RainCity Housing operates on the stolen, unceded, ancestral, traditional homelands of the Xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ Nations in so-called Vancouver, the q̓íc̓əy̓, qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, qiqéyt, SEMYOME, Stó꞉lō, and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ Nations in so-called Lower Mainland, and the shíshálh in so-called Sunshine Coast.

About Us – A Home For Every Person RainCity Housing is an organization that makes a difference in people’s lives. Our mission is to advance social equity by building upon the strengths of our community and of each individual. With a goal of providing a home for everyone, RainCity’s programs sustain relationships, strengthen communities, and make change for people experiencing homelessness, mental health, trauma, and substance use issues.

RainCity Housing has been developing emerging and promising practices for over 40 years in social services and healthcare, providing Housing First, harm reduction and supports for community members who access our services. To learn more, check out our innovations page. You can visit our Indeed page and click on the “Follow” button to be notified of new job openings: ca.indeed.com/cmp/Raincity-Housing-and-Support-Society/about.

You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Benefits

• 5 days of paid leave for Indigenous Employees for Ceremonial, Cultural, and Spiritual events per year
• 8 weeks of paid leave for gender affirming care for medical procedures for transgender and gender diverse employees, cumulative total
• Employee and Family Assistance Program available to ALL employees, including 24-hour helpline, Personal counselling, Life Coaching, Financial Coaching, Legal Referral and Advisory Services, and Health Coaching: https://www.fseap.ca/
• Municipal Pension Plan with guaranteed lifetime monthly pension when you retire: https://mpp.pensionsbc.ca/
• Employer-paid benefits for employees:
• Unlimited Physiotherapy and $1,000/year coverage for Massage
• Vision Care, Dental Care, Prescription Drugs, Naturopath, Acupuncture, Chiropract, Group Life Benefit $50,000, Long Term Disability, and Unlimited Out-of-Province and Out-of-Country Emergencies

Position Summary The Astoria Community Station Peer Support Specialist (ACSPSS) shares their own consumer knowledge and lived experience of mental health issues/ substance use to assist Astoria Community Station service users to access the Community Station and it’s associated resources. The ACSPSS collaborates with the people accessing the station to determine appropriate care to meeting individual needs and situational requirements. They will provide service users accessing the Community Station with education, support and advocacy from a lived experience perspective in order to assist service users in effectively obtaining service from the Community Station Peer staff, peers, external service providers and community resources. They will also provide a variety of supports to assist service users accessing the station that using substances with emotional and social supports, life skills assistance, overdose response, information, resources, safety plans and demonstrations.

The ACSPSS also performs general support worker duties and works alongside the honorarium compensated peers that will be working the Community Station. The ASCPSS works to ensure service users self identified goals for recovery and community integration are supported by appropriate services and practices, consistent with the values of self-determination, choice and harm reduction. Using a strength-based model the ACSPSS assists with engagement/ relationship building with the community in the Astoria area, provide support around harm reduction practices, overdose response, safety planning, bridging service users into other services if needed, sharing knowledge of the housing market, receive and other duties as assigned. The ASCPSS works closely and collaboratively with other direct service staff, family and other external service providers, advocating for access and rights as needed. The ASCPSS also provides daily supports including safety and security around the Community Station, regular sanitation of the washrooms while on shift, crisis intervention, monitoring of the area around the Community Station, liaising with the neighbors/community garden, dudes club and the drinkers lounge as needed and general problem solving.

Job Competition # cas2025.367

Closing Date: Midnight, October 9, 2025

Job: Relief Peer Support Specialist, Astoria OPS, Casual

Hourly Range: $31.56 – $33.28 (BCGEU, Grid 34)

Work Site: Astoria Community Station, 369 Hawks Ave, Vancouver BC

Start Date: As soon as possible

• 2+ years of relevant shared lived experience with the program’s client population (*see Program Description and Diversity) and the willingness to be identified in these areas as the basis of their work.

A clear British Columbia Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check for working with vulnerable adults and/or children is a condition of employment with RainCity Housing. Applicants must be willing and able to receive a clearance under the Criminal Record Review Act. Peer designation is required to be qualified for this position. Program Summary The Astoria Community Space is located behind the community garden beside the Astoria Hotel. RainCity will be operating a washroom trailer for the community, along with peer witnessing, harm reduction programming, community liaising and cultural programming. There will be two distinct shifts that will work with different groups of people that will access the washroom trailers. The dayshift will be working with group of folks that access the liquor store at the pub and the overnight shift will be working with the sex worker community that work in the area. The washroom trailers will be run in collaboration with Downtown East side Neighbourhood House, the Dudes Club, and the Drinker Lounge along with the folks that work and access the community garden. This will be a community driven, peer lead project that is temporary till the end of December.

Qualifications Many forms of education and experience are valued, including volunteering and lived experience of addiction/ homelessness/mental illness; education and experience requirements include:

• Two years of recent, related work experience with an emphasis on addictions, mental health, homelessness and/or social services, including one year of service planning experience, and experience in a peer support training program, or,
• Current First Aid and CPR certification and,
• A Diploma in community social services or, an equivalent combination of education, training, volunteering and lived experience.

Knowledge And Abilities

• Knowledge of overdose response and accidental drug poisonings
• Knowledge of principles of harm reduction practice and overdose prevention activities for people living with significant substance use.
• Knowledge of trauma informed practice
• Knowledge of the principles of recovery in problematic substance use and mental illness
• Basic knowledge of diagnoses, treatment and support resources in the areas of mental health, substance use, physical health, including HIV and Hepatitis C.
• Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology
• Basic knowledge of counseling skills, including motivational interviewing principles.
• Basic knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to client, including the Residential Tenancy ACT and the BC Mental Health Act.
• Demonstrated understanding of oppression and marginalization, specifically as related to people with experience of an addiction or mental illness when accessing healthcare
• Knowledge of DTES community resources
• Ability to identify and work to increase client strengths, including the use of hope inducing strategies and assisting the client in self-managing their illness and other aspects of their life.
• Ability to commit to service partnerships and build relationships by providing assistance and support.
• Ability to effectively and safely resolve crisis situations
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to establish workload priorities, adjust to new or unexpected events, problem solves, and deals effectively with conflict situations.
• Ability to provide consultation and leadership to other OOT team members
• Ability to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet and e-mail software, and smartphone, and related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to be a role model to people living with or recovering from substance use and/or mental health by sharing common life and rehabilitation experiences and practical information
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a downtown environment and be flexible and creative in providing services

Please submit both a cover letter and resume to apply, describing your suitability for this position. We thank all applicants in advance for their interest. As part of the application process, you may be asked a short set of questions to provide further information about your experience and availability. Please note, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Diversity RainCity Housing serves a diverse group of people, and we need a staff group that reflects this diversity. People of diverse backgrounds and cultures are encouraged to apply.

As we work towards building a diverse staff team, we are particularly seeking applicants who identify as being Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, applicants with personal lived expertise, and 2SLGBTQ+ identified people.

Inclusion and creating a safer space We are committed to making our organization a safer place for our staff, with steps taken to create space for learning and unlearning. RainCity’s department of Indigenous Cultural Services was created with the purpose to acknowledge the unique history and service needs of our Indigenous staff and tenants in respect to accessing culturally relevant and culturally sensitive care and support. RainCity’s Black Affinity Group was formed to provide support for Black staff by creating a safe space to support each other, network, debrief, and to heal from the impact of harm endured. Candidates are welcome to self-identifying in their cover letters as Black, First nations, Métis, or Inuit.

All of our employees are expected to develop and exhibit skills to contribute to safety in the workplace, including demonstrating anti-racism knowledge and skills to support racialized communities, including knowledge of Canada’s historical and on-going colonialism and its impact on Indigenous peoples, and commitment to learn and uphold the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Employees are also expected to demonstrate anti-discrimination knowledge and skills to support equity seeking groups, including the 2SLGBTQA+ community, people who use drugs and alcohol, people living with mental health issues and sex workers.

Inclusivity And Support For People With Differing Abilities In our efforts to provide a barrier-free workplace, we invite you to let us know of any adjustments or accommodations that might be needed for you to participate in the interview or selection process by sending an email to hr.inbox@raincityhousing.org.

If you're having any difficulty creating an account or submitting your resume: Please email dfrecruitingsupport@raincityhousing.org for assistance.

Do you want to improve your chances of joining RainCity? Be sure to include a cover letter letting us know why the work that we do is important to you, and how your experiences make you a good fit for this role.

Do you need additional support with your application? Connect with our partners for assistance:

• ACCESS Futures provides free employment support for Indigenous people and can assist with career advising, resume and cover letter writing, and funding for training: https://www.accessfutures.com/employment-services
• PRISM Employment Support Service (ESS) provides free strengths-based, trauma-informed employment support program for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, including coaching sessions, workshops, personal counselling sessions, and financial assistance for transit, occupational training, clothing, and childcare: https://qmunity.ca/employment/
• WorkBC provides free employment services to all job seekers, providing with support in resume and cover letter writing, training, and financial support for childcare and transportation costs: https://www.workbc.ca/discover-employment-services/workbc-centres/employment-services
• MOSAIC provides free employment support for refugees, immigrants, and racialized women, with services in career readiness training, mentoring, and peer groups: https://mosaicbc.org/our-services/employment-services/

We are a Union RainCity Housing is a unionized workplace. Along with the union, we support the principles of the Human Rights Code of BC. We promote a workplace that treats both staff and the people accessing services with dignity and respect.