Peer Mentor - Housing First North, Thompson, MB

About The Link:Youth and Family Supports

For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

About the Opportunity

POSITION SUMMARY

Housing first is a different approach to supporting people with a history of homelessness and multiple disadvantages which could include youth aging out of care, mental illness, addictions etc.

Housing First helps young adults aged 18-30 who are homeless or aging out of care and at risk of becoming homeless find their first house or apartment. Youth also receive ongoing support as they learn to make their own way in the world as independent adults.

The Peer Mentor works collaboratively with the Housing First team that includes the Case Manager and Tenancy Support Mentor. This position will use their own lived experience of mental health, problematic substance use and/or homelessness to help support Housing First participants. This position will also share their lived experience in a relevant and appropriate manner, maintaining peer/participant boundaries.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties and responsibilities of the Tenancy Support Mentor include but are not limited to:

• Develop supportive relationships with participants
• Assist participants with understanding their tenancy rights and responsibilities
• Support participants in maintaining tenancy, including:Help with budgeting
  Support in keeping living space cleanComplete applications and forms as needed
  

  Effectively communicating with landlord

• Support participants with conflict resolution, advocacy and linkage with community resources
• Provide support to the Housing First team to take participants to appointments, view apartments etc.
• Assist with participant move ins and move outs
• Encourage and assist participants in developing their strengths and setting goals
• Communicates concerns or incidents with the staff team immediately
• Accurate entry and maintenance of participant data into HIFIS
• Ability to work effectively with partnering agencies
• Ability to organize time to complete tasks and administration duties in a timely and professional manner
• Attend internal and external meetings and trainings as per scheduled
• Other duties, as required

QUALIFICATIONS

Competency Requirements

• Personal lived experience with mental health, problematic substance use and/or homelessness
• Comfort and sensitively working with individuals who experience chronic homelessness, severe mental illness and problematic substance use
• Knowledge of and commitment to, anti-racism/anti-oppression framework and recovery philosophies
• Ability to work positively within a team environment and independently
• Experience in using de-escalation and mediation techniques
• Computer competent (MS Word, email, internet)
• Knowledge of Indigenous culture.
• Knowledge of Strengths based and Solution Oriented approaches.
• Crisis intervention, harm reduction techniques and conflict resolution skills

Essential Requirements

• First Aid/CPR, ASIST, NVCI
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Knowledge and experience with diverse cultures and economic backgrounds
• Knowledge of community resources
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle

SALARY RANGE: $22.05 per hour, depending on qualifications

HOURS OF WORK: 40 hours per week. Variety of shifts including Days, Evenings and Weekends.