Peer Support Specialist - Miller Manor

Avalon Housing • Ann Arbor, MI

25d

About The Position

Avalon Housing is a nonprofit supportive housing provider that combines affordable housing with services to help tenants remain in their homes. The Miller Manor Services Team provides 24/7 outreach, case management, and housing support to tenants at Miller Manor, a 106-unit property owned and operated by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. Tenants may experience mental illness, substance use disorders, chronic medical conditions, and a history of chronic homelessness.

Using a Housing First approach, the Peer Support Specialist provides additional support to tenants and helps them become involved in the Miller Manor community. The specialist has self-identified lived experience and has personally received mental health, substance use disorder, and/or housing or homelessness services. The role supports tenants in regaining control over their lives and defining their own recovery processes. Work takes place in tenants’ homes, community centers, and the wider community.

Requirements

• Complete CCAR or other peer certification training within one year of hire.
• Have progressed in one’s own recovery, with at least one year of addiction recovery, and be actively involved in recovery activities.
• Participate in occasional evening and weekend work if/as necessary.
• Hold a valid Michigan driver's license and have reliable transportation.
• Be able to sit for long periods, drive a vehicle with passengers, communicate by talking and hearing, lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds, and operate computer hardware systems.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of homelessness and characteristics of the homeless adult population; experience with mental illness and/or chemical dependency is preferred.
• Knowledge of peer support, community resources, and entitlements.
• A highly positive and enthusiastic attitude and strong commitment to helping people in need.
• Interest and experience working with individuals who are difficult to engage or refer to traditional programs; knowledge of and/or acceptance of harm reduction principles.
• Adherence to Housing First and harm reduction models of peer advocacy.
• Ability to work effectively and non-judgmentally with diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide assertive outreach and engagement to tenants.
• Help tenants access and navigate community resources.
• Support tenants in maintaining cooperative and effective relationships with their primary service providers and/or property management.
• Coordinate and collaborate with a network of care for tenants, including natural supports.
• Promote recovery through role modeling, sharing experiences, offering hope and encouragement, and connecting tenants with the community.
• Participate in planning and implementing tenant assessments and action plans as needed.
• Assist with coordinating social, educational, and recreational activities; initiate peer-led groups and events.
• Facilitate onsite mutual aid groups, emphasizing options that embrace multiple pathways to recovery.
• Initiate and oversee tenant leadership development opportunities, speaker series, and/or tenant council.
• Help tenants develop life skills, including resolving interpersonal conflicts, maintaining housing, developing work, safety, and social skills, and receiving and maintaining benefits.
• Assist tenants as needed with activities of daily living, including transportation, housekeeping, meal preparation, medication, shopping, and laundry.
• Meet documentation requirements as dictated by program needs.
• Work with clients in their homes, in community centers, and in the larger community.
• Attend staff meetings, retreats, and professional training sessions.

Benefits

• Three weeks of vacation, additional sick and personal time allowances, and an extra paid holiday every month.
• Medical insurance plan choices for full-time employees, with dental, vision, and prescription coverage; one option has no per-payroll premium contribution, including for families, and the personal annual deductible is capped at $1,000.
• Life insurance and short- and long-term disability plans for staff working more than 16 hours per week, with premiums covered by Avalon.
• 403(b) retirement plan through Vanguard, available to all employees.
• Employee Assistance and Wellness programs.

What This Job Offers

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