thursday, with flexible shift hours. The Peer Specialist provides outreach, case management, and rehabilitative services as part of a team that engages and houses participants and provides wraparound clinical services. Participants are identified through county data and other assessment processes as frequent users of emergency, criminal justice, and other homeless or county services. They may have serious mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and/or chronic health conditions.

Abode Services is a nonprofit whose mission is to help end homelessness by assisting low-income unhoused people, including people with special needs, to secure stable supportive housing and by advocating for the removal of the causes of homelessness. Its work is grounded in the Housing First model and focuses on individualized support for housing stability and independence.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Personal life experience with recovery from addiction, homelessness, and/or mental health recovery.
• Six months of field experience working with people experiencing homelessness.
• Personal vehicle, valid and current California Driver’s License, current insurance, and a clean DMV record.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with teams.
• Understanding of and practice in cultural sensitivity.
• Experience building rapport and engaging participants who are difficult to serve.
• Ability to build supportive and respectful working relationships with people with disabilities and/or experiencing homelessness, using a strengths-based approach that instills hope and promotes self-determination.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the special needs of people experiencing homelessness.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, systems, and platforms.
• Ability to learn and use required mobile devices and business-related applications.
• High emotional intelligence and cultural humility, with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual ability in Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, or Tagalog.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach and engagement to locate referred homeless adults at locations including encampments, parks, shelters, treatment facilities, jails, and courts.
• Help re-engage program participants who have lost contact with the team.
• Assist with client interviews and initial intakes; gather and assemble related information; and maintain appropriate records and files.
• Maintain thorough and concise case notes.
• Help link participants to community services, including mental health treatment, substance recovery, physical health care, financial assistance, education and employment services, housing, advocacy, and socialization activities.
• Assist participants in establishing goals and strategies to increase self-sufficiency.
• Assist participants with accessing public benefits such as General Assistance, Food Stamps, and SSI.
• Support participants as they navigate criminal justice and court systems; advocate for them by interacting with judges, court mental health staff, public defenders, and others.
• Help participants develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan.
• Provide support, role modeling, and coaching to participants.
• Attend clinical, administrative, and case conferencing meetings as directed by the program supervisor.
• Enter data accurately and on time to support program evaluation and outcomes tracking.
• Document services promptly and appropriately, including written case notes using BIRP formats, and bill services to Medi-Cal.
• Assist the Program Manager, Clinical Supervisor, and other staff as needed, and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 19 days of paid time off per year, increasing with tenure.
• 12 paid holidays per year.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage options for employees, described as 100% coverage.
• Employer-subsidized dependent health care options.
• Employee Assistance Program with legal and financial services.
• Mental health care service provided by Teledoc.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Commuter benefits.
• Dependent care benefits.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match and contribution programs.
• Competitive pay of $25.00–$27.50 per hour.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: High school or GED