Peer Specialist

About Abode:

When you join Abode, you’re not just taking a job, you’re becoming part of a team creating meaningful change in our communities and a commitment to lasting housing stability.

At Abode, we believe everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home. Our mission is to solve homelessness through housing and supportive services that help individuals and families achieve stability and independence. Grounded in the Housing First model, we meet people where they are and provide individualized support based on their needs, goals, and strengths.

Housing Ends Homelessness

Our Mission:

Abode works to end homelessness by assisting low-income, unhoused people, including those with special needs, to secure stable, supportive housing; and to be advocates for the removal of the causes of homelessness.

Our Values:

• Start with Dignity
• Take Smart Risks
• Be transparent
• Solve for today and tomorrow
• Spark each other’s strengths

About The Role:

The Peer Specialist provides outreach, case management, or rehabilitative services.  This position, along with team members will provide outreach, engage, house, and wrap around clinical services to participants.  These participants will be identified through county data and other assessment processes as being the most frequent users of emergency services, criminal justice, and other homeless/county services in the County.  Program participants will have Serious Mental Health Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and/or Chronic Health Conditions.  

How You Make An Impact: 

• Provide outreach and engagement to homeless adults to locate referred individuals.  Locations include but are not limited to encampments, parks, shelters, treatment facilities, jail, court, etc. 
• Help re-engage participants enrolled in the program who have lost contact with the team. 
• Assist in interviewing and completing initial intakes with clients, gathering, and assembling related information, and maintaining appropriate records and files. Maintain thorough and concise case notes.  
• Assist in linking participants with community treatment services for mental health, substance recovery, physical health care, financial assistance, educational and employment services, housing, advocacy, socialization activities, and other services. 
• Assist participants with establishing goals and strategies for increasing self-sufficiency. Assist participants with accessing public benefits (i.e., General Assistance, Food Stamps, and SSI).  
• Support participants as they navigate the criminal justice and court systems.  Advocate for participants by interacting with judges, court mental health staff, public defenders, etc. 
• Help participants develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan. 
• Provide support, role modeling, and coaching to participants in the program. 
• Attend clinical, administrative, and case conferencing meetings as dictated by the program supervisor.   
• Enter all data on time and correctly to support program evaluation and outcomes tracking. 
• Ensure proper and timely documentation of services including written case notes using the BIRP formats and billing services to Medi-Cal. 
• Assist the Program Manager, Clinical Supervisor, and other staff as needed. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

How You Meet Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or equivalent required. 
• Personal life experiences with recovery from addiction, homelessness, and/or mental health recovery required.  
• Six months of field experience working with people experiencing homelessness. 
• Use of personal vehicle and proof of a valid and current California Driver’s License and current insurance along with a clean DMV record required.   

Our Benefits and Perks: 

• Competitive pay: $25.00 - $27.50 per hour
• Work arrangement: Onsite position; may be eligible for hybrid or remote work, subject to supervisor approval and factors including job responsibilities, remote location, and employee suitability.
• PTO:19 days per year, increasing with tenure
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year
• Health & Wellness:
  • 100% medical, dental and vision coverage options for employees
  • Employer subsidized options for dependent health care."
  • Legal and financial services and more through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Mental health care service provided by Teledoc
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
    • Commuter
    • Health care
    • Dependent care
  • Retirement Plan: 403(b) w/ employer match & contribution programs

Notice: Abode Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Abode will engage in an individualized assessment of accommodation requests and may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities when necessary to facilitate participation in the hiring process or to perform the essential functions of a position, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. If you require accommodations during the application process, please speak with your Talent Acquisition Specialist or use Abode’s contact form to reach out to our Talent Acquisition team.

Notice:Abode Services maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law.