Peer Support Specialist- Horizon House

About the role

This is a full-time position starting at $22/hr. with a schedule of 7 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday. The Peer Support Specialist enhances services to neighbors and/or housing program participants by leveraging peer-to-peer engagement rooted in lived experience. This role supports individuals experiencing homelessness or living in supportive housing to achieve goals related to physical, mental, and emotional well-being that promote financial and housing stability.

Responsibilities

• Engage individuals experiencing homelessness or living in supportive housing across various locations in Indianapolis.
• Build rapport and form authentic, trusting, and professional relationships following the tenets of peer certification.
• Model coping strategies, support recovery behaviors, encourage positive choices, and uphold accountability.
• Provide education and support in accessing community resources and services in ways that promote self-determination, empowerment, and progress toward individualized goals.
• Contribute to client-centered plans addressing health, mental health, recovery, financial, and housing stability needs.
• Work closely with case managers and other staff to ensure peer services align with client care plans.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely documentation of client information, service encounters, and case notes.
• Document must meet the organization’s standards and be entered into applicable system(s).
• Act in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws.
• Observe confidentiality standards, including required reporting of abuse, neglect, or safety concerns.
• Maintain ethical conduct consistent with agency policies and peer certification standards.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, staff meetings, and required trainings.
• Engage in mutual learning, support, and group supervision with other Peer Support Specialists.
• Maintain an awareness of community resources, events, and supports.
• Identify or lead groups and activities that strengthen clients’ social connections, sense of purpose, and community belonging.

Requirements

• Certification as a certified peer support professional (CPSP) or certified peer recovery coach (CPRC-A/CPRC) or similar credential preferred; ability to become certified within 90 days required.
• Experience supporting homeless or low-income individuals preferred (including employment, volunteer work, internships, or coursework).
• Strong commitment to personal recovery with the demonstrated ability to use lived experience to support others.
• Ability to build effective rapport with individuals experiencing homelessness, including those living outdoors or in non-habitable locations.
• Ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams and with partner agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to model healthy behaviors, trauma-informed responses, and positive coping skills.
• Experience in data reporting systems is essential.
• Strong skills in data interpretation, program evaluation, and outcome reporting.
• Capable of using data to assess impact, identify areas for improvement, and ensure accountability.
• Articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to comprehend customers’ needs.
• Deliver information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.
• Strong time management, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining high-quality work.
• Consistent follow-through, reliability, and accountability.
• Basic proficiency or ability to become proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, Word, electronic databases, and virtual meeting platforms.

Qualifications

• Degree and Credential Requirements: Certification as a certified peer support professional (CPSP) or certified peer recovery coach (CPRC-A/CPRC) or similar credential preferred; ability to become certified within 90 days required.

Skills

• Communication Skills: Articulates thoughts and expresses ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to comprehend customers’ needs.
• Organizational Aptitude: Strong time management, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining high-quality work.
• Technical Knowledge: Basic proficiency or ability to become proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, Word, electronic databases, and virtual meeting platforms.

Benefits

• Continuing education and leadership development as well as tuition reimbursement
• Comprehensive health plan
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Sabbatical and parental leaves
• Life, dental and vision insurance
• Short- and long-term disability plans
• Nationally recognized preventive health and wellness program
• Section 125 pretax health spending account, dependent care spending account, and premiums
• Retirement planning options with generous company % match
• Eligible for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program