LEAB Framework
The Iowa Balance of State Continuum of Care is excited to share the launch of a new framework for providers interested in developing Lived Experience Advisory Boards (LEABs).
In this guide, we’ve identified three phases for LEAB development – Initiation, Planning, and Implementation. Within each phase, you’ll find practical steps, tips, and examples that you can tailor to your community.
Our CoC believes that people with lived experiences of homelessness have the best understanding of the reality of our work to prevent and end homelessness – both in terms of the problems that exist and the knowledge of the services and interventions that are the most effective solutions. This is why it is so important to engage individuals with lived experience in the decision-making structure of our work at the system and program levels.
One of the guiding goals in our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan is to engage people with lived experience across all aspects of the CoC. While we change our own processes and develop more authentic engagement opportunities within the CoC, we also want to support our funded providers and community partners in doing the same. We believe that Lived Experience Advisory Boards are a great opportunity to integrate lived expertise into decision-making, and we are excited to work with our CoC providers to develop more LEABs across our communities!
To stay tuned for more opportunities with this framework and resources on engaging people with lived experience, make sure you’re signed up for the CoC mailing list.
If you are interested in supporting this work as a member of our Grant Competition Task Group, we invite you to learn more!