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Lived Experience + Advocacy Fellowship

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Lived experience matters

Our LEAF Fellows—people with lived experience of housing instability and homelessness—are the foundation of our work, including our systems change work.

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About the Lived Experience Fellowship

Advocacy, belonging, & community

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.
  • Resources to build networks and enhance leadership skills.

Fellowship by the numbers

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Five fellows

More than 30 people applied to be part of our first cohort (pictured above), and five fellows were selected from an exceptional candidate pool to participate.

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One year

Participants in our first cohort began their fellowship in 2025 and were engaged for one year through September 2026. Our next cohort will begin in 2027.

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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.

Our Next Cohort Starts in 2027

We are busy planning our next cohort! We will post information about our second cohort application process shortly. Please check back soon.