HiWay 40 Housing Program - Peer Support Worker

Overview

WHO WE ARE: We are more than a nonprofit organization. We are a ministry of service that includes nearly 600 paid professional employees dedicated to helping those we serve. We provide compassionate care today for flourishing communities tomorrow. Founded locally in 1911, VOA Northern California & Northern Nevada is one of the largest providers of social services in the region, delivering a broad range of community-based services that transform lives while meeting immediate needs of families, individuals, veterans, seniors, and youth.

In fact, VOA-NCNN provides shelter or housing to over 3,500 men, women, and children every night.

OUR MISSION: VOA puts faith into action by providing compassionate human services to empower individuals and strengthen communities. VOA aspires to create a world in which every person lives a life of emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, filled with hope across Northern California & Northern Nevada.

PROGRAM AND

LOCATION:

VOA-NCNN, a Certified Great Place to Work, is recruiting for a full-time Peer Support Worker for our HiWay 40 housing program. HiWay 40 is a Permanent Supportive Housing site that provides stable, long-term housing paired with wraparound supportive services for individuals transitioning directly out of homelessness. Full-time employees (working 30 or more hours a week) are eligible for a benefits package that includes paid holidays, vacation, sick pay, health, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance coverage.

The Peer Support Worker provides direct, person-centered support to residents of HiWay 40, a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program. Drawing on their own lived experience with mental health challenges, housing instability, or related circumstances, the Peer Support Worker builds authentic, trust-based relationships with residents and assists them in developing the daily living skills needed to maintain stable housing and improve their overall well-being.

This position operates from a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented framework. The Peer Support Worker meets residents where they are, models recovery and resilience, and provides consistent, non-judgmental support across day and swing shifts. All work is performed in collaboration with program staff, case managers, and community partners to advance the goals of each resident.

• 1. Establish and maintain genuine, supportive relationships with residents grounded in mutual respect, empathy, and shared lived experience.
• 2. Serve as a consistent, positive presence within the program, helping residents feel safe, seen, and supported in their housing environment.
• 3. Model recovery, coping strategies, and self-advocacy based on personal experience; share relevant experiences in a purposeful, boundaries way that supports resident goals.
• 4. Actively promotes resident dignity, self-determination, and hope throughout all interactions.
• 5. Apply trauma-informed principles in all resident interactions, recognizing the impact of trauma on behavior and approaching residents with patience, consistency, and a strengths-based perspective.

• 1. Assist residents in developing and practicing essential daily living skills, including budgeting, meal planning, personal hygiene, housekeeping, and organization.
• 2. Accompany residents on grocery shopping trips and other community errands, providing guidance and encouragement to build independence over time.
• 3. Support residents in navigating public transportation, attending appointments, and accessing community resources.
• 4. Assist residents in setting personal goals and developing action plans; provide ongoing encouragement and accountability in working toward those goals.
• 5. Help residents identify and build upon existing strengths as a foundation for greater independence and self-sufficiency.

• 1. Plan, coordinate, and facilitate on-site group activities, workshops, and social events that promote community connection, skill-building, and resident well-being.
• 2. Collaborate with the Director of Supportive Services and program staff to develop monthly activities calendar responsive to resident interests and needs.
• 3. Engage residents in activity planning to support ownership, agency, and a sense of community within the property.
• 4. Connect residents to off-site recreational, cultural, and wellness opportunities in the broader community as appropriate.

• 1. Provide timely, calm, and effective de-escalation support when residents are in distress, using trauma-informed and person-centered approaches.
• 2. Recognize early warning signs of mental health crises and respond proactively, engaging appropriate staff or emergency services when necessary.
• 3. Support residents through difficult moments by providing active listening, validation, and collaborative…