Non-Congregant Shelter Peer Support Lead - Internal Hire

St. Francis Center (SFC), an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, was established in 1983. SFC is a refuge for homeless people in the metro Denver area. Our programs and services are tailored toward adults and focus on daytime shelter, social services, health and wellness, housing, employment, outreach and a new program to provide non-congregate shelter operations. In SFC’s services, the people we serve can work with a variety of specialists, depending on their individual needs, to establish the first step toward transformation, new beginnings and stability.

Department: Housing and Supportive Services

Exemption Status: Full-time, non-exempt position

Location of work: Non-Congregant Shelter (NCS) Stone Creek Hotel, 4595 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80216. This shelter is a 24/7/365 staffed community.

Position Description

The NCS Peer Support Lead provides day-to-day leadership, mentoring, coordination, and support to the NCS Peer Support team. The position serves as a bridge between Peer Support Specialists, guests, Case Management, Housing, Wellness, Intake, Shelter Operations, and NCS leadership.

The Peer Support Lead utilizes lived experience, peer-support principles, trauma-informed practices, and a housing-focused approach to help guests increase engagement, develop self-sufficiency, overcome barriers, and successfully transition from shelter to permanent housing.

The Lead is responsible for helping establish consistency, accountability, and quality within the Peer Support program while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and modeling effective peer-support practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Peer Support Team Leadership
  • Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching, and support to Peer Support Specialists.
  • Serve as a resource for staff regarding guest engagement, peer-support practices, boundaries, and NCS procedures.
  • Assist with assigning and coordinating daily Peer Support responsibilities.
  • Monitor completion of assigned Peer Support duties and follow-up activities.
  • Model professional behavior, appropriate boundaries, and trauma-informed communication.
  • Assist the Director with identifying staff training and development needs.
  • Participate in Peer Support staff meetings and team planning.

• Guest Engagement and Support
  • Develop trusting, respectful relationships with NCS guests.
  • Utilize lived experience appropriately to provide hope, encouragement, and motivation.
  • Assist guests in identifying personal strengths, goals, and barriers to housing.
  • Encourage guests to participate in services, groups, activities, and community resources.
  • Support guests in developing independent living and problem-solving skills.
  • Help guests navigate appropriate community resources and service providers.
  • Recognize when a guest's needs require referral to Case Management, Wellness, Housing, or another professional service.
• Housing-Focused Support

• • Reinforce the NCS's primary goal of helping guests obtain and maintain permanent housing.
  • Work collaboratively with Case Managers and Housing staff to support guest housing plans.
  • Assist guests with identifying barriers to housing and developing strategies to address those barriers.
  • Encourage participation in housing appointments, housing searches, employment opportunities, and other activities that promote stability.
  • Support guests in developing skills necessary for successful independent living.
  • Help promote housing retention and successful community integration after placement.
• Communication and Collaboration
  • Serve as a communication link between Peer Support and other NCS departments.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary meetings as assigned.
  • Communicate relevant guest concerns to appropriate staff while maintaining confidentiality.
  • Coordinate with Case Management regarding guest engagement and identified barriers.
  • Collaborate with Housing staff regarding housing readiness and transition needs.
  • Work with Wellness staff when guests need additional behavioral-health or wellness support.
  • Maintain appropriate communication with Shelter Operations regarding safety, policy, and operational concerns.
• Conflict Resolution and De-escalation
  • Assist Peer Support staff with difficult guest interactions and challenging situations.
  • Utilize trauma-informed and de-escalation techniques.
  • Help resolve routine guest concerns before they escalate.
  • Recognize situations that require immediate involvement from management, security, emergency services, or other professionals.
  • Maintain appropriate boundaries and avoid assuming responsibilities outside the scope of the Peer Support role.
• Community Building and Programming
  • Assist in developing and coordinating Peer Support groups and activities.
  • Encourage positive community relationships among NCS guests.
  • Support guest-led activities and opportunities for leadership.
  • Promote participation in employment, education, wellness, recovery, recreational, and community activities.
  • Help create an environment that promotes dignity, respect, safety, and personal responsibility.
• Documentation and Accountability
  • Ensure Peer Support documentation is completed accurately and timely.
  • Assist with monitoring staff follow-through on assigned responsibilities.
  • Document significant guest interactions, referrals, incidents, and follow-up according to NCS policy.
  • Maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy requirements.
  • Identify recurring guest or operational concerns and communicate them to the Director.
• Training and Staff Development
  • Assist with onboarding and training new Peer Support Specialists.
  • Provide peer mentoring and ongoing coaching.
  • Share knowledge and practical strategies related to homelessness, housing, recovery, community resources, and peer support.
  • Help reinforce NCS policies and expectations.
  • Participate in performance feedback and staff development activities as requested by the Director.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Personal lived experience with homelessness, housing instability, recovery, mental health, substance use, or other relevant life experiences that can appropriately inform peer support.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or other significant life challenges.
• Ability to establish positive relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to respond appropriately to crisis and conflict situations.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation.
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgment and professionalism.

Preferred

• Peer Support Specialist certification.
• Previous experience in a homeless shelter, supportive housing, transitional housing, or permanent supportive housing environment.
• Experience mentoring, training, or leading other staff.
• Knowledge of local housing and homeless-service resources.
• Experience using trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, or other evidence-based engagement approaches.
• Experience working with coordinated entry, rapid rehousing, housing navigation, or other housing programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of peer support and the appropriate use of lived experience.
• Ability to motivate and encourage individuals who may be resistant to services.
• Strong conflict-resolution and de-escalation skills.
• Ability to maintain boundaries while developing trusting relationships.
• Ability to coach and mentor staff.
• Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently while remaining accountable to leadership.
• Ability to communicate effectively with guests, staff, community partners, and leadership.
• Commitment to a housing-focused, person-centered, trauma-informed approach.
• Ability to maintain professionalism in a fast-paced and sometimes challenging shelter environment.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in a shelter environment with individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the facility for extended periods.
• Ability to respond to situations occurring throughout the NCS.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, or varied schedules as required by program operations.
• Ability to maintain composure and professionalism during stressful or potentially confrontational situations.

Leadership Expectations

The NCS Peer Support Lead is expected to:

• Model the behavior expected from the Peer Support team.
• Lead through support, coaching, and accountability rather than simply directing staff.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Keep guest interactions housing-focused.
• Promote dignity, respect, and personal responsibility.
• Communicate concerns early rather than allowing problems to escalate.
• Work collaboratively with Case Management, Housing, Wellness, Intake, and Shelter Operations.
• Support a consistent approach among Peer Support staff.
• Protect guest confidentiality.
• Recognize the limits of the Peer Support role and make appropriate referrals.

Success Measures

Performance in this position may be evaluated based on:

• Peer Support staff engagement and retention.
• Completion and quality of Peer Support documentation.
• Guest engagement with services and activities.
• Increased guest participation in housing-related activities.
• Successful referrals and follow-through.
• Staff consistency and adherence to NCS expectations.
• Effective management and de-escalation of routine guest concerns.
• Collaboration between Peer Support and other NCS departments.
• Guest progress toward housing and independent living.
• Contribution to a safe, respectful, and supportive NCS community.

Benefits and Compensation

Hourly Rate $26-$28 DOE

• Employer-paid health insurance with an HRA plan
• Employer-paid dental insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Robust pension plan (5% plus a dollar-for-dollar employer match up to 4%)
• Generous Employer-paid sick/vacation leave

How To Apply:

Qualified applicants may apply by sending a cover letter and résumé by following this link. We will extend interview invitations to qualified candidates upon review until the position is filled.

Saint Francis Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action.

St. Francis Center (SFC) strives to create a more just, diverse, equitable, and inclusive society for our community members who experience homelessness and turn to us for refuge. This begins with how we serve our guests and residents as well as how staff, volunteers, and board members treat each other. SFC acknowledges that, as a community, we can always do better by learning from the past and by celebrating and including all voices. SFC commits to learning and growing as we consistently strive for a more equitable and inclusive society.