Peer Support Specialist (Housing)

Job Overview
Through lived experience provide support and advocacy to individuals and families living in LASA’s Prairie Oaks apartment complex. This is a Permanent Supportive Housing complex with 15 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units. The Peer Support Specialist will be a part of a team that will assist families in building stability through maintaining safe and stable housing, growing their income, being a positive tenant, and navigating all the challenges of obtaining and maintaining housing. Prairie Oaks welcomes and works with families who have complex and dynamic needs in their housing journey.

Affordable Housing and homelessness are the biggest issues facing our Pierce County community. For over 30 years LASA has worked to provide safe and stable housing for Pierce County families. LASA currently owns, operates, and develops affordable housing along with providing rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, family shelter, eviction prevention services, and our client service center (provides showers, laundry, food, hygiene supplies, and a safe place to stay during the day) to those without a safe and stable place to live.

We strongly encourage individuals with personal, shared, or lived experience with homelessness or housing instability to apply for this position. We also encourage those who represent demographics who are disproportionally represented in the homeless population of Pierce County to apply. We recognize the value of firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by our residents will greatly contribute to the success of those who seek our assistance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Provide peer support with an emphasis on enhancing access to and retention in permanent supportive housing.

· Build positive, professional, and trusting relationships with residents that are grounded in shared experience, respect, and clear professional boundaries.

· Assist residents in navigating complex service systems, including benefits, behavioral health care, employment, and other community resources, offering practical guidance and encouragement.

· Develop and maintain relationships with community‑based organizations and external providers to help residents access mental health, medical, substance use, and social services.

· Participate in team meetings, case conferences, and coordination activities to share peer‑informed perspectives and support holistic care planning.

· Serve as a community support liaison by attending appointments with residents as appropriate and helping connect them to benefits, recovery resources, and harm reduction services.

· Assist participants in activities of daily living.

· Maintain records and provide data and reports, as may be required for program monitoring and evaluation, in accordance with policies and procedures.

· Perform health and safety checks of apartments as required.

· Ensure that ethical and professional standards of practice are maintained.

· Assist with special projects, such as holiday giving and outreach events.

· Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

· Prefer homelessness or housing instability lived experience or (2) years of peer support experience.

· Must have reliable transportation, valid driver's license, and auto insurance.

· High degree of emotional maturity and cultural competence, particularly as it relates to working with working with diverse populations including people with active mental health, chemical dependency, criminal background, and long-term trauma challenges.

· A clear understanding of, and the ability to demonstrate, professional ethics, boundaries and judgment.

· Willingness to admit mistakes and learn new things.

· Ability to work independently as well as on a team

· Able to pick up 45 pounds.

· Willingness to submit a background check and openly discuss.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please e-mail a resume and brief cover letter that specifically addresses how your background makes you a fit for this position to jason@lasawa.org . References will be requested.

LASA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At LASA, we want people to love their work and show respect and empathy to all. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion have always been key to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, who share a passion for improving people's lives. This passion is reflected in our commitment to respecting the diversity of our clients, which not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, housing status, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one’s identity. All our employees’ points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility. Applicants in need of accommodation are encouraged to call (253) 581-8689.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

• Lakewood, WA 98499 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Lakewood, WA 98499: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $19 - $21