Peer Generalist

Organization: People- Usa

Job Title: Peer Generalist

Hourly Rate

$24.75 per hour Status: Full-time (40 hours per week)

Location: Poughkeepsie, NY

Total Hours

40 Hours Per Week, Monday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PM

(Standardized alternative schedule can be discussed within general typical work hours)

Position Summary

People USA will provide Dutchess/Ulster County with a Peer Generalist, who will support the functions of the Peer Navigation program in providing services to those in need. The Peer Navigation program provides site based, community-based, flexible, and sustained interventions for individuals who have frequently experienced acute distress, repeated emergency room visits and/ or hospitalizations, and for whom traditional programs of care have been ineffective. Using a peer-led, person-first, trauma informed approach, the peer model focuses on addressing participants’ immediate needs, building trust, and strengthening family and social networks to support long-term recovery.

The Peer Generalist will practice relationship-centered, participant-driven services, will be a resource and advocate for participants, will coordinate integration of services with other programs, maintain compliance with program requirements, and support a healthy, collaborative team environment. This role requires strong skills in being self-directed to complete tasks, decision-making, and crisis de-escalation. The role also requires lived experience and uses personal lived experience to foster self-advocacy and systemic navigation. The Peer Generalist will be committed to peer values and flexible care coordination without traditional limits on time or setting.

Job

Duties & Responsibilities

• Systemic Advocacy: Accompanied participants to hearings, social services appointments, and housing reviews to defend their rights.
• Rights Education: Teaches participants about available government assistance, tenant rights, and mental health self-determination.
• Crisis Mediation: De-escalates acute situations using trauma-informed care and peer-support frameworks.
• Resource Connection: Identifies non-traditional community resources when mainstream systems reject the participant.