Peer Counselor

Title:                  Peer Counselor Program:           St. Nicholas House Salary Range:   $38,000 - $42,000 per year             Program Description: St. Nicholas House is a 94-unit single-room occupancy (SRO) building providing permanent housing and supportive services to formerly homeless men and women and low-income individuals. A comprehensive array of support services is offered to the tenants including medical services, short-term counseling, and recreational services.   Overall Responsibilities: The Peer Counselor will play a vital role in fostering an environment of trust, support, and empowerment for tenants at St. Nicholas House. Under the guidance of the Clinical Director and Program Director, the Peer Counselor will engage with clients to help them achieve successful independent living and stability.   Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The essential duties of the Peer Counselor include but are not limited to the following activities: Build and sustain supportive, trusting relationships with clients to assess and monitor their physical and mental capacity, ensuring they are able to maintain independent living. Work individually and/or in groups with clients to address key aspects of successful community living, such as budgeting, medication adherence, sobriety or harm reduction, and time management. Conduct bi-monthly or more frequent home visits to ensure clients' needs are being met and provide ongoing support. Perform thorough needs assessments for each client and develop personalized service plans that address their unique challenges and goals. Connect clients with necessary resources, including medical services, substance abuse treatment, financial support, and community services. Assist clients in developing and improving Activities of Daily Living (ADL) skills, such as personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning, and other essential daily tasks. Provide transportation or accompany clients to medical appointments, social service offices, shopping, or other necessary destinations. Maintain a small caseload of approximately 5 clients, ensuring regular contact and documentation of all interactions, progress, and outcomes. Maintain up-to-date, accurate records, including progress notes and all relevant information on client status and outcomes, in accordance with organizational standards. Provide crisis intervention in emergencies and work to de-escalate tense or challenging situations. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate services and communicate effectively with peers, supervisors, and other team members. Participate in regular team meetings, trainings, workshops, and seminars to enhance professional skills and knowledge.   Qualifications: High School Diploma or GED; Associate degree from an accredited college, preferred One year of documented experience working with homeless populations, especially persons experiencing substance abuse and/or mental health issues;  Bilingual; Spanish speaking a plus.  Proficiency in MS Office with expertise in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel.         All newly hired Project Renewal staff must provide verification of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Salary : $38,000 - $42,000