Peer Housing Specialist

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions is seeking a Peer Housing Specialist to provide supported housing services to adults with mental illness in the Bronx and Brooklyn. The role involves assisting residents in securing housing, facilitating workshops, and maintaining strong relationships with clients. Candidates must have a high school diploma and be certified with the Academy of Peer Services within two months of employment. COVID-19 vaccinations are required.

Qualifications

• Certified with the Academy of Peer Services or complete certification within two months.
• Driver’s license a plus.
• Ability to travel by mass transit and walk distances.

Responsibilities

• Assist residents in finding and keeping preferred housing.
• Facilitate group meetings and training sessions.
• Contribute to individual housing support plans.

Skills

Communication

Judgment

Empathy

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Certification with the Academy of Peer Services

Job description

Mission Statement

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions is committed to providing peer recovery, person-centered, trauma-informed, and compassionate services to those with mental health lived experience.

Vision

Our vision is to drive a cultural transformation within the mental health community by advocating for the underserved, educating for change, and inspiring wellness. We approach our role with cultural humility and mindfulness of oppressive systems.

Core Values

• We value a mentoring philosophy delivered from staff with peer lived experiences.
• We value the recovery journey of every individual with a mental health diagnosis.
• We value the personal and professional experiences of our staff and board members.
• We value community action to change societal views to break the stigma of mental health through advocacy within all systems.
• We value everyone’s desire to have opportunities to obtain their visions of wellness.
• We value education and training to enhance an individual’s opportunities for growth in one’s personal journey to self-discovery.

Position Summary

The Peer Housing Specialist is responsible for providing supported housing services to adults diagnosed with mental illness in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Join an innovative agency providing services through empowerment. Must possess the ability to reason clearly and make sound judgments. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively and to establish and maintain satisfactory relations with others is a must.

Minimum Qualifications

• Certified with the Academy of Peer Services or completion of certification within the first two months of employment.
• Driver’s license a plus.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Ability to travel by mass transit, bus, and subway, up to 6 rides in a day. Able to climb and descend up to 6 flights of stairs. Able to walk distances of up to 8 blocks from office to mass transit or to client apartments.

Essential Functions

• Assist residents in finding and keeping preferred housing.
• Facilitate group meetings, workshops, and training sessions, including sharing your own recovery story/experience with consumers.
• Establish and maintain good rapport and working relationships with residents.
• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of individual housing support plans.
• Aid and encourage residents to meet the established goals of their housing plans.
• Encourage resident decision-making.
• Report problems and behavioral changes to supervisor.
• Provide information, referral, and advocacy.
• Work cooperatively with all internal and external entities.
• Ensure the protection of all clients’ civil liberties, rights, and property.
• Attend all staff meetings.
• Document all contacts in writing in case files.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date case files and other reporting requirements.
• Participate in supervisor meetings.
• Visit apartment sites at least once per month.
• On-call responsibilities, where applicable.
• Ensure clients are transported to needed services in a timely manner.
• Maintain valid American Red Cross/American Heart Association CPR/First Aid certification, if applicable.
• Maintain and protect the confidentiality of all matters related to this position.
• Participate, when appropriate, in agency training sessions.

We Are a State Mandated Organization
COVID-19 Vaccinations are Required. Selected candidates must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and have received a booster shot. Baltic Street Wellness Solutions will require proof of complete vaccination and booster prior to extending a job offer. If a candidate has a qualifying medical condition or religious exemption, an exemption form should be requested from Human Resources.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made. While performing duties, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, frequently use hands or fingers, handle objects, and occasionally stand, walk, sit, reach, and lift up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, peripheral vision, and focus adjustment. The noise level is usually moderate.