Peer Support Specialist - Miller Manor

At Avalon, housing is a basic human right. We envision a community in which all of our neighbors have a home and an opportunity to thrive. We build supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing (that we build) paired with services, like case management. We don't just help people find housing. Our property managers and support coordinators help people stay in their homes. This is not easy work, but as one of our tenants says: "Avalon will get in the trenches with you." We're looking for people who want to join our cause and help eradicate homelessness in our community. Are you interested? If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you. The Miller Manor Services Team provides outreach, intensive case management, care coordination, community building, and housing support services to households in a single site 24/7 staffed supportive housing setting. The individuals served by this position face many challenges including multi morbid conditions, mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and/or chronic medical conditions alongside a history of chronic homelessness. The Miller Manor Services Team provides 24/7 support services to tenants living at Miller Manor, a 106 unit single site housing development owned and operated by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. Utilizing a "Housing First" approach, the Miller Manor Services Team works closely with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission property managers to help tenants achieve housing stability and move beyond homelessness. Services staff also collaborates with community partners to ensure the coordinated delivery of a broad range of services that meet the mental, physical, psycho-social and housing needs of the individuals either through direct service or linkage to appropriate resources. Job Responsibilities: The Peer Support Specialist will be responsible for providing additional support to tenants to achieve community inclusion and participation, independence, recovery and resiliency. The Peer Support Specialist is an individual in recovery with a self-identified lived experience and journey in receiving services and support from mental health, substance use disorder, and/or housing/homeless service providers. The Peer Support Specialist helps tenants regain control over their lives and over their own recovery process, as they define it. Provide assertive outreach and engagement to tenants Provide extra support and assistance to tenants with accessing and navigating community resources Assist and support tenants in maintaining cooperative and effective relationships with their primary service provider and property management Coordinate and collaborate with a network of care for tenant, including natural supports, connection to mutual aid groups, and sponsorship (when appropriate) Use experience with personal recovery in assisting and supporting the team and tenants Enhance team decision making by assuring tenant voice and choice is included in planning Promote recovery through role modeling and sharing experiences, providing hope and encouragement and connection to community Participate in planning and implementation of tenant assessment and action plans as needed Accompany staff during outreach and engagement to build rapport with service provider Assist in the coordination of social, educational and recreational activities for tenants, initiate peer- led groups and events for tenants Facilitate mutual aid groups for tenants onsite, with an emphasis on options embracing multiple pathways to recovery Initiate and oversee tenant leadership development opportunities such as tenant leadership training, speaker series, and/or a tenant council Assist tenants in the development of life skills such as resolving interpersonal conflicts in their environment, maintaining housing, developing work skills, safety skills, social skills, receiving and maintaining benefits Help tenants aspire to roles which emphasize their strengths by sharing personal experience Provide education and support regarding issues affecting population and work to reduce stigma related to those Adhere to housing first and harm reduction model of peer advocacy Participate in staff meetings and trainings Assist tenants as needed with activities of daily living such as transportation, housekeeping, meal preparation, medication, shopping, laundry, or other hands on assistance as needed Meet documentation requirements as dictated by program need Supplemental Job Duties: Work with clients in their homes, in community centers, and in the larger community Attend staff meetings, retreats and professional training sessions Required Qualifications Completion of CCAR or other certification training within one year of hire Person who has progressed in their own recovery and has a minimum one year of addiction recovery who is actively involved in recovery activities Desired Skills and Abilities CCAR Trained or other peer training certification Experience with or interest in multiple pathways to recovery Basic understanding of homelessness and various characteristics of the homeless adult population; experience with the issues of mental illness and/or chemical dependency preferred. Knowledge of peer support, community resources, entitlements Ability to effectively work with diverse populations in a non-judgmental way Ability to recognize appropriate boundaries with clients Ability to maintain confidentiality practices Ability to work as part of a team Must possess a highly positive and enthusiastic attitude and strong commitment toward helping those in need Interest and experience in working with individuals who are difficult to engage and refer to traditional programs, subscribe to a philosophy of tolerance and ability to engage with individuals in their current stage of change, expressed knowledge, acceptance, and/or experience with principles of harm reduction Ability to work flexible hours as required by programs and staffing needs Avalon Housing is dedicated to eliminating racial inequities. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work well with multicultural communities. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative 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 will be required to sit for long periods of time, drive a vehicle with passengers, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. A valid driver's license and reliable transportation is required. Title: Peer Support Specialist Reports to: Miller Manor Team Lead Status: Part-Time (Monday- Thursday 10 am-4 pm) Salary: $18.00/ hour Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, people who identify as transgender or non-binary, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories unless and until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon may exclude someone based on criminal history if it determines the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position.