Supportive Housing Peer Support Specialist

Department: Client Services
Reports To: Supportive Housing Program Manager
Position Type: 1.0 FTE, 40 Hours/Week, Non-Exempt
Work Type: In Person, Not Hybrid/Remote Eligible
Salary Range: $21.50 to $22.79
Salary Note: Bilingual candidates are eligible for an additional $1.50 Bilingual Differential. This Bilingual Differential is not included in the salary range above.
Benefits Available: Read more at http://hivalliance.org/employment/benefits
Agency Overview: Read more at https://hivalliance.org/engage/careers-at-hivalliance/
External Applicants: Apply directly through our website, via the Agency Overview link. All applicants must submit a complete job application, supplemental questions, and resume via the job portal to be considered.
Internal Applicants: Apply via email, following the emailed application instructions

Position Summary: The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) will be a part of our multi-disciplinary Supportive Housing Program. A PSS has lived experience similar to clients in this program. With this experience, the PSS helps model and teach appropriate boundaries and tenancy behavior to clients as needed, with a client-centered and trauma-informed approach. The PSS must have strong boundaries and a clear understanding of structure and accountability. The PSS will work directly with people living with HIV to help increase their housing stability. The PSS will play a critical role in utilizing harm reduction strategies and motivational interviewing to empower clients to take steps to improve their health and housing stability. PSS must be able to effectively work with a variety of providers including substance use treatment and behavioral health providers. While not all clients will be ready to enter treatment, or engage in behavioral health care, the PSS will support them in identifying harm reduction goals to decrease the negative impact of substance use and reduce the risk of HIV and HCV transmission, and support the clients in behavior change. In addition, this position coordinates access to support services provided through the Ryan White Treatment Modernization Act.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Travel: Frequently travel across service area, which may encompass multiple counties to provide in-person services, including weekly home and/or community visits. Provide frequent client transportation and accompany clients to appointments to facilitate access to treatment and other services and resources.
• Client Management: Carry an active caseload of program-eligible clients, providing direct one-on-one peer services. Able to provide services in-person, over the phone and on a drop-in basis. Assist with coverage of services.
• Onboarding: Assess clients to determine program eligibility and support program enrollment.
• Housing Support: Research and identify suitable housing options, including motel placements, permanent supportive housing, and emergency shelters. Advocate for client needs with prospective landlords.
• Health Insurance Support: Assist clients in signing up for health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid and CAREAssist.
• Coordination of Services: Work collaboratively with Oak Program team members, Client Services department, and wider agency, landlords, medical providers, and community partners to facilitate access to housing, medical care, social services, mental health services, and public benefits.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate and timely documentation of client interactions, placements, services provided, and progress updates in agency databases. Process and collect necessary eligibility documents including Authorization for Release of Information.
• Crisis Intervention: Respond to client crises, including eviction prevention and emergency relocation assistance, and follow up.
• Referrals: Refer clients to local resources as needed, often accompanying clients to support systems navigation.
• Community Engagement: Build partnerships with local property managers, housing authorities, and shelters to enhance housing placement opportunities. Attend relevant community meetings and participate in ongoing training and professional development.
• Client Events: Assist with planning and attending client events on a monthly to quarterly basis. This includes shopping for food, cooking, and socializing with clients at events. Ability to attend events outside of normal business hours.
• Standards: Comply with all applicable program standards, guidelines, laws and administrative rules.
• Ability to work well with others, handle stress appropriately, have reliable attendance
• Ability to use personal cell phone to run agency phone system software, MFA, etc.
Other tasks as assigned, including training/cross-training other staff as needed

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 year of experience working in a social service setting with clients who have substance use and/ or behavioral health barriers
• Current Peer Support Specialist or Certified Recovery Mentor certification from a State-approved training program, OR be able and willing to become certified immediately
• Meets the definition of a Peer as defined by the State of Oregon Administrative Rule:
• • self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services; OR
  • a self-identified person in recovery from a substance abuse disorder, who meet the abstinence requirements for recovering staff in alcohol and other drug treatment programs;
• TB test (provided at agency)
• Valid Oregon driver’s license, or valid out of state driver’s license with the ability to get an Oregon driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency in Oregon, and a driving record sufficient to be covered by agency auto insurance policy.
• Ability to pass agency criminal background check
• Ability to obtain OHA Application Assister ID (cost covered by agency)
Ability to obtain Food Handler’s Card (cost covered by agency)

Professional Competencies:

• Interpersonal Communication & Conflict Management (proactively communicates effectively, listens carefully to others, exhibits acceptable standards of conduct, deals effectively with others in difficult situations, works to reduce tension & conflict)
• Organizational Awareness (takes time to learn about agency culture, policies, and procedures; recognizes and balances the interest and impact of one’s department with those of other departments, programs, and the agency as a whole)
• Embraces Change (actively identifies problems and opportunities for change, implements solutions where appropriate, maintains effectiveness & adjusts well when experiencing changes in work tasks, environment, processes, and requirements)
• Living the Agency Vision & Values (demonstrates an understanding of agency vision and values, keeping the vision and values at the forefront of decision making)
• Client & Customer Focused (keeps client and customer needs a primary focus; develops and sustains productive relationships with clients, customers, & partners)
Valuing Diversity (appreciates and leverages the capabilities, insights, & ideas of all individuals; works effectively with individuals of diverse style, ability, & motivation)

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to

• Repetitively use hands, including grasping, twisting/turning of wrists, and finger dexterity to perform various necessary clerical duties, such as typing and writing.
• Frequently use arms, such as pushing & pulling to open/close drawers, cabinets, etc.
• Sit and/or stand for extended periods of time at an assigned station
• Bend, stand, & reach to be able to transport clients and to lift and carry up to 25 pounds for tasks such as building kits & assembling testing/educational materials.
• Use continuous clarity of vision at 20 inches or less for processing of paperwork

The physical demands described above here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment:

The duties of this job require individuals to be able to work in non-traditional and community-based settings. Additionally, the duties of this job include travel to other locations necessary to complete essential job functions, including the ability to transport self to job-related events and locations. This role requires regular reliable attendance, including:

• Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends
• Ability to work 5 days per week for a minimum of 40 hours per week
• Ability to work in loud, crowded, busy, or escalated environments
• Ability to drive at night and during various weather conditions safely