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Lived Experience + Advocacy Fellowship (LEAF)

Shaping housing policy

The voices of our families —people with lived experience of housing instability and homelessness—are the foundation of our work, including our systems change work.

About the fellowship

People Serving People’s Lived Experience + Advocacy Fellowship (LEAF) program empowers individuals with lived experience of homelessness to lead advocacy efforts and shape housing policy. The fellowship equips participants with the skills and confidence to drive meaningful systems change by providing:

  • Education to deepen the fellows’ understanding of housing injustice, legislative advocacy, and personal empowerment.
  • Resources to build networks and enhance leadership skills
  • Stipends to compensate fellows for their time and contributions.

Five fellows

More than 30 people applied to the program, and we selected five from an exceptional candidate pool to participate as Fellows in our program.

One year

Participants began their fellowship in 2025 and will be engaged for one year through August 2026.

15 hours

Participants are engaged up to 15 hours per week for the one-year duration of the Fellowship.

LEAF program goals


Each LEAF Fellow will design and lead an advocacy project that contributes to real policy change by the end of their fellowship. Whether through working on a bill, publishing a policy report, or launching a community campaign, fellows will take their advocacy beyond theory and into action. Each LEAF Fellow will develop:

1. Next-level advocacy

Fellows will take concrete steps toward advancing their advocacy by identifying an issue they feel passionately about and contributing to a policy report, or actively working to pass legislation that addresses key community issues.

2. Enhanced leadership

Fellows will demonstrate increased confidence in their leadership abilities, storytelling, and advocacy skills, empowering them to take on more significant roles in community-driven change.

3. Expanded networks

Fellows will build meaningful connections with other leaders, creating lasting networks that support collaboration within their communities.

4. Legislative understanding

Fellows will develop a comprehensive understanding of the legislative process, enabling them to engage in policy discussions and advocate effectively for change. For participants interested in pursuing a career in advocacy or policy work, this experience will provide a valuable foundation for their future endeavors.