The Lived Experience Collaborative focuses on empowering those with lived expertise of homeless through collaboration with service providers, enhancing understanding, and resources. We strive to create an equitable community where every person is heard, has access to support, and is enabled to build a brighter future.

Being a member of the Lived Experience Collaborative is your opportunity to make significant impact in how Maricopa County provides support to those experiencing homelessness.

The Lived Experience Collaborative (LEC) is a group of individuals living in Maricopa County, centering people who have expertise of homelessness during the course of their lives. The goal of the LEC is to inform the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Continuum of Care on how to implement and improve services for those experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Collaborative members receive a consulting fee of $50 an hour for their work.

The Lived Experience Collaborative is seeking applicants that identify as part of the most overrepresented populations of people who experience homelessness. These include but are not limited to those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, are or have been justice involved, victims of trafficking, immigrants, students experiencing homelessness, and those who are pregnant and parenting. Collaborative members should have lived experience of homelessness or housing instability within the last 5 years.

Expectations of members of the Lived Experience Collaborative are listed, but not limited to, the following things:
- Prioritize and attend LEC meetings virtually or on the phone. Collaborative Members are asked to communicate in a timely manner when not able to attend or call into meetings.
- Participate in focus groups and feedback sessions to aid in program design.
- Act as a subject matter expert on issues affecting those experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability.

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