About the Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP) & CED Law

Our mission

We partner with low-income and working people to build economic and racial equity. We do this by confronting economic abuse and investing in community wealth. We use an ever-evolving set of legal, economic and advocacy tools to challenge and dismantle unjust systems, building quickly towards a world where all people have what they need to live and thrive.

Our Organization

The Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP) is a Colorado-based nonprofit. Launched in 2020 as the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, our organization was formed to keep our neighbors housed during the pandemic. Working with clients, we built a “one-stop-shop” approach to eviction, foreclosure, and homelessness prevention that centers the legal and financial needs of housing-insecure families and uses a variety of tools to keep them housed.

Our team now serves more than 1,000 people per month, bringing together housing lawyers, economists, data analysts, policy-experts, organizers, and technologists to serve our clients. In the previous two years, we have distributed more than $100 million in aid and served more than 40,000 Coloradans. We have also contributed to the passage of major legislation to prevent eviction, stop economic abuse, and make credit and life-saving medication cheaper. CEDP’s model has been cited as a best practice by White House, HUD, the Urban Institute, and in the media.

Building on our work to stop evictions, CEDP has further expanded its integrated services model to include disaster response, predatory towing, debt collection, benefit access & navigation, long-term rental assistance, and homelessness response. Similar to CEDP’s work on rental housing, these efforts offer a continuum of care that includes navigation and advisory services, targeted payments, legal support, and the ability to participate in advocacy.

More about the Role:

As a Certified Peer Specialist serving individuals experiencing housing instability and mental and physical disabilities, your day-to-day responsibilities will involve providing direct support and assistance to clients. This may include conducting individual counseling sessions, facilitating support groups, assisting with housing applications and resources, advocating for clients' rights, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals. You will also be responsible for maintaining accurate documentation and reports, attending team meetings, and participating in ongoing training and professional development opportunities to enhance your skills as a peer support specialist.

In this role you will:

• Provide one-on-one peer support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges or substance use disorders.
• Facilitate peer support groups and assist in creating a safe and inclusive environment.
• Collaborate with clients to develop and implement personalized recovery plans.
• Advocate for clients' needs and rights within the healthcare system.
• Assist clients in accessing community resources and services.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of client interactions and progress.
• Attend team meetings and participate in case conferences to provide input and collaborate on client care.
• Comply with ethical standards and confidentiality guidelines.
• Continuously engage in professional development and training opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Meet productivity and outcome targets as set by the organization.
• Foster a supportive and empowering relationship with clients, promoting self-determination and recovery.
• Contribute to a positive team culture and actively participate in team-building activities.

Position Requirements:

• Must be a certified peer specialist
• Strong understanding of mental health and recovery principles
• Experience in providing peer support services to individuals with mental health challenges
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to establish trust and build rapport with individuals receiving support
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to connect individuals with appropriate support services
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical guidelines
• Willingness to engage in ongoing professional development and training opportunities in the field of mental health

Additional Details:

• Candidates must reside in Colorado, ideally within the greater Denver Metro area. The position includes competitive pay, flexible time off, benefits package (including medical, dental, vision), and 401k.
• A competitive annual salary of $65,000k 
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received by May 31, 2024
• The estimated time to complete the recruitment process will be by June 15, 2024
• As in-person work is sometimes required, all employees at CEDP & CED Law are expected to maintain current vaccination status in keeping with CDC recommendations.
• CEDP is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.