Recovery Mentor - Supportive Housing Swing Shift $22.44 - $29.91+ DOE

Volunteers of America Oregon•Portland, OR

1d•$22 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

The Recovery Mentor provides peer support and resource navigation to clients in recovery in supportive housing settings. The role builds supportive relationships grounded in shared lived experience, helps clients set and pursue individualized goals, and connects them with treatment, essential services, and community resources. Mentors model recovery and support participation in treatment, program activities, and stable recovery-oriented community living. The position combines direct client engagement, outreach, crisis response, care coordination, transportation, documentation, and administrative duties. Work is guided by trauma-informed, person-centered, and harm-reduction approaches and promotes recovery, stability, and self-determination. The scheduled hours are 2:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 11:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Local travel within the Portland metro area may take up to 30% of work time; occasional overnight travel may be necessary for training, meetings, or other business needs. The position has no supervisory responsibilities, though it may provide guidance to interns. Work is primarily in a professional office setting, with travel between program sites, partner sites, and community meetings. The role regularly involves sitting, operating a computer and office equipment, and communicating in person and by phone; it may occasionally involve standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 25 pounds.

Requirements

Self-identify as someone who formerly received addiction or mental health services and demonstrate the ability to use that experience to support others in a professional peer role.
Hold a current Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) credential through MHACBO or a current Peer Support Specialist (PSS) certification through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), or be able to obtain the required credential within three months of hire.
For the CRM credential pathway, self-identify as a person in recovery from a substance use disorder and meet MHACBO eligibility requirements; for the PSS pathway, meet OHA lived-experience and state certification requirements.
Meet eligibility criteria for enrollment as a Medicaid provider in Oregon.
Complete a criminal history background check and receive authorization from the State of Oregon Background Check Unit.
Not be excluded from federal healthcare programs, including the OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities or SAM exclusion list.
Be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Have an active driver’s license, current insurance, reliable transportation, and ability to meet agency and insurer driver standards.
Ability to provide compassionate, nonjudgmental support across stages of recovery, including pre-contemplation.
Ability to work independently while maintaining regular follow-up and communication.
Ability to safely transport clients and maintain driving eligibility under agency policies.
Ability to recognize relapse, emotional distress, or safety concerns and respond appropriately.
Ability to work collaboratively with treatment and housing staff and communicate effectively with interdisciplinary team members.
Ability to maintain clear, timely documentation and use respectful language.
Ability to model emotional regulation, healthy boundaries, and recovery-oriented behavior.
Ability to engage in supervision and ongoing professional development.
Knowledge of recovery processes, multiple recovery pathways, and stages of change.
Knowledge of the MHACBO Code of Conduct, peer boundaries, mandated reporting, and confidentiality standards including CFR 42 Part 2.
Knowledge of trauma-informed care and the impact of trauma on substance use and recovery.
Knowledge of recovery supports, harm reduction, housing and employment resources, and behavioral health, justice, and social service systems.
Knowledge of documentation practices and Feedback Informed Treatment.
Knowledge of supportive housing environments, routines, expectations, and structure.
Skilled in facilitating peer-led groups and activities and using personal recovery experience in keeping with peer ethics and scope.
Skilled in de-escalation, peer-based interventions, and safety planning where appropriate.
High school diploma or GED is preferred, rather than stated as a mandatory qualification.
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be used to satisfy the education and experience requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns.
Experience working with people involved in the criminal justice system or experiencing housing instability.
Experience using electronic health records or similar documentation systems.
Experience working in Medicaid-billable peer services or behavioral health settings.
High school diploma or GED.
Ability to obtain the required CRM or PSS credential within three months of hire, if not already credentialed.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain supportive peer relationships based on mutual respect, shared lived experience, and recovery principles.
Support clients in identifying and pursuing individualized recovery goals related to treatment, housing, employment, education, and wellness.
Provide mentorship using trauma-informed, person-centered, and harm-reduction approaches.
Facilitate peer-led recovery groups and structured activities.
Connect clients with recovery supports, including 12-step, mutual-aid, cultural, spiritual, and wellness-based resources.
Help clients navigate behavioral health, social service, and criminal justice systems, including court, probation or parole, child welfare, and medication-assisted treatment services.
Conduct outreach and maintain regular client contact through scheduled sessions, field visits, and phone or text outreach.
Assist clients with practical needs such as obtaining identification, applying for benefits, securing housing, and attending appointments.
Safely transport clients to appointments, court, and recovery activities using agency vehicles.
Observe clients for signs of relapse, intoxication, withdrawal, or behavioral escalation and follow agency safety protocols.
Respond to crises using de-escalation and peer-appropriate interventions, and assist with emergency response such as Narcan or CPR if trained.
Maintain accurate and timely electronic health record documentation and obtain and track Release of Information forms as needed.
Coordinate with internal interdisciplinary staff and external community partners to align treatment efforts and care plans.
Use client feedback and outcome-monitoring tools, such as Feedback Informed Treatment, to improve services.
Model recovery values through ethical behavior, emotional regulation, and appropriate boundaries.
Participate in supervision, team meetings, and professional development.
Perform administrative tasks, including checking email, responding to phone calls, managing appointment schedules, and completing documentation.
Provide peer support within supportive housing environments and foster stable, recovery-oriented community living.
Collaborate with treatment and housing staff to support participation in program schedules, routines, and structured activities.
Help clients access on-site services and community-based supports tied to recovery and housing stability goals.
Monitor and document resident participation, behavior, and progress.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical insurance options with employer-paid premiums covering 71%–89% of employee-only coverage; employee costs start at $66.23 per paycheck.
Optional dental and vision coverage at employee cost.
Employer-provided life insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
403(b) retirement plan with an automatic 5.5% employer contribution after 18 months of employment, regardless of employee contribution.
Paid time off accrual of 15 days in the first year, 23 days in the second year, and 26 days in the third year.
80 hours of frontloaded sick leave, prorated in the first year and resetting annually on January 1.
10 paid holidays each year.
Three personal holidays, prorated in the first year.
Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness as an employee of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, subject to program eligibility requirements.
Flexible spending accounts.
Employee assistance program.
Other voluntary benefits and employee discounts.