Mental Health Peer Specialist – Transition Center Pilot Program

Mission of Austin Street Center: Founded in 1983, Austin Street Center provides emergency shelter and meets the basic need of the most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness in Dallas.

Core Values: Kindness, Trustworthiness, Empowerment, Determination

Position Purpose

Austin Street Center’s Transition Center Pilot Program offers shelter beds paired with enhanced mental health services — a compassionate, service-rich alternative to jail, the hospital, or the street for higher-acuity individuals experiencing homelessness. Through our partnership with North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA), individuals referred to this program are stabilized and connected to housing and support services within 10 days of entry.

As a Mental Health Peer Specialist, you will serve as the overnight point of contact for Transition Center clients. You will welcome new arrivals, complete shelter intake, ensure immediate needs like food, clothing, and showers are met, and provide supportive engagement throughout their stay. During downtime, you will assist with administrative shelter operations. This role is grounded in empathy and the belief that lived experience is a powerful tool for connection.

We are seeking individuals with personal lived experience of mental health recovery, whether or not they have also experienced homelessness, who are ready to use that experience to support others on their recovery journey. If you are compassionate, resilient, and passionate about helping others find stability and hope, this role is for you.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the overnight point of contact for all Transition Center clients.
• Receive and orient clients upon arrival, complete shelter intake, and ensure safe transition into the program.
• Escort clients to showers, provide clean clothing, and ensure food is available.
• Escort clients to assigned beds when available; otherwise, monitor clients in the Welcome Center until placement is possible.
• Monitor client stability and call for a higher level of care if a client is medically unstable or in acute psychiatric crisis.
• Provide supportive engagement to help clients remain calm, connected, and engaged during their stay.
• Build therapeutic rapport with program participants, using lived experience as a bridge for trust and connection.
• Approach all work with empathy and respect for diverse paths to mental health recovery.
• Complete administrative and shelter-related tasks during downtime to support program operations.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• This position requires eligibility for Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) certification in Texas, which includes having personal lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; some college or human services experience preferred.
• Prior peer support experience or MHPS certification strongly desired.
• Austin Street will support qualified candidates in obtaining MHPS certification if not already held.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries while offering authentic peer support.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to de-escalate situations calmly.
• Cultural humility and ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Ability to document interactions clearly and accurately in client records.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and work in a dynamic, sometimes high-stress environment.