Peer Specialist-PT

City of Miami Beach•Miami Beach, FL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Miami Beach's Office of Housing and Community Services, Homeless Outreach Services Division, is seeking a part-time Peer Specialist to provide supportive services to vulnerable, unsheltered, and chronically homeless individuals and households in Miami Beach. This role is crucial for helping participants navigate community resources essential for transitioning to financial stability and acquiring/maintaining housing. The Peer Specialist will offer encouragement and support based on their own lived experience with homelessness.

Requirements

Bilingual, English and Spanish, with strong verbal and written communication abilities.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Peer Specialist certification, or possess lived experience, and ability to relate to the struggles of homelessness and substance abuse addiction.
Must have a driver’s license.
Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the telephone and personal contact.
Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office-related equipment, such as, but not limited to, word processor, calculator, copier, and fax machine.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, coworkers, the press, the general public, and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds regardless of race, religion, age, sex, disability, political affiliation, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Ability to serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity in full accord with the letter and spirit of all city ethics and conflicts of interest policies.
Strong understanding of ethical behavior is required.
Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.
Ability to develop innovative and creative solutions to issues consistent with the City’s strategic plan.
Applicants must detail any related work experience on the application or risk disqualification.
It is the applicant's responsibility to update their NEOGOV profile with work experience, education, certifications and personal contact information when submitting each application, failure to do so will result in ineligibility.
City of Miami Beach employees must reflect their current position and detail their work experience on the application to avoid being disqualified.

Nice To Haves

Some standing, walking, moving, climbing, carrying, bending, kneeling, crawling, reaching, handling, sitting, standing, pushing, or pulling.

Responsibilities

Work alongside Program Coordinator/Support Supervisor to identify program participants.
Conduct weekly engagements and outreach to the City’s unsheltered homeless population.
Connect with prospective participants and begin building rapport to assess and address needs.
Provide individualized action plans or step-by-step guides to program participants to address needs such as finding and obtaining suitable and affordable housing; mentorship; providing general life-skills training like budgeting, the purchase of basic home products to support housing stability, employment assistance; and child-care assistance for up to four (4) months.
Accompany program participants to appointments, providing encouragement and support.
Serve as a liaison for program participants and prospective landlords, including arranging and providing transportation to and from housing appointments.
Be responsive to participant needs, requiring flexibility in availability and scheduling.
Provide program orientation to participants regarding policy and procedure, staff roles, program structure, and referral and program services.
Assist participants with mapping out locations that can address their needs near possible housing opportunities, including grocery stores, doctor’s offices and clinics, AA/NA meetings or support groups, bus stops, and family members.
Ensure that all program-specific documentation is accurately updated/completed in a timely manner (i.e., intake forms, care coordination plans, follow-ups, referrals, and goal status check-ins).
Enter all relevant data into the program-specific system for all assigned cases accurately and in a timely manner according to contractual obligations.
Keep supervisor informed of day-to-day activities, significant events or conditions impacting client and/or staff well-being, team safety, and office operations.
Assist with program outreach, recruitment, and enrollment via participation in community events and networking with community partners.
Participate in supervision, case management meetings, departmental meetings, and all required training and professional development.
Other duties as assigned.