Job Title: Peer Support Specialist

Department: Social Services

Reports to: Community Programs Manager

Hours: Full Time (40 hours/week), generally between 8-5 M-F

(occasional evening and weekend work)

Location: Gresham Women’s Shelter/Chestnut Tree Shelter (East Multnomah)

Compensation: $18.54-$20.05/hour,, depending on experience

Benefits: Medical, dental, short and long term disability and AD&D

insurance, holidays and paid leave

Want to help make a difference? Our Just Future counters the forces that keep people and

communities in poverty by building relationships and assets that create opportunity - today and for

future generations.

We partner with people and communities impacted by poverty so they can achieve long-term housing

and economic security. We invest in affordable housing and community assets that contribute to

strong, inclusive neighborhoods. We advocate with our community for policies and investments that

expand housing and economic opportunity, eliminate wealth inequality and end poverty. East

Portland/East Multnomah County, Oregon is our home and the heart of our investments, advocacy and

programs.

Our Just Future envisions vibrant, healthy neighborhoods where all people can share in the

security, hopes and advantages of a thriving, supportive community. Our Just Future operates as a

nimble, financially strong organization driven by our passion, strategic goals and guiding

principles.

Diversity, inclusion and equity are fundamental values for Our Just Future, both internally and

externally. OJF has an Anti-Oppression Diversity Committee, which serves as a sounding board for

new internal policies and procedures to make sure that we’re taking into account diversity and

inclusion. It also helps with diversity-related projects, such as coordinating staff diversity

trainings and providing ongoing input into our equity work.

OJF is working to end homelessness and poverty in our community because everyone

deserves a safe place to call home.

What OJF Can Offer You: We offer a comprehensive array of benefits in support of your

physical, emotional and financial well-being. A few highlights:

• Employer paid premiums for employee health insurance.
• Generous paid time off, 13 paid holidays, a floating birthday holiday and the ability to

maintain a great work/life balance.

• Employer paid premiums for short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• Access to an employee assistance program.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and for dependent care.
• Professional development opportunities, including employee driven committees and monthly

optional staff workshops.

• Access to wellness initiatives and resources including things such as walking groups, yoga

classes, workshops on stress management, self-care and healthy living.

• Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement plan with a 2% employer match after three

months of employment.

• Six weeks of sabbatical leave for every seven years of consecutive employment with the

agency.

SUMMARY

The Peer Support Specialist will deliver services within the framework of Assertive Engagement and

Trauma Informed Care while working in collaboration with Participants to develop and maintain the

implementation of a holistic goal plan aimed at addressing various life domains – Housing, Income,

Education, Wellness & Health, and Social Capital. Many participants have aspirations and face

multiple challenging issues that may be barriers for them. These positions are part of the Adult

Shelter Housing Placement Team, which consists of Housing Specialists, a Retention Worker and Peer

Support Specialists. The shelters participants are single adults who identify as female and this

team works closely with the shelter staff members.

The Peer Support Specialist will provide strengths-based advocacy alongside individuals who may be

homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or in need of other supportive services. Many participants

have aspirations for themselves and face multiple challenging issues that may be barriers for them.

The Peer will work in collaboration with the individual and the Adult Shelter Housing Placement

Team and/or Shelter staff to develop and maintain the implementation of a holistic goal plan aimed

at addressing each individual’s needs, especially as they relate to mental health and/or addiction

treatment

The Peer Support Specialist must meet the qualification criteria adopted under ORS 414.665. Please

refer to the qualifications section below for more details.

The Retention Work is approximately 20% part of this position and will provide strengths- based

advocacy and retention supportive services with participants who have been recently homeless and

have secured permanent housing. Most of these participants have been awarded an Emergency Housing

Voucher through Home Forward, which are similar to a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), and

receive a rent subsidy through Home Forward based on their income. The work includes, but limited

to, helping participants identify their natural supports, work towards securing income should they

have zero, and complete apartment housing inspections to pass, as well as, build working and

collaborative relationships with agencies in the community to facilitate viable and appropriate

resources for participants.

DUTIES & RESPONSBILITIES

Essential

• Conduct an in-depth assessment with prospective program participants.
• Collaborate with participants to develop and implement an individualized and flexible action

plan with specific goals.

• Work collaboratively with a broad diversity of participants including people of all races,

nationalities, languages, ages, and abilities.

• Utilize client assistance funds appropriately to each household based on their needs and goal

plan.

• Apply Assertive Engagement and Trauma Informed Care skills in a culturally responsive manner

to effectively motivate individuals to achieve their goals.

• 
  Engage with Participants at least once a month to update progress, address other needs, and

provide any other ongoing supportive services.

• Use creativity and resourcefulness to ensure that participants are aware of all community

resources available to them.

• Advocate with other service providers for the needs of participants as appropriate, which may

include, but are not limited to, housing stability, counseling services, substance use treatment,

employment, veterans services, benefits acquisition, physical and mental health care, and legal

services.

• Work with property managers to resolve any issues arising from the tenancy of single adults on

your caseload.

• Organize and maintain files up to standards required by the funders. This includes, but is not

limited to, keeping progress notes current and frequently updating goal/action plans for each

participant and make regular entries regarding the status of their situation and activities

performed towards the completion of their goals.

• Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date documentation of service activities using Human

Solutions procedures, forms and data reporting systems (ETO and Service Point). Submit paperwork in

a timely manner.

• Preparing and submitting monthly/quarterly/yearly reports to the funder.

Secondary

• Assist with establishing and maintaining relationships with community partners and make

recommendations for additional partners as needed.

• Participate in regular supervision check-ins, monthly department/small team staff meetings and

all staff trainings.

• Participate in community meetings/outreach events as appropriate, including but not limited to

information and referral meetings and interagency partnership meetings.

• Other duties as assigned. Flexibility and a cooperative team spirit are important for the

successful operation of Human Solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The

requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and abilities required.

Knowledge of:

• Development and implementation of client centered service planning.
• Social, economic, and systemic issues creating poverty.
• How to work successfully using nationally recognized evidence based practices related to

working with people living in poverty both to help them achieve greater stability and to help them

thrive to the best of their ability.

• Community resources and agencies providing health care, mental health/substance abuse

services, and other community services available to homeless and low income individuals.

• Local and regional housing markets, basic landlord tenant laws and tenant rights.
• The effects of trauma on individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Ability to:

• Partner with participants to identify their strengths, needs, options and effective solutions.
• Coordinate delivery of services with Social Service Managers, Gresham Women’s Shelter/Chestnut

Tree Shelter Managers and the Adult Shelter Housing Placement Team.

• 
  Non-judgmentally elicit information and help problem solve around sensitive issues including,

but not limited to behavioral health, substance abuse, and criminal backgrounds.

• Knowledge of, and/or willingness to learn Assertive Engagement tools to help plan/coordinate

delivery of services with Participants.

• Incorporate Trauma-Informed Care principles to services rendered.
• Work cooperatively and productively with volunteers and staff.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with public and private agency

representatives as well as with the general public.

• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competency when working with diverse populations.
• Prepare and maintain clear, accurate, complete and timely records and reports.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries with all households served.
• Understand and follow complex written and oral instructions, rules and procedures.
• Work independently and at the same time be a vital and contributing part of a team.

• 
  Important: The Peer Support Specialist must meet the qualification criteria adopted under ORS

414.665. They may be either a peer support specialist or a peer wellness specialist who provide

supportive services to a current or former consumer of mental health or addiction treatment: Is a

current or former consumer of mental health or addiction treatment, or an individual who is in

recovery, as defined by the Oregon Health Authority by rule, from an addiction disorder. The hiring

manager will be checking the traditional health worker registry to ensure the applicant’s name is

found there, so if you feel you qualify please make sure you are on the registry, otherwise you

will not be considered for an interview: https://traditionalhealthworkerregistry.oregon.gov/Search

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Two years of work and/or volunteer experience in social services and case management; or

education in social service/social sciences field with at least six (6) months case management

experience.

• A peer support specialist or a peer wellness specialist certificate (not expired).
• At least one year experience developing and/or implementing individualized service plans.
• Experience with crisis intervention, community networking and resource development.
• Experience delivering services in a culturally responsive approach using Assertive Engagement

techniques (i.e. Strength Based Case Management, Motivational Interviewing, Assertive Community

Treatment).

• Experience providing services to justice involved populations.
• Bi-Lingual/Bi-Cultural preferred but not required.
• English fluency required, written and spoken.
• General computer, word processing and spreadsheet skills.
• Experience and intermediate skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

CERTIFICATION

This position requires that you are a certified Peer Support Specialist or Peer Wellness Specialist, on the traditional health worker registry https://traditionalhealthworkerregistry.oregon.gov/Search

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger,

handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The

employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The

employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to

25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance

vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee

encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be

made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in

the work environment is usually moderate.

TRANSPORTATION

Possession of a valid driver’s license, clean driving record and reliable transportation required.

Vehicle insurance coverage limits must be $100,000 bodily injury liability for one person,

$300,000 bodily injury liability for all people in an accident and $100,000 property damage

liability.

TO APPLY

Please send resume, cover letter and three professional references (include: name, phone, email,

job title, and professional relationship to you (for example: supervisor or co-worker)

This position is open until filled. Please no phone calls.