Sources’ Peer Support Program sets out to connect our community where connection is missing. We fill the gaps where barriers exist and facilitate accessibility to services within our community. We practice a harm reduction approach where we emulate acceptance, compassion, and empathy to those we serve.
The Men’s Drop-In Program is a new service operating every other Saturday with a mission to meet the basic needs of our community’s most vulnerable members by providing shower, laundry and clothing services, as well as a hot lunch. By meeting these needs, we uphold each person’s dignity, self-respect and sense of self-worth. The Drop-In Program volunteer team will work directly with men who are experiencing homelessness and/or substance use in providing laundry and clothing services, as well as prepping and serving a hot lunch and refreshments. This is part of a larger service that also includes showers, overdose prevention services, harm reduction services and connection to resources, of which volunteers may also assist with.
To be successful in this position, volunteers will:
- Be aged 18+.
- Provide services with empathy and compassion, and foster an environment of anti-stigmatism that will meet our visitors “where they are at”.
- Look through a harm reduction lens to support people experiencing substance use.
- Participate in mandatory training before their first volunteer shift. This includes Overdose Prevention training (Naloxone training), training in providing harm reduction services and conflict prevention in the context of saying no.
- Be reliable in attending shifts and/or notify the staff supervisor if unable to do so.
- Be flexible, detail oriented with strong organizational skills and possess an ability to take initiative, accept direction and work effectively both independently and in a team environment.
- Work well with diverse client populations. Ability to relate to individuals across all socioeconomic and cultural groups.
- Build rapport with a variety of individuals while maintaining a professional demeanour and firm professional boundaries.
- Exercise good judgement in a demanding and continually changing work environment.
- Be willing to secure a Criminal Record Check (at no cost to Sources volunteers). All positions have been designated by Sources Community Resource Society as requiring a Criminal Records Review prior to an applicant being employed in this capacity. Certain police records may preclude the appointment to certain positions.
Specific Responsibilities include:
- Make and serve a hot lunch and refreshments for approximately 10-20 visitors. This number may increase depending on need as the program grows.
- Assist in providing laundry services by maintaining a schedule (as needed), keeping laundry are organized, distributing supplies and operating laundry appliances.
- Assist with the organization and distribution of donated clothing for our visitors.
- Assist with space set up and clean up.
- Work with the team to provide overdose prevention services to our visitors as needed by applying the skills learned in the mandatory training to save lives.
- Provide harm reduction supplies and fostering a culturally non-judgemental and anti-stigma environment.
- Debrief with Manager of Overdose Prevention Services and Peer Support Services regularly.
- Ensure a culturally safe and non-judgemental environment.
- Ensure that SOURCES Policies and Procedures are followed as well as the operating procedures of the Overdose Prevention Services and Peer Support Services.
- Ensure that the rights, dignity and confidentiality of all clients are maintained.
- Ensure the health and safety of all clients in the course of working with them.
Time Commitment:
Every other Saturday with the potential to increase to every Saturday if demand increases. Various shifts from 3-5 hours are available between 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. A minimum 3 month commitment is required.
Benefits to this position:
This position comes with the opportunity to be a direct point of support to people experiencing extreme marginalization and barriers to accessing services. This position is a very real opportunity to develop relationships and to understand the individual impact behind BC’s opioid overdose crisis. If you have lived experience, we invite you to join the team to support the community and share your insights (should you choose). This position also comes with practical skills and learning development that will save lives, particularly training in Overdose Prevention Services (Naloxone training) and harm reduction training. We invite all volunteers to provide their insights and ideas on how we can best support the community through this newly developed drop-in program. By bridging the gap between vulnerable populations and the public as a whole, we create a community of connection and growth. We invite you to be part of that growth.
