Peer Support Counselor

Redwood Community Services • Lakeport, CA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Support Counselor works as part of a team at Xamitin Haven, an emergency shelter and homeless resource center in Lakeport, California. The role supports individuals and families experiencing homelessness by helping them connect with shelter, laundry and shower facilities, housing resources, and other available services. The counselor engages guests in conversations about their housing goals and helps maintain a safe, stable, supportive, and sanitary environment. Services follow a low-barrier approach and are delivered with compassion, empathy, and high-quality customer service to guests, staff, and community partners. The position requires accepting and compassionate engagement with people who may be experiencing trauma and may behave in challenging ways. The role may also work across agency programs as needed.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience in a position related to homelessness, social services, hospitality, mental health, substance use, or a similar area.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends; the facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Valid California driver’s license, current auto insurance, and a clean DMV printout with no more than three points.
• Must pass a background check with the DOJ and FBI.
• CPR and First Aid certification.
• TB exam and physical at the time of employment.
• Occasional flexible scheduling is required to meet individual client needs.

Nice To Haves

• Lived or personal experience with homelessness.
• Ability to speak or fluency in Spanish or American Sign Language (ASL).
• Training in harm reduction, Housing First, trauma-informed care, or low-barrier service models.

Responsibilities

• Monitor guest interactions and behavior, intervening as needed to maintain a safe, stable, and supportive environment.
• Provide guidance and reminders to help guests follow facility policies.
• Walk regularly throughout the building and around the facility perimeter to conduct safety and security checks.
• Engage with guests as needed and intervene in disruptive incidents.
• Intervene and de-escalate situations that could lead to dangerous behavior.
• Recommend or initiate non-physical measures to redirect behavior.
• Contact the on-call supervisor as needed or required for assistance, direction, and incident reporting in accordance with policy.
• Provide services consistent with person-centered, strength-based, low-barrier, harm-reduction, and Housing First principles.
• Focus on guests’ underlying needs rather than maladaptive behaviors they may exhibit to meet those needs.
• Maintain knowledge of substance use and the effects of various substances.
• Seek information and training on current best practices for harm-reduction interventions.
• Recognize signs of overdose and administer Narcan/Naloxone as appropriate for opioid overdoses.
• Help individuals and families connect with shelter, laundry and shower facilities, housing resources, and other services.
• Contribute to a safe, stable, supportive, and sanitary facility environment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package available.
• Additional hourly differential of $1.00 for qualifying Spanish bi-cultural language translation.
• Additional hourly differential of $1.00 for qualifying ASL bimodal bilingualism.
• Additional hourly differential of $2.00 for qualifying ASL bimodal multilingualism.
• Additional hourly differential of $1.00 for qualifying overnight/graveyard stay-awake shifts.
• In-depth onboarding and training orientation, including CPR/First Aid, Crisis Communication/Pro-ACT, Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Collaborative Problem Solving, and introductions to agency departments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed