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
Reporting to the Sechelt Shelter Manager, the Sunshine Coast Overdose Prevention Site worker provides kind, non-judgmental access to harm reduction services and a safer drug consumption venue to reduce stigma, barriers to care and support client safety. The primary role of the Sunshine Coast Overdose Prevention Site worker is to work with and supervise the program’s peer team. The role will provide support, organization and collaboration and will promote safer drug use in the community. The Sunshine Coast Overdose Prevention Site worker will also compile user statistics, be responsible for peer payroll & attendance and will liaise with the OPS scheduler and Shelter management for efficient oversight of OPS day-to-day operations.
Job Competition # cas2026.234
Closing Date: Midnight, July 24, 2026
Job: Peer Support Specialist, Sunshine Coast Overdose Prevention Site, Casual
Hourly Range: $33.49 – $35.31 (BCGEU, Grid 34)
Hours: Casual
Work Site: Sechelt Shelter, BC
Start Date: As soon as possible
- 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 Sunshine Coast Overdose Prevention Site operates as a response to the opioid overdose emergency by providing a fixed site where peers observe drug consumption in a space that is integrated into the continuum of healthcare and harm reduction services at the Sechelt Shelter. The primary goal is to provide a welcoming space for people to use their previously obtained illicit substances, with sterile equipment, in a setting where peers and RCH staff can observe and intervene in overdoses as needed. Located adjacent to the Sechelt Shelter, the site provides a necessary service both for drug users at the Sechelt Shelter and for those residing in the surrounding area and serves as an access point for harm reduction materials for the community at large.
QUALIFICATIONS
Many forms of education and experience are valued, including volunteering, and lived experience of mental illness/addiction/homelessness. Minimum education and experience include:
- A Diploma in community social services.
- Two (2) years of recent, related work experience with an emphasis on mental health, addictions, homelessness and/or social services, including one year of service planning experience, and experience in a peer support training program.
- Or an equivalent combination of education, training, volunteering and lived experience.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification.
- Minimum of two (2) years of relevant shared lived experience with the program’s client population (*see Program Summary and Diversity) and the willingness to be identified in these areas as the basis of their work.
Key Skills and Abilities – for supporting people receiving our services
- Knowledge of and experience with overdose prevention and intervention and safer drug use techniques.
- Knowledge of impacts of colonialism and colonization including the residential school, foster care and prison systems on Indigenous peoples and culture.
- Knowledge of the principles of peer work and drug user self-determination.
- Knowledge and applied analysis of impacts of criminalization and societal stigma on people who use drugs.
- Knowledge of the principles of holistic recovery in mental illness and problematic substance use.
- Knowledge of harm reduction principles and current best practices.
- Basic knowledge of diagnoses, treatment, and support resources in the areas of mental illness, substance use, physical health, including HIV and Hepatitis C.
- Knowledge of trauma informed practice.
- Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology.
- Basic knowledge of counseling skills, including motivational interviewing principles.
- Demonstrated understanding of oppression and marginalization, specifically as related to people with experience of illicit drug use and dependency when accessing healthcare.
- Knowledge of 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 aiding and support.
- Ability to resolve crisis situations effectively and safely.
- 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 H2HSCS team members.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
- Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a downtown environment and be flexible and creative in providing services.
- Knowledge of primary health care and care provision by an interprofessional team.
- Knowledge of principles of community integration for people living with mental illness and other barriers to health care.
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 experience, 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
[email protected].
If you're having any difficulty creating an account or submitting your resume: Please email
[email protected] 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.
