Peer Specialist I

About the Organization

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for families, children, and individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being, and stability of those it serves.

We believe all people have the right to adequate housing and health care. We work to remove the barriers that restrict access to these rights. Society benefits when adequate housing and healthcare are available to everyone.

We create lasting solutions to homelessness by:

• Honoring the inherent dignity of those we serve, affirming their capabilities, and fostering their hope that a better life is possible;
• Building strong, caring, and trauma-informed communities through the integration of housing, health care, and supportive services;
• Advocating for social and racial equity, inclusion, and diversity and challenging the status quo in partnership with our workforce members and those we serve;
• Achieving excellence through continuous quality assurance, innovation, and professional development;
• Using resources judiciously and effectively.

About the Role

Through lived experience that includes recovery from substance use, homelessness, and/or effective treatment of mental health conditions, the Peer Specialist offers insight and first-hand knowledge to support clients, families, and their integrated teams. You will work to support clients with various challenges to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals by focusing on strengths, empowerment, and advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Provides mentorship and support to clients through personal lived experience to build skills in goal setting and problem solving with an emphasis on individual strengths, resilience, and empowerment.
• Facilitates counseling and activities for clients in recovery from substance use disorders in individual or group settings to promote connection and agency.
• Helps clients coordinate and navigate critical integrated services including healthcare, housing assistance, and behavioral health in partnership with internal teams and outside community partners.
• Transports and/or escorts clients to scheduled appointments at Coalition properties and elsewhere as needed using a CCH vehicle or an approved personal vehicle. CCH employees must have access to reliable vehicles outside of CCH fleet.
• Collaborates alongside Coalition staff to foster trusting relationships with clients and ensure services provided are timely while aligned to individual goals.
• Responsible for ongoing client outreach within the community to monitor needs that are recovery-oriented.
• Ensures timely and accurate recording of all clinical/non-clinical services, communications, and tasks in the EHR and other systems as required while maintaining complete up-to-date charts and any future upgrades as directed.
• Performs other job duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Completion of accredited Peer Specialist training program highly preferred.
• Basic Life Support Certification required within 30 days of employment.
• Bi-lingual English-Spanish and/or ASL preferred.
• Must have and maintain in good standing, a Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire (with the exception of Ft. Lyon & Transitional Housing roles).
• Prior peer mentoring experience serving individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges and/or homelessness highly preferred.
• Must be a person with lived experience including substance use disorders, homelessness support services, and/or mental health challenges with prior and/or ongoing recovery activity.

Skills

• Using lived experience, ability to role-model recovery.
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of confidentiality protocols and adheres to privacy laws/organizational policies regarding sensitive information.
• Engages in meaningful and authentic interactions through active listening, trauma-informed care, and empathy that promote trust.
• Recognizes professional boundaries and identifies potential conflicts of interest to maintain ethical standards in interactions with clients, coworkers, and stakeholders.
• Establishes trust and rapport with individuals, even in challenging or sensitive situations, to foster openness and respect.
• Actively advocates for the needs and rights of individuals/families to ensure access to necessary services, resources, and support systems identified by the clients they are serving.
• Demonstrates awareness and continuously seeks to learn and apply inclusive language that respects diverse identities, backgrounds, and experiences.
• Collaborates cross-departmentally with other Coalition Peer Specialists to grow and contribute to the success of program objectives, culture, and a positive working environment.
• Adheres to all state, county, and organization policies/laws regarding mandatory reporting.
• Ability to effectively interface and utilize technology to complete work.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with others.
• Must be able to remain calm, think clearly, and apply sound judgement in high-pressure situations.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment are representative of those that must be met or encountered to successfully perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others.

• Moves throughout buildings and community sites to interact with clients, staff, and community partners.
• Moves equipment and/or client belongings weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to write, type, and use telephones, cellphones, and online phones.
• Must be able to access and interpret information from computer screens and printed materials.

Percentage of work time spent on activity:

• SEEING: Must be able to read computer screens and printed documents. (75% to 100%)
• HEARING: Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with employees and others. (75% to 100%)
• STANDING/WALKING (50% to 74%)
• CLIMBING/STOOPING/KNEELING (0% - 24%)
• LIFTING/PULLING/PUSHING (25% to 49%)

Working Conditions:

• Minimum of 50% of work time in direct client engagement.
• Works primarily out in the community including client homes and/or at other CCH properties; travel within the Denver metro area required during scheduled shifts.
• Work hours are generally standard but may require flexibility to accommodate client needs.
• Frequent interpersonal interactions in diverse settings with approximately 8-10 hours/week using a computer.
• Collaborates effectively with colleagues through adaptability to work in both team and individual settings to achieve shared goals.
• Routinely exposed to unpleasant odors, noxious fumes, excessive noise, and bugs/pests.
• Exposure to direct and vicarious trauma including escalated behavior, substance use, death, mental health disorders.
• Business operations may continue in various weather conditions, including snow, extreme cold, hot, and other potentially severe conditions.

Benefits

We offer a full suite of benefits for our eligible employees and their dependents. We’re proud to offer same- and opposite-sex domestic partner coverage.

• Health Insurance - HMO or PPO
• Dental plans, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance
• Company paid basic life and AD&D insurance coverage, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) retirement savings matching
• Extensive paid time-off, including holidays, sick leave, and vacation

The effective date for your benefits will be the first of the month following your date of hire.