Peer Specialist-Homeless Services

sus.com; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

S:US is seeking a Peer Specialist for our adult families' shelter in Brooklyn, based in New York, NY 10016. The role involves outreach, relationship building, and advocacy to support participants in recovery journeys.

Responsibilities include collaborating with the team to co-create wellness tools, promote recovery language, and maintain effective communication. A High School Diploma or GED is required, with strong interpersonal skills and resilience in challenging housing settings.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED or 2 years of experience in a large residential/institutional setting with a special needs population is required.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills required.
• Must have patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons with mental health and substance abuse issues and criminal court involvement.

Responsibilities

• Outreach/Engagement/Bridge Building: Help to engage with participants and families, promoting awareness of S:US services and assisting as a bridge when there is ambivalence about treatment.
• Relationship Building: Develop authentic relationships through empathy, listening, and collaboration.
• Embracing Creative Narratives: Understand and discuss multiple frameworks for recovery experiences with participants and team.
• Advocacy: Advocate with and for program participants in the community and on the team.
• Co-Creating Support and Wellness Tools: Help participants clarify goals and develop their wellness toolkit.
• Influencing Team Culture: Promote recovery-oriented language and youth-friendly approaches within the team.
• Team Communication: Maintain open communication, report safety concerns, and document visits.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Patience

Creativity

Flexibility

Compassion

Mental health awareness

Substance abuse awareness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Min

USD $40,000.00/Yr.

Max

USD $45,000.00/Yr.

Position Overview

S:US is seeking a Peer Specialist for our adult families' shelter in Brooklyn.

This position is located at New York, NY 10016

The Peer Specialist will:

• Outreach/Engagement/Bridge Building: Helping to facilitate engagement with teams by forging strong connections with participants and families, undertaking outreach activities designed to promote community awareness of S:US services, encouraging help-seeking, and at times serving as a bridge between team members and participants when they experience ambivalence about treatment.
• Relationship Building: Developing authentic, meaningful relationships with individuals and families through empathy, sharing experiences, listening and collaborating with genuine curiosity and interest.
• Embracing Creative Narratives: Peer Specialists need to be able to understand, share and discuss multiple frameworks for understanding life experiences such as psychosis with participants and the rest of theS:US team. Peer Specialists intentionally use language in the service of listening to understand and making space for complex personal stories of recovery and resilience.
• Advocacy: Peer Specialists advocate with and for program participants both in the larger community and on the team.
• Co-Creating Support and Wellness Tools: Collaborate with participants to clarify their personal visions and develop their wellness toolkit. Along with other team members, Peer Specialists support participants in strengthening their self-awareness, building life skills, and connecting to resources and community outside of the S:US team.
• Influencing Team Culture: Whenever possible, positively influencing the team culture by advocating for clients, promoting a youth friendly approach and encouraging the use of recovery-oriented language.S:US Peer Specialists also work actively within the team itself to help build an environment that operates from a belief in the human potential to grow and an understanding of human diversity.
• Team Communication: Peer Specialists maintain open and frequent communication with the team. This includes reporting safety and other concerns to the team. Peer Specialists will also keep notes on visits with program participants as required by the provider agency. In the spirit of peer support, co-collaborating on reporting with the program participant is encouraged.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED or 2 years of experience working in a large residential/institutional setting with a special needs population is required.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills required.
• Must have patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons with mental health and substance abuse issues and criminal court involvement.
• NYS Driver’s License preferred.

Company Overview

S:US IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Join a team of employees who care about the wellbeing of others. We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individualpotentialand continuous quality improvement.From health and wellness resources to generous PTO, professional development, and more, explore all that we offer on ourBenefits Pageand see how S:US invests in you.

We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individualpotentialand continuous quality improvement.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information and including all other statuses protected by Federal, State and Local laws. S:US is committed to providing access, equalopportunityand reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities, including allowance of the use ofservicesanimals. To request reasonable accommodation or if you believe such a request was improperly handled or denied, contact theLeave [e-mail].

ID

2026-18884

Work Location

In Person