Peer and Family Advocate - Homeless Services*

The Job

The San Bernardino County Office of Homeless Services (OHS) invites qualified individuals to apply for the position of Peer and Family Advocate - Homeless Services* who provide outreach and education support for the Department. This position will provide linkages to services, and support for consumers of homeless and supportive services. This position requires public speaking in the delivery of information and assistance services, establishing and maintaining a current directory of community resources, and planning/preparing events, trainings, and presentations on a variety of topics.

The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) values the expertise that peer providers bring to the system of care. Peer providers are individuals who have self-identified as having lived experience with the process of recovery from homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, either as a consumer of these services or as the parent or family member of the consumer and use that experience to deliver services in a variety of roles.

The essential duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct one-on-one or group sessions with consumers and/or their families
• Collect and report data which may include billing and chart documentation
• Develop and facilitate educational, skills building, recreational and advocacy groups
• Plan, develop, prepare, and conduct presentations on a variety of topics
• Develop partnerships with diverse community and consumer groups
• Serve as a mentor in facilitating and engaging consumers and family members
• Develop and implement human resource development projects and training to improve consumer relations, consumer satisfaction, and consumer understanding in culturally diverse communities
• Assist with the development and maintenance of communications materials for consumers and family members

For additional details, please refer to the Peer and Family Advocate job description.

JOIN OUR TEAM & MAKE AN IMPACT IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

Benefits Overview

HEALTH BENEFITS

PAID TIME OFF

RETIREMENT PERKS

• Medical & Dental: Family Coverage
• Vision: Employee Coverage
• Premium subsidies to offset health costs
• Flexible Spending Account: Pre-tax account for qualified healthcare expenses

• Up to 4 weeks accruable vacation with cash-out option
• 11 days accruable sick leave
• 15 paid holidays
• Perfect Attendance Leave
• Flexible work schedules (in some departments)

• Generous pension
• Retirement reciprocity may be available!
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation
• Retirement Medical Trust (RMT)

DCAP Account - County Paid Life Insurance - AD&D Insurance - 529 Savings Plan - Short & Long-Term Disability
Wellness Program - Commuter Services - Employee Discounts - Annual Tuition Reimbursement

Review the Employee Benefits Summary for more information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Field-Based Outreach: Incumbents must be willing and able to visit clients in the field and other settings (encampments, street corners, shelters, etc.) to perform complete needs assessments and be able to visually observe injuries and the client's environment as mandated by the State.

Travel: Travel throughout the County is required. A valid California Class C Driver License is required to carry out the essential job-related functions of this position (mileage reimbursement is available at current IRS rates). A clean driving record and proof of automobile liability insurance must be produced and maintained.

Pre-Employment Process: Prior to appointment, applicants must pass a background investigation, which includes fingerprinting, credit check, and/or medical exam, which may include drug and/or TB testing.

Sponsorship: Please note that San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.

Desired Qualifications

Education:
High School Diploma or general equivalency degree (GED).
-AND- Experience: One (1) year of full-time equivalent paid or volunteer experience in a homeless services, housing, substance abuse, or behavioral health program or department. Experience must include homeless outreach and/or frequent contact with individuals experiencing homelessness.


Key Skills & Abilities:
Peer and Family Advocates must have strong interpersonal skills enabling them to work positively and compassionately with clients of various backgrounds who may be experiencing difficult life circumstances and stressors such as homelessness, illness, behavioral health issues, or family crises. Crisis intervention experience is highly desirable. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn/use departmental computer systems is a plus.

The ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas in a homeless services program environment:

• Collaboration Across Departments & Organizations: Experience coordinating efforts across various county departments and entities to support homeless individuals and families.
• Conflict Resolution and Client Management: Proven ability to manage challenging interactions with homeless clients, using de-escalation techniques with a compassionate, professional approach to resolve conflicts and reach positive outcomes.
• Client Engagement & Responsibility: Experience employing strategies that help re-engage clients who may struggle with following through with housing commitments and responsibilities; providing support and motivation in reaching housing stability and self-sufficiency.
• Building & Maintaining Relationships with Service Providers: Ability to build positive and collaborative working relationships with local organizations and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and improve client outcomes.
• Empathy, Trust, & Direct Service: Ability to build rapport and maintain a client-centered approach in every interaction; understanding the importance of empathy and trust when working with individuals experiencing homelessness.

Selection Process

Application Procedure: Complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 PM, Friday, September 26, 2025.

Be sure to clearly describe your experience in the application and supplemental questionnaire as only the most highly qualified candidates may be invited to participate in selection interviews with the hiring authority.

To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application before the posted filing deadline. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note, if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.

If you require technical assistance, please click on the following link to review the Government Jobs online application guide o r contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer or browser used to submit the application.

EEO/ADA: San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants.

ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.

Veterans’ Preference: Eligible veterans and their spouse or widow(er) who are not current County employees may be awarded additional Veterans’ Preference points. Please review the Veteran's Preference Policy for information and instructions to request Veteran's Preference points.

Follow the link for important Applicant Information and the County Employment Process .

Administrative Services Unit

The County of San Bernardino offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.

For a summary of benefits, please click here .

Refer to the appropriate MOU, contact the County's Employee Benefits and Services Division at (909) 387-5787 or visit the Benefits website for more detailed information at hr.sbcounty.gov/employee-benefits/ .

Closing Date/Time: 9/26/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• San Bernardino County

• 9093878304

Show more