Thurston County Lived Experience Housing Steering Committee
History
In 2021, the Thurston Regional Housing Council allocated funding to decrease racial disparities in the Homeless Response System, leading to the creation of the Thurston Lived Experience Housing Steering Committee (LEHSC) to inform the creation of the 5 year Local Homeless Housing Plan. In 2023, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness emphasized the need to include people with lived experience in the planning process for responding to homelessness.
This LESHC (pronounced LESK) is designed to shift conversations and decisions that define homeless response for Thurston County by including voices of those with lived experience of homelessness whose racial and ethnic identities are overrepresented in the homeless population and underrepresented where decisions are made. The committee provides feedback on racial equity strategies and identifies barriers to participation within the homeless response system. The members are compensated with a stipend for sharing their wisdom and perspectives on the homeless response system and the organizations, programs, and policies that define how Thurston County responds to homelessness.
LEHSC Members
- Have lived experience of homelessness
- Reside in Thurston County
- The majority of the committee members should hold identities overrepresented in homeless populations such as Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latinx, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and other marginalized identities.
LEHSC Member Commitments
- 2 meetings a month (in-person with a virtual option)
- Review of policies and programs through homeless response system
- Additional tasks to support those experiencing homelessness, such as decided by the committee
Compensation
In alignment with best practices as defined by the Office of Equity, LEHSC members are paid a stipend of $100 per meeting. Attendance and engagement at meetings are required for receiving the stipend. These stipends recognize that the labor of those on the margins has traditionally been un or undercompensated.
Opportunities
There are several ways that organizations and individuals can support the work of LEHSC.
- Become a LEHSC member. Apply today HousingThurston@co.thurston.wa.us
- Become a sponsoring Partner. Fill out this Partner Interest Form.
- Ask LEHSC to review your organization’s policy, program or process to identify potential barriers to participation by completing a LEHSC Feedback Request.
Pending
Contact Us
Want to apply to be a LEHSC Member? Contact HousingThurston@co.thurston.wa.us