Peer Support Specialist (JBU)

Are you passionate about helping others and want to work with an organization that shares that passion? Do you want to make an impact on a youth's life, helping to create a path to health and self sufficiency? Consider joining Urban Street Angels and our dedicated team of professionals who are making a difference. 

Founded in 2012, Urban Street Angels is a San Diego based non-profit dedicated to supporting homeless youth through supportive housing, peer support, mentorship, mental health counseling, and job training initiatives, to develop a more employable workforce and cultivate personal responsibility. Of California's unhoused population, 50% cite they first had an experience with homelessness between the ages of 18 and 25. This critical demographic has the potential to leave the streets behind for good when provided with the support needed to make a change in their lives. Urban Street Angels has made it our mission to serve this under-supported group, and in so doing, make meaningful progress toward ending homelessness in San Diego and beyond.

• Title: Peer Support Specialist (Just Be You program)
• Status: Full-time, nonexempt, in-person
• Hourly rate: $22 - $24 (based on qualifications and experience)
• Schedules: 3:00pm - 11:30pm (40 hours per week) - On-site
• Location: Downtown, San Diego

Position Summary: Urban Street Angels' Just Be You (JBU) program provides support to transitional age youth (TAY) with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who are homeless or otherwise at risk of homelessness, who repeatedly utilize acute or emergency mental health services but are otherwise unconnected to services. JBU’s goal is to break the cycle of youth homelessness by providing short‐term housing for youth in a supportive environment that identifies and facilitates connections to individualized treatment, housing, and other community resources. Primary innovative features of JBU include the emphasis on youth‐centric whole‐health/holistic services and the utilization of technology as an important tool for communicating with and engaging youth.

Responsibilities: 

• Relate to the needs and concerns of clients through shared lived experience
• Model personal responsibility, self-advocacy and hopefulness
• Collaborate with team members and assist with client transportation as needed
• Accompany clients to appointments as needed to provide additional emotional support
• Collaborate with Case Manager to manage and check rooms
• Support clients with daily living activities, such as personal hygiene, laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping, and budgeting money
• Meet with all enrolled clients 1:1 weekly
• Meet periodically with all graduated clients in 12-month follow up period
• Document all active and graduated client interactions in a timely matter
• Utilize effective positive engagement and conflict resolution skills
• Regularly attend team meetings and provide updates on client progress
• Deliver WRAP and WHAM training to clients
• Manage and coordinate youth graduation events/celebrations
• Other duties as assigned and related

Qualifications: 

• Minimum High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Minimum of one (1) years’ experience working in a social service setting, serving individuals with severe mental illness or otherwise show demonstrated ability to relate to the needs and concerns of TAY with SMI
• Lived experience a plus
• Bilingual a plus
• Must submit to a background check via Live Scan (with ongoing alerts), as required by specific programs, funding requirements and licensing regulations;
• Must be able to reliably commute to various locations within the city/region.

Additional Requirements:

• Reliable transportation
• Ability to travel between Urban Street Angels locations, if necessary
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. and work in varied indoor/outdoor settings
• Flexibility to work evenings or weekends as needed
• Must submit to a background check via Live Scan (with ongoing alerts), as required by specific programs, funding requirements and licensing regulations
• Must submit to a TB test
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and complete I9 verification

Benefits:

Urban Street Angels offers an array of benefits to employees, supporting health, wellness and retirement, including: 

• 401(k) retirement savings
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Ancillary voluntary insurances
• Paid time off including sick and vacation time
• Referral incentive program

Urban Street Angels is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Discrimination of any kind, notably based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws, is strictly prohibited. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $24.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person