Healthcare For the Homeless Inc·Baltimore, Maryland
The Peer Advocate provides support and guidance to individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health or substance use challenges to help them maintain housing. Responsibilities include conducting community visits, coaching in life skills, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to implement care plans.
Health Care for the Homeless is looking for a Peer Advocate to join our Housing Services team. As a Peer Advocate, you'll be a trusted guide and support for individuals who have experienced homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use, or incarceration—helping them connect to services and maintain housing placements using a strengths-based, harm reduction approach.
Build meaningful, recovery-oriented relationships with clients through home and community visits.
Use your lived experience to model wellness and encourage service engagement.
Support clients in accessing health care, housing, behavioral health, and entitlement programs.
Provide hands-on coaching in life skills like budgeting, housekeeping, and shopping.
Triage walk-in clients and connect them with appropriate services.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to client care plans.
Maintain accurate, timely documentation in the electronic health record.
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Personal experience with homelessness, substance use, mental illness, HIV, or incarceration (required).
High school diploma or GED required; AA in Human Services preferred.
One year of experience helping individuals connect to essential services.
Knowledge of Baltimore City resources and a passion for harm reduction and housing-first approaches.
Strong interpersonal skills, emotional resilience, and the ability to work with clients who may be ill, disabled, or emotionally distressed.
Valid Maryland driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle (required).
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Be part of a mission-driven team committed to racial equity, social justice, and community wellness.
Work in a dynamic, people-first organization that centers compassion, authenticity, and hope.
Receive training and support to grow in your advocacy and peer work.
Help shape the future of housing and recovery services in Baltimore.
https://www.hchmd.org/who-we-help [https://www.hchmd.org/who-we-help]
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Join us in advancing health equity and delivering exceptional care to our community’s most underserved populations. Apply today to be a part of something bigger.
Health Care for the Homeless is an equal opportunity employer.
Notice to Applicants Health Care for the Homeless participates in E-Verify. All newly hired employees are required to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and provide documentation proving their identity and legal authorization to work in the United States.
We use the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility in accordance with federal law.
Candidates must have lived experience with homelessness, substance use, mental illness, HIV, or incarceration, along with a high school diploma or GED. A valid Maryland driver's license, access to a personal vehicle, and one year of experience connecting individuals to services are required.
Market context
Behavioral-health roles in Maryland are typically driven by ongoing demand in community programs, outpatient settings, and care teams supporting patients with complex needs. These positions can be competitive because employers often look for a high school diploma or GED, at least two years of related experience, and an active American Heart Association BLS certification. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to quickly compare fit, then confirm your certification status and recent experience before applying.