Peer Mentor - Housing First North, Thompson, MB

The Link: Youth and Family Supports; Thompson; On-site; CAD 25,060 - 35,691; Full time

Job summary

The Link: Youth and Family Supports is seeking a Peer Mentor for its Housing First program to support youth facing homelessness. Your lived experience guides participants, informs outreach, and helps maintain boundaries and safety in a complex environment.

You will collaborate with Case Managers and Tenancy Support Mentors, assist with budgeting and tenancy tasks, and help participants access community resources while documenting progress in HIFIS.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with mental health, substance use or homelessness.
• Commitment to anti-racism/anti-oppression frameworks and recovery.
• Ability to work in a team and independently, with strong intercultural awareness.
• Experience with de-escalation and mediation techniques.
• Computer competence including Word, email and internet.
• Knowledge of Indigenous culture and strengths-based approaches.
• Familiar with crisis intervention and harm reduction.

Responsibilities

• Develop supportive relationships with participants and build trust.
• Assist with tenancy rights, responsibilities and budgeting.
• Support participant move ins/outs and viewings.
• Enter and maintain participant data into HIFIS accurately.
• Coordinate with Housing First team and partner agencies.
• Attend meetings and trainings; complete administration duties.

Skills

Lived experience

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

De-escalation

Crisis intervention

MS Word

Email

Internet

Education

First Aid/CPR

ASIST

NVCI

Tools

MS Word

Email

Internet

Job description

About The Link: Youth and Family Supports. For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24‑hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

About The Opportunity

Housing first is a different approach to supporting people with a history of homelessness and multiple disadvantages which could include youth aging out of care, mental illness, addictions, etc. Housing First helps young adults aged 18-30 who are homeless or aging out of care and at risk of becoming homeless find their first house or apartment. Youth also receive ongoing support as they learn to make their own way in the world as independent adults.

Position Summary

The Peer Mentor works collaboratively with the Housing First team that includes the Case Manager and Tenancy Support Mentor. This position will use their own lived experience of mental health, problematic substance use and/or homelessness to help support Housing First participants and share their lived experience in a relevant and appropriate manner, maintaining peer/participant boundaries.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop supportive relationships with participants
• Assist participants with understanding their tenancy rights and responsibilities
• Support participants in maintaining tenancy, including:
  • Help with budgeting
  • Support in keeping living space clean
  • Complete applications and forms as needed
  • Effectively communicate with landlord
  • Provide conflict resolution, advocacy and linkage with community resources
  • Assist the Housing First team to take participants to appointments, view apartments, etc.
  • Assist with participant move ins and move outs
  • Encourage and assist participants in developing their strengths and setting goals
• Communicate concerns or incidents with the staff team immediately
• Accurately enter and maintain participant data into HIFIS
• Work effectively with partnering agencies
• Organize time to complete tasks and administration duties in a timely and professional manner
• Attend internal and external meetings and trainings as scheduled
• Perform other duties as required

Qualifications

• Personal lived experience with mental health, problematic substance use and/or homelessness
• Comfort and sensitivity when working with individuals who experience chronic homelessness, severe mental illness and problematic substance use
• Knowledge of and commitment to anti‑racism/anti‑oppression frameworks and recovery philosophies
• Ability to work positively within a team environment and independently
• Experience in using de‑escalation and mediation techniques
• Computer competence (MS Word, email, internet)
• Knowledge of Indigenous culture
• Knowledge of strengths‑based and solution‑oriented approaches
• Crisis intervention, harm reduction techniques and conflict resolution skills

Essential Requirements

• First Aid/CPR, ASIST, NVCI certification
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
• Knowledge and experience with diverse cultures and economic backgrounds
• Knowledge of community resources
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle

Salary Range: $22.05 per hour, depending on qualifications.

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week. Variety of shifts including days, evenings, and weekends.

The Link is an equal opportunity employer. Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Link is committed to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. Information regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.