Peer Specialist - Part-Time

HOUSING FORWARD•Maywood, IL

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Peer Specialist uses lived experience of homelessness, mental health recovery, substance use recovery, or other relevant life experiences to engage and support individuals encountered on public transportation systems and at transit hubs. Working as part of a multidisciplinary outreach team, the Peer Specialist builds trusting relationships with individuals who are unhoused, living with severe mental illness, experiencing substance use disorders, or facing other barriers to stability. The Peer Specialist serves as a bridge between vulnerable individuals and community resources by providing outreach, engagement, advocacy, system navigation, crisis de-escalation, and support in accessing shelter, housing, healthcare, behavioral health services, and other essential resources. This position utilizes trauma-informed, harm reduction, recovery-oriented, and person-centered approaches to promote safety, dignity, and self-determination. This position will work 10-20 hours per week in the evenings and nights.

Requirements

Bilingual Spanish and English fluency highly desirable.
Effective crisis intervention skills.
Knowledge of issues related to homelessness, poverty, mental health, and substance use.
Knowledge of homeless response systems, coordinated entry, and community resources.
Ability to keep appointments punctually, be organized and demonstrate accountability and follow through.
Openness to new ideas and skills and commitment to learning through reading and with hands-on-training.
Strong interpersonal and direct communication skills.
Represent the agency in a professional and ethical manner.
Ability to maintain an active team approach with all staff in all work-related situations and with the staff of other agencies/organizations.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to maintain accurate records in compliance with applicable regulations and standards.

Responsibilities

Conduct proactive outreach and engagement activities with individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health challenges, or crisis situations on or near the CTA Green Line.
Build trusting, non-judgmental relationships using trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person-centered approaches grounded in peer support principles.
Provide peer emotional support through shared lived experience, mutuality, respect, and to foster hope, encourage recovery, and support engagement with services.
Work collaboratively in a dyad model with partner agencies during all assigned shifts.
Assist individuals in identifying immediate needs, personal goals, and available community resources.
Recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use disorders, trauma, and behavioral health crises.
Provide crisis de-escalation and behavioral health support to address crisis situations safely and effectively.
Maintain awareness of participant safety while respecting autonomy and choice. Provide emotional support, mentoring, encouragement, and practical assistance in a calm and nonjudgmental manner.
Share recovery experiences appropriately to support engagement and inspire positive change.
Follow established protocols related to safety, emergency response, mandatory reporting, and crisis intervention.
Complete nightly service logs of encounters with clients on the CTA trains.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with all applicable privacy and documentation standards.
Ensure compliance with organizational policies, grant requirements, CTA protocols, and applicable regulations.
Participate in required training and professional development activities.
Maintain certification requirements as applicable.
Log activities and time as required by the agency and its funders.
Attend team and agency meetings and training.
Attend the required 3-day CTA mandatory safety training.
Other tasks as assigned.