Youth Housing Peer Support Specialist
Housing Team

Part-Time, 20 Hours Weekly

Damien Center empowers communities and persons affected by HIV/AIDS in the state of Indiana by being a leading resource, provider, and advocate for comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, prevention, education, and related services. Damien Center, Damien Cares and Damien Pharmacy provide client-centered social services focused on care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition to the Indianapolis community.

Position Summary:

To provide peer support services as part of a multi-disciplinary team to youth and young adults experiencing housing instability. Service provision will focus on working with clients to maintain housing and gain employment. Service is provided to individuals or groups.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills.

• Provide individualized, ongoing guidance, coaching and support.
• Facilitates training in the use of personal and community resources.
• Assist in developing formal and informal community supports.
• Assist the person served in increasing social support networks of relatives, friends and/or significant others.
• Offers encouragement in times of crisis.
• Advocates on behalf of persons with housing instability to protect the client's rights and to assist in reducing associated stigma.
• Works in cooperation with other providers, family members or significant others involved in the client's recovery plan.
• Attends agency staff meetings, Case Conferences and Individual and Group Supervision.
• Attains established standards of productivity.
• Observes all rules of confidentiality relating to clinical information and treatment, both internally and when dealing with external agencies and/or individuals.
• Understands client's rights, policy, and procedures.
• Participates in staff training and development.
• Serves on designated committees within the agency.
• Maintains professional standards and, observes the guidelines established by policies and procedures.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience:

High School Diploma or GED required. Past or present consumer of housing services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to work well with others. Familiarity with the Marion County community. Ability to interact with various types of people. Familiarity with Housing First model, harm reduction philosophy and survivor centered goal setting required. Experience working with vulnerable populations (LGBT, Communities of color, substance users, commercial sex workers, etc.) required. Grant-Based housing experience preferred. Personal traits which include patience, tolerance, caring, mature and understanding.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual in this role must display the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. The individual should have effective communication skills, attention to detail and organization, and flexibility and adaptability. The individual will also maintain knowledge of trends in their area of responsibility.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are general representations of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to touch and handle objects. The employee frequently stands or walks.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office setting, with sustained use of a computer.
• The noise level in the work environment is minimal to moderate.
• Maintains personal/professional competency and works to create an environment of courtesy, respect, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude in all interactions both internal and external to the organization.
• FLSA Status: Hourly Part-Time, 20 hours weekly
• Benefits: No Benefits Package Available
• Leader: Youth Housing Team Lead