Peer Support Specialist - Men

City Union Mission; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance 95% premium covered

Dental and Vision at discounted rate

403b Retirement match

FSA & HSA options

11 paid holidays + 3 weeks PTO

Job summary

City Union Mission in Kansas City, MO seeks a Peer Support Specialist to oversee the center environment and support residents in crisis. You will help provide shelter, meals, hygiene, and supervision while prioritizing safety and stabilization.

The role emphasizes life-safety, short-term care, and bridging residents to next steps within a Gospel-centered framework. Evening, overnight, and weekend shifts are included.

Qualifications

• Must be a genuine believer in Jesus Christ with ability to share the Gospel when opportunities arise.
• Member in good standing of a Protestant, evangelical church.
• Commitment to serving the poor and homeless as stated in the mission.
• Maintain sobriety and avoid alcohol or illegal drugs to support ministry purposes.
• Align with City Union Mission faith statement.

Responsibilities

• Participate in mealtime and fellowship environments; model servant leadership and community expectations.
• Take ownership of shift operations: safety, cleanliness, and center flow.
• Conduct routine rounds, safety checks, and front entrance monitoring.
• Respond to incidents with calmness and appropriate escalation; apply de-escalation techniques.
• Assist in capacity management; ensure beds are utilized, census accurate, barriers addressed.
• Support cleanliness and order in spaces; maintain dignity of residents.
• Monitor hygiene, showers, and laundry; teach life skills and responsibility.

Skills

Safety monitoring

De-escalation

Shift operations

Crisis response

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Who We Are

For over 100 years, City Union Mission has offered hope to men, women and children experiencing huge challenges. Homelessness. Addiction. Poverty. We start by extending a welcoming hand and helping to meet their immediate needs - food, shelter, clothing. From there, we offer them a new foundation for their lives through Christ - and life-changing programs that move them toward physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness.

Who We Are

For over 100 years, City Union Mission has offered hope to men, women and children experiencing huge challenges. Homelessness. Addiction. Poverty. We start by extending a welcoming hand and helping to meet their immediate needs - food, shelter, clothing. From there, we offer them a new foundation for their lives through Christ - and life-changing programs that move them toward physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness.

Job Summary

Our emergency shelter mission at our Men's Center and Women & Family Center is to serve as a strategic safety net for the city by providing immediate, short-term, and dignified refuge for individuals and families in crisis: protecting life, meeting basic needs, sharing the Gospel at each point of care, and creating a clear bridge to appropriate next steps.

The Peer Support Specialist is responsible for the overall environment of the center and the well-being of every client in the building, ensuring access to essential supports such as shelter, meals, hygiene, and supervision while prioritizing safety and stabilization. This role reinforces that emergency shelter is a life-safety, short-term service; focused on keeping people safe tonight while serving as a bridge to appropriate next steps.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Participate in and coordinate mealtime and fellowship environments; model healthy interaction, reinforce community expectations, and demonstrate servant leadership
• Take ownership of shift operations including safety, cleanliness, task completion, and overall center flow
• Conduct routine rounds, safety checks, and front entrance monitoring; maintain situational awareness at all times
• Respond to incidents with calm, clarity, and appropriate escalation; apply de-escalation for emotional, behavioral, and spiritual crises
• Assist in managing real-time capacity and occupancy; ensure beds are utilized appropriately, census is accurate, and intake barriers are addressed
• Reinforce and assist in the cleanliness and structure of personal and shared spaces; ensure bed space, lockers, and environment reflect responsibility and dignity
• Monitor and support hygiene, shower, and laundry routines; use these moments to teach life skills, responsibility, and structure

Qualifications

City Union Mission Requirements:

• To be a genuine believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, as evidenced by your personal testimony and your ability to clearly communicate the Gospel whenever opportunities arise.
• To possess sound Biblical character and refrain from engaging in an immoral lifestyle that could undermine or disrupt your testimony as a follower of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• To be a member in good standing of a recognized Protestant, evangelical church.
• Agree and abide within the City Union Mission faith statement.
• To be genuinely committed to serving the poor and homeless, as expressed in the mission statement of City Union Mission.
• To be sober-minded, free from the influence of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, or any substance that could cloud judgment or distract from a Christian-principled ministry.

Employee Benefits

• 95% of the premium covered for Health Insurance
• Dental and Vision insurance at a discounted rate
• Health Reimbursement Account for employees who have other health insurance
• Life Insurance
• 403b Retirement Account match
• FSA & HSA options
• 11 paid holidays per year + over 3 weeks of PTO + opportunity to earn additional days off
• Discount at City Thrift stores
• Paid 30-minute lunch break; free breakfast/lunch/dinner available
• Shifts include evenings, overnights and weekends.
• There is a $2/hour shift differential for hours worked between 3-11pm. There is a $3/hour shift differential for hours worked between 11pm-7am.