Peer Navigator

Position: Peer Navigator

Reports to: Peer Support Manager

Location: Denver

Type: Part-time

Pay: $25.00 per hour, $40 monthly cell phone stipend, mileage reimbursement

The Peer Navigator provides strengths-based, person-centered support to individuals transitioning from homelessness into housing, using their lived experience to build trust and promote stability. This role assists community members in identifying wellness goals, overcoming barriers, and accessing behavioral health, recovery, and community resources. With a focus on housing stability, wellness, recovery, and harm reduction, the Peer Navigator guides CVC Alumni Community Members through their first year in housing by offering advocacy, skill-building, and connection to supports. This position reports to the Peer Support Manager.

Schedule/Hours

29 hrs/wk, flexible with some nights and weekends may be needed

Key Area #1 - One-to-One Peer Support

• Provide person-centered, peer-based support by drawing on lived experience with behavioral health and/or substance use to build trust, model hope and resilience, and engage individuals in a nonjudgmental, supportive manner.
• Support clients in identifying goals and navigating services by validating their experiences, offering guidance and advocacy, assessing strengths and needs, and co-creating action plans that promote mental wellness, substance use recovery, harm reduction, and connection to appropriate resources.
• Helps clients understand and address stigma and discrimination related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness, and supports them in developing strategies to reduce self-stigma and strengthen personal empowerment.
• Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness, and that fosters cooperation and teamwork.
• Provides information and assists clients in skill-building activities, resiliency, goal setting, and problem-solving. 
• Facilitate connections to behavioral health and substance use services, including counseling, MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment), detox, community recovery programs, and on-site or telehealth mental health resources.

Key Area #2- Housing Stability and Community Connection Support

• Accompany and advocate for individuals during appointments, intake processes, or while navigating complex systems such as mental health care, housing, or benefits, collaborating with case managers, clinicians, and community partners to ensure holistic, coordinated care that integrates behavioral health and social supports.
• Promote independent living skills, accessing community amenities, and building healthy daily routines.
• Identify early warning signs of potential crises related to mental health, substance use, or tenancy and respond appropriately in a trauma-responsive, culturally competent manner, connecting the client to appropriate resources and services
• Support participants in rebuilding social networks, connecting with natural supports, and reducing isolation after an episode of homelessness.
• Introduce participants to community spaces, peer-led groups, cultural activities, and neighborhood resources that promote belonging and wellness.
• Assist participants in developing supportive relationships and strengthening existing connections with friends, family, or community members when appropriate.

Key Area #3 - Data Collection and Documentation 

• Document interactions, progress, and referrals in alignment with confidentiality, data quality, and program reporting requirements.   
• Completes all necessary documentation, forms, or reports, including HMIS, in a timely manner. 

Key Area #4 Professionalism and Teamwork

• Understands and follows the related policies and procedures of the operations.
• Attends required meetings and regular supervision, focusing on mastering the core competencies of the Peer Support Specialist profession. 
• Attends and participates in formal and informal staff meetings and addresses client and program issues. 
• Provides excellent internal and external customer service and communicates in a professional, timely, and effective manner. 
• Actively participates, collaborates, and contributes to the multidisciplinary team to promote a team culture in which each client's point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in service planning are maximized and supported. 

Other Responsibilities

Complete other special duties and tasks as assigned by management.

Physical Requirements

The position requires the ability to perform the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Tasks may involve prolonged periods of standing, sitting, or walking, as well as lifting and carrying objects up to 25 lbs. Additional requirements include occasional reaching, bending, crouching, or kneeling, along with manual dexterity to operate tools, equipment, and technology. Visual and auditory ability to respond to tasks and ensure safety are also essential. 

Requirements

Qualifications Summary

• High School Diploma or equivalent. 
• Prior or current recipient of mental health, substance and/or homeless services, with the ability to role model recovery, and who is actively participating in their own recovery. Two (2) years or more in recovery is preferred. All pathways are honored. 
• One year or more of volunteer and/or paid experience is preferred. 
• Peer Support Specialist training can be provided along with State of Colorado Credential. If not credentialed, commitment to do so within 6 months of hire date.
• At least one year of being successfully housed is mandatory
• Experience in operating computerized office equipment and telephones.
• Travel is needed; reliable transportation is preferred. 
• Cell phone to download and access CVC applications is required 

Skills Needed

• Cultural competence 
• Time management with the ability to meet a timeline
• Excellent written and verbal communication 
• Administrative Skills
• Conflict Mediation/Resolution Skills 
• Ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Trauma-Informed approach
• Creativity and flexibility
• Resilience and thick skin 

Colorado Village Collaborative provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall,