Peer Advocate, Housing & Self-Sufficiency

Colonial Group; Temecula (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick time

Paid holidays

Full benefits including medical

Life insurance

Wellness programs

Employee Assistance program

Professional development

403(b) retirement plan (matched)

Flexible Spending Account

Supervision hours

Job summary

North County Lifeline, Inc. is seeking a Peer Advocate for LifeSpring to support YYA experiencing homelessness or at risk, guided by a housing-first approach. You will create a warm, inclusive drop-in center and ensure participants' voices are heard.

This lived-experience role emphasizes engagement, crisis intervention, and connection to housing resources, with opportunities to lead groups, coordinate outreach, and help youths move toward independence.

Qualifications

• Applicant must have lived experience and knowledge on how to navigate systems.
• BA preferred or enrolled in college courses.
• Knowledge of homelessness in San Diego, human development, mental health and substance use.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, welcoming and supportive environment to engage participants.
• Provide basic needs assistance (food, water, clothing, hygiene, showers, laundry, etc.).
• Create, organize and facilitate groups and outings.
• Connect participants to resources based on their needs.
• Initiate and organize outreach efforts.
• Maintain the drop-in center (cleanliness, rules, food orders, inventory).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Engagement

Crisis intervention

Case management

Interviewing

Rapport building

Youth development

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred or enrolled in college

Job description

Peer Advocate, LifeSpring

Position Summary

Lifeline Services is hiring a Peer Advocateto support our growing team. The Peer Advocate provides supportive services to youth and youth adults (YYA) who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. Assures that the Drop in Center is functioning from a housing first model. The Peer Advocate makes sure that the YYA’s needs and wants are being heard and addressed, that YYA’s are getting assistance in obtaining safe, stable, inclusive housing that supports independence and permanent connection. This is a lived experience role that will help our team to create a warm and welcoming environment for the young people that we serve.

We’re looking for a candidate with strong skills in engagement, crisis intervention, case management, interviewing, rapport building, assessment, goal setting, and youth participation and development.

Required Qualifications

• Applicant must have lived experience and have knowledge on how to navigate systems.
• BA preferred or enrolled in college courses.
• Possess a good understanding of the homeless issue here in San Diego, human development, mental health, and substance use and how that impacts daily functioning.

• Must have reliable transportation and be willing to work evenings as necessary to meet YYA’s needs. Successful completion of multi-state criminal background check.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, welcoming and supportive environment to engage participants.
• Provide basic needs assistance (food, water, new clothing, hygiene products, access to shower and do laundry, etc.)
• Create, organize and facilitate the various groups and outings.
• Connect participants to resources based on their needs.
• Initiate and organize outreach efforts
• Maintain the drop-in center (cleanliness, ensure rules are being followed, food orders and basic needs inventory)
• Completes other duties as assigned.

Schedule/Compensation

• FT/nonexempt position
• Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5pm (with flexibility)
• [$20.00 - $22.00] Salary will commensurate with experience and education. Differential pay offered for bilingual skills. EEO.

Additional Requirement

• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation with a good driving record.
• Willing to use own, properly insured, reliable vehicle for the job (mileage reimbursed).
• Employment subject to clearances, including background finger printing checks, driving record, tuberculosis testing, and drug testing.

About the Company

North County Lifeline, Inc. is a non-profit human services organization that offers a wide range of services to the people of San Diego County. Our mission is to build self-reliance among youth, individuals and families through problem solving, skill-building and accessible community-based services.

Come be part of a team who CAR2Es! At North County Lifeline, you will find people who are Cconnected to the communities we serve, Aauthentic, and Rresourceful. We are Rresponsive to the needs of our clients and Eengaged in our mission to build self-reliance among youth, adults, and families. Equal Opportunity Employer.

We offer flexible work hours and excellent benefits to our employees.

• Generous paid vacation
• Paid sick time (6 days)
• Paid holidays (14 days)
• 100% employer paid medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage
• 100% employer paid life insurance
• Health and wellness programs
• Employee Assistance program
• Professional development assistance
• Great employee incentive awards program
• Training and education assistance
• Matched 403b retirement plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid supervision hours (clinical positions)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

North County Lifeline DBA Lifeline Community Services ("Lifeline") is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated and discrimination is not tolerated. We are committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their best selves to work. We adhere to all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

In California, we extend these protections to include ancestry, medical condition, genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), familial status, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, and age (40 and above) among others, recognizing and valuing the diverse backgrounds and perspectives that all individuals bring to our team.

Lifeline is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) by providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and by ensuring that our employment practices do not discriminate against any individual.

We believe that diversity fuels innovation and creativity, and we are dedicated to building a team that reflects a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Lifeline's success is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and the collective contributions of all our employees.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Lifeline expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on any of the protected characteristics mentioned above.

Lifeline's leadership is committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion and ensuring that our employment environment is free from discrimination and harassment. All employees are encouraged to report any instances of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in violation of this policy to a supervisor, HR representative, or through our reporting email.

By embracing diversity and promoting equality, Lifeline not only complies with all relevant legislation but also creates a richer, more vibrant work environment for all our employees.

Accommodations and Accessibility Statement

Lifeline Community Services is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and other applicable laws, Lifeline will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship for the organization.

If you require an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] as soon as possible. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to, assistance with completing the application process, providing documents in an accessible format, or arranging for an accessible interview location.

Our goal is to ensure that all individuals have equal access to opportunities and are able to perform their job duties safely and effectively. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all employees can thrive.