Lived Experience Advisory Board (Volunteer)

Lived Experience Advisory Board Member Role Description

Company Mission: Abode Services' mission is to end homelessness by assisting low-income, unhoused people, including those with special needs, to secure stable, supportive housing; and to be advocates for the removal of the causes of homelessness.

Role Summary: The Lived Experience Advisory Board member is a volunteer position with a monthly stipend. The LEAB is a volunteer opportunity for adults who are currently unhoused or have experienced homelessness; and would like to share their insights with Abode staff and leadership in order to improve housing assistance programs in the Bay Area. The ideal candidate is invested in quality improvement of services.

Activities of the LEAB:

• Partner with decision makers to provide input on programs, services, and policies.
• Offer those with lived experience an opportunity to have influence on the systems that they are impacted by.

How You Make An Impact:

• Attend monthly virtual LEAB member meetings
• Attend public hearings
• Participate in commission and workgroup meetings
• Engage in focus groups and listening sessions
• Provide written testimony and surveys

How You Meet Qualifications:

• Lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity (current or former)

*People with lived experience of homelessness are individuals who have: 1. Resided in a temporary housing shelter, transitional housing program, emergency shelter. 2. Slept in a car or outside for shelter and/or couch surfed.

• To be able to speak honestly and candidly about your experience of housing instability and your experience seeking housing assistance services.
• Desire to share feedback with Abode Services decision makers about proposed housing program plans.
• Familiarity with Bay Area housing issues.

Compensation:

• Monthly stipend payment of $240 per month

Time commitment:

• 5-10 hours per month

Location of LEAB Meetings: Hayward, Ca 94541 (Check-in at 1061 A street; Mtg will be at 1065 A street)

Read here for more information:
The LEAB provides adults who identify as having lived experience of homelessness with the platform to share their wisdom about being consumers of housing support services.

LEAB volunteers are provided the support that is needed through training and professional development to advocate for their peers in the communities that they belong to.

By enriching understanding of Abode Services staff about life as a consumer of housing assistance services, LEAB volunteers help to include the lived experience voice into Abode’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion plan.

LEAB volunteers provide insight to Abode Services staff through many of ways including feedback regarding the creation of outreach materials designed to help their peers navigate life in this complex system and design concepts for future permanent supportive housing projects.

In addition to building advocacy skills, LEAB volunteers learn how a non-profit supportive housing organization functions while gaining valuable work experience.