Peer Specialist, Justice Involved Supported Housing Initiative (JISH)

Who We Are

CAMBA is a community of staff, volunteers, clients, donors, neighbors and partners who work together to build an inclusive New York City, where all children and adults have access to the resources and supports they need to thrive. We take a comprehensive approach by offering more than 180 integrated programs in: Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. We reach more than 72,000 individuals and families each year at our 100 locations, including 10,000 youth. CAMBA serves a diverse cross section of New Yorkers from new mothers in Brownsville to job seekers in the Rockaways. More than half of our clients are immigrants and refugees from around the globe. Over 85% of our families live in poverty, reflecting the challenges faced by nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers today.

Justice Involved Supported Housing (JISH)

Provides 30 units of scattered site supportive housing to homeless individuals with a probable mental health illness and/or a substance use disorder, with recent histories of cycling through the NYC criminal justice and shelter system. Program staff provides case management and other supportive services to enable clients to achieve the skills and financial independence necessary for independent living. Clients also receive partial financial assistance with utility costs.

Position: Peer Specialist

Reports To: Program Manager

Location: 19 Winthrop Street, Brooklyn NY 11225

What a Peer Specialist Does

• Maintain professional relationships with clients and client confidentiality.
• Practice Universal Precautions/Standard Protocol & Procedures.
• Comply with Federal, State, City and CAMBA security and privacy policies intended to protect the security and privacy of individually identifiable health information.
• Prepare marketing materials for the program.
• Conduct outreach activities to market the program to the community to recruit new clients and re‑engage former clients.
• Follow up with clients and referral organizations regarding client contact and progress.
• Contact clients via telephone, mail and/or face‑to‑face home and office visits to ensure adherence to program, and document via progress notes.
• Input client data and progress information into automated database.
• Escort clients to appointments (educational, medical, social service, etc.).
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• Create and maintain client files and make copies of all client documents.
• Assist in planning, coordinating, and facilitating social/peer support events (i.e., World AIDS Day, AIDS Walk, PRIDE Parade, etc.), including group facilitation for clients.
• Perform other clerical duties as needed, such as filing, photocopying, and collating.
• Evaluate living conditions of clients through home visits.
• Prescreen clients over the telephone for eligibility and schedule intake appointments.
• Assist clients in completing all CAMBA intake applications and forms.
• Work with clients to break through barriers to client goals and advocate for themselves with counselors, moving toward self‑sufficiency.
• Schedule appointments for clients with referral organizations.
• Assist clients in completing applications for benefits and entitlements and process applications on clients' behalf.
• Follow up with clients after successful completion of primary goals to assure stability.
• Tasks may be modified, expanded, and/or assigned over time.

Qualifications

• Sufficient education and technical expertise to comprehend written and oral instructions to accomplish tasks, and to document accomplished tasks.
• Knowledge about, understanding of, and ability to work closely with homeless, MICA, justice‑involved related issues.
• Lived experience.

Minimum Experiences and Skills Required

• Experience as described above, preferably in a mid‑sized (250+ employees) organization working with persons with histories of homelessness, mental illness, and/or substance abuse.
• Good written & verbal communication.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office Suite.

Compensation

$45,200 annually.

When salary ranges are listed, the range would represent the low and high end for the applicable position & program. The salary offered would be based on various factors unique to each program and candidate. This includes but is not limited to experience, education, budget and/or program size, internal equity, skills and other factors that may be required for the position and organization.

Status & Benefits

Status: Full‑time (35 hours per week)
Benefits: CAMBA offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid time off (vacation, personal, and sick time), and paid holidays.

CAMBA and CAMBA Housing Ventures are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse & inclusive workforce and do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), or other applicable legally protected characteristics.