Peer Support Specialist

Description

WHO WE ARE

Volunteers of America Colorado is a nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in-need transform their lives. Through more than 50 distinct human service programs, Volunteers of America changes the lives of more than 140,000 vulnerable Coloradoans each year. VOA services include housing and emergency shelters, hunger and nutrition services, and many other community support programs. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve. VOA integrates compassion with highly effective programs that build and strengthen communities.

** The Peer Support Specialist provides trauma-informed, recovery-oriented support to women experiencing homelessness, housing instability, mental health challenges, and/or co-occurring behavioral health needs. Drawing upon lived experience and peer support principles, this position fosters hope, engagement, and empowerment while helping participants access resources, strengthen recovery, build community connections, and works toward long-term housing and wellness goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively with shelter staff, behavioral health providers, housing agencies, healthcare organizations, community partners, and local service providers to connect women experiencing homelessness or housing instability with supportive resources. Advocates for participants' housing, behavioral health, and recovery needs while helping address barriers to stability and wellness.
• Provides person-centered peer support to individuals as they navigate the stages of change, helping them identify goals, overcome barriers, and build motivation for recovery, wellness, and self-sufficiency. Develops trusting relationships by meeting participants where they are, offering encouragement and understanding, and serving as a bridge to ongoing mental health, behavioral health, housing, and community support.
• Initiates and maintains meaningful engagement with shelter residents and program participants, connecting individuals to services including housing resources, healthcare, Medicaid enrollment, behavioral health treatment, substance use recovery services, employment supports, and public benefits. Utilizes community-based outreach, participant-centered meetings, and other engagement strategies to foster connection and trust.
• Provides ongoing follow-up and support to participants as they transition toward housing stability and independent living. Assesses participant needs, facilitates referrals, and assists with accessing community resources as appropriate. Organizes and facilitates recovery-oriented, wellness, and community-building activities that promote social connection and personal growth.
• Works independently, exercises sound judgment, maintains professional boundaries, and actively participates as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment and support team.
• Demonstrates proficiency in operating computer systems, electronic documentation platforms, Microsoft Office applications, office equipment, and communication technology required to support service delivery.
• Travels to community locations, partner agencies, healthcare providers, housing sites, and participant residences as needed to conduct outreach, advocacy, and follow-up services.
• Utilizes lived experience, recovery principles, and evidence-based engagement practices to support individuals in building hope, resilience, self-advocacy, and recovery capital.
• Collaborates closely with case managers, clinicians, therapists, housing specialists, medical providers, and community partners to promote positive outcomes related to mental health, housing stability, and overall well-being. Advocates alongside participants to help address unmet needs and strengthen access to supportive services.

Supervisory Responsibilities: NA

Pay Range: $21.00-$23.00/hr

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

· Travel throughout the program’s service area is required on a regular basis.

· Must be able to work in diverse and, at times, uncomfortable environments such as homeless shelters, service facilities, streets, offices, and all other locations as necessary to fulfill program objectives.

· Exposure to Indoor and Outdoor environments, Memory/recall, Sitting and tying/documentation of client interactions, Hearing/Listening, Verbal and Electronic (i.e. email and text message) communication.

· Physical movements such as bending, kneeling, walking, and lifting (30 to 50 pounds) may be required.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

· Full Time

· Work hours may vary but are typically scheduled around a 40-hour workweek designed to fulfill program objectives with occasional overtime requirements.

Location: Irving Street Womens Residence

Benefit eligibility is based on job type/status

Vacation Time

Separate Sick Time

Paid Holidays

Floating Holidays

Personal Days

Volunteer/Wellness Day

Tuition Assistance

Pension Plan

403b Retirement Plan with Agency Match

Health, Dental, Vision, Pet Insurance

Life Insurance

Accident Insurance

Employee Assistance/Work-Life Balance Program

Employee Discount Program

LifeLock with Norton

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Volunteers of America is an EEO Employer

POSITION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED

VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT OFFERED FOR THIS ROLE

Veterans Strongly Encouraged to Apply

Employee must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Employee will perform job according to applied laws. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform this role, please contact [email protected] to begin the Interactive Process.

Requirements

Competencies

· Models core culture attributes of VOACO that include “AIRS” (Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Service).

· Models and VOACO’s three strategical critical virtues of HHS (Hungry, Humble, People Smart).

· Strong interpersonal skills and collaboration with Keys to Housing team members and community stake holders.

Minimum Qualifications of Position

· Lived experience or knowledge of mental health/substance use.

· Colorado driver’s license and state-mandated automobile insurance.

Preferred Qualifications of Position

· Maintained recovery from their conditions(s) for over a period of one year.

· Lived experience of homelessness.

· 1 year of related experience in the field of Peer Recovery support.

· Possesses personal vehicle for transportation related to program needs. (No client transportation).

Knowledge and Skills:

·Ability to learn and gain knowledge of local housing resources, navigational procedures, housing intervention levels and models.

·Ability to learn and gain knowledge and proficiency with access to community mental health centers and other mental health and/or substance use disorder treatment options and resources.

·Ability to learn and gain knowledge of VOA internal record keeping systems; accesses and documents relevant client housing and other identified goals, as well as other admin duties necessary for program function as identified for this role.

· Understanding of principles and concepts of resiliency, recovery and wellness.

· Demonstrable knowledge of mental health/substance abuse conditions and treatments.

· Demonstrable knowledge of participant rights, fundamentals of HIPAA, confidentiality, ethics, role clarification, and professional boundaries.

· Ability to learn and gain knowledge and skill in the application of Harm Reduction, Critical Time Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, and Housing First Principles.

· Ability to work and thrive within a diverse, multicultural team environment and to respectfully and professionally serve individuals hailing from diverse backgrounds, cultures, ideologies, and religions.

· Ability to take initiative and work independently.

· Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

· Ability to apply appropriate self-care in the face of often difficult and/or traumatic situations which commonly present while working with persons in need of services.

Ability to maintain professional and healthy emotional and physical boundaries