Peer Support Specialist (Lighthouse)

Shepherd's House Ministries; Bend (OR); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Shepherd’s House Ministries in Bend, Oregon seeks a dedicated Peer Support Specialist to create a welcoming, safe environment at The Lighthouse Navigation Center. You will engage guests, connect them with navigation services and community partners, and support teams in daily experiential activities aimed at health, stability, and recovery.

Qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent, peer support or social services experience, and strong communication with diverse populations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; additional education in social services is a plus.
• Experience in a peer support or social services role preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to engage with diverse individuals.
• Familiarity with homelessness, addiction recovery, mental health, and trauma-informed care is desirable.
• Requires the ability to safely operate a personal and/or organization vehicle with a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Create a welcoming and safe environment for guests to access day-use activities and navigation services.
• Support leadership in developing and facilitating daily experiential learning activities.
• Engage with participants to understand their stories, build trust, and establish meaningful connections.
• Help participants pursue health, stability, and recovery by connecting with case managers and service providers.
• Advocate for and provide referrals to mental and physical health services and other community resources.
• Escort participants to appointments as needed and introduce them to supportive services.
• Guide volunteers in building relationships with participants and staff.
• Collaborate to identify innovative ways to address chronic homelessness.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Active listening

Cultural sensitivity

Confidentiality

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Social services training/education

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Location: Bend, Oregon - In Person (TheLighthouse Navigation Center)

Schedule:TBD

Status: Full-Time

At The Lighthouse Navigation Center our mission is to create safe, healing environments where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to pursue personal growth and stability. We strive to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and walk alongside those facing life-controlling challenges such as trauma, addiction, and homelessness. Through emergency shelter, case management, and supportive services, we seek not only to address immediate needs but to foster lasting, positive change. Our vision is to help individuals break cycles of hardship and achieve meaningful transformation, ensuring that everyone in Central Oregon has the opportunity to find hope, stability, and healing.

We are seeking a passionate and mission-driven Peer Support Specialist to help expand the impact of Shepherd’s House Ministries across all sites and advance this life-changing work.

The Peer Support Specialist provides a welcoming and safe environment at The Lighthouse Navigation Center, encouraging guests to engage in day-use activities and access navigation services. This role involves building meaningful connections with participants, assisting them in their pursuit of health, stability, and recovery, and collaborating with the team to address chronic homelessness in our region.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Create a welcoming and safe environment where guests are encouraged to benefit from day-use activities and navigation services.
• Support the Associate Director and Program Manager in developing and facilitating daily experiential learning activities.
• Engage with participants to understand their stories, build trust, and establish meaningful connections.
• Guide participants in achieving health, stability, and recovery by helping them connect with case managers, service providers, treatment teams, and community partners.
• Advocate for and provide referrals to ensure participants access a variety of services, including mental and physical health services.
• Escort participants to provider appointments as needed.
• Introduce participants to supportive services and activities.
• Guide and assist volunteers in establishing and navigating their relationships with the Navigation Center, participants, and staff.
• Collaborate with the team, service providers, and volunteers to identify innovative ways to address chronic homelessness.
• Respond to call-outs and participant emergencies as required.
• Discuss and process case plans, coping methods, life choices, and rehabilitation strategies with participants.
• Contribute to the safe, secure, and sanitary operation of the Navigation Center, cooperating with the facilities manager and supervising appropriate SHM staff as needed.
• Fulfill other relevant duties as communicated by the Director of Navigation Center, Associate Director of Navigation Center, and other SHM supervisors.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent; additional education or training in social services, peer support, or a related field is a plus.
• Previous experience in a peer support or social services role preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with varying needs.
• Experience with or knowledge of homelessness, addiction recovery, mental health, and trauma-informed care.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite and email communication.
• Familiarity with community resources and services available to individuals experiencing homelessness is desirable.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to professional ethical standards.
• Requires the ability to safely operate a personal and/or organization vehicle as part of regular job duties, including maintaining a valid driver’s license, acceptable to the organization’s insurance and meeting organizational driving requirements.

Additional Requirements:

• CPR and First Aid Certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Peer Support Training (or willingness to obtain)

Physical Working Conditions:

• Office setting within The Lighthouse Navigation Center
• Occasional travel to other locations and community events
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• May require lifting up to 25 pounds for event setup and operational needs
• Potential exposure to situations requiring de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed care
• Requires working with a diverse population, many of whom struggle with or are currently experiencing homelessness, addiction, and/or mental illness
• Requires a sustained level of high energy, stamina, and the ability to move about the facilities regularly

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please contact a member of The People Team.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Shepherd’s House Ministries provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.