Equity Advisory Committee
The Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) Equity Advisory Committee is a standing committee for the purpose of guiding the work of the Joint Office of Homeless Services.
The Committee has no legal responsibilities and is formed solely to advise the JOHS Team and to provide guidance and recommendations about addressing racial disparities in JOHS’ work at ending homelessness. The advisory recommendations from this committee are shared with the JOHS Director and Deputy Director.
A core value of the Joint Office of Homeless Services is to engage community voices – in particular those with lived experience of homelessness from Black, Indigenous and other Peoples of Color (BIPOC) communities – in identifying and implementing strategies that work to address homelessness in our community.
Meetings
The Equity Advisory Committee meetings take place for two hours, one time per month or other schedule as determined by Committee members. Committee meetings will be held in a hybrid meeting environment (in-person/online).
What Does the Equity Advisory Committee Do?
The Equity Advisory Committee may conduct the following work at a minimum:
- Provide input and recommendations on new and continuing Joint Office programming, funding, and policy
- Share information and identify emerging issues and trends with regard to equity and racial equity in particular within homeless services; aid the Joint Office in advancing goals, steering policy, and making decisions identified by first-voice people
- Participate in and/or facilitate community engagement activities and events
- Provide a solutions-driven forum around equity and racial equity in homeless services
- Provide guidance and leadership to advance racial equity
- Review and advise JOHS on capacity building commitments to community based organizations
- Review, track, and advise JOHS on geographic equity commitments made in the Local Implementation Plan
- Recommend updates, revisions, or amendments to the Local Implementation Plan
- Develop recommendations for systems improvement work
- Review and provide recommendations for the Equity related reports
- Provide recommendations to expand housing and support services
In addition to discussing unique issues and community concerns, there will be an annual flow to the work on a predictable schedule including review of the JOHS budget in the Fall and Spring seasons.
Equity Advisory Committee Membership
The Equity Advisory Committee is composed of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of fifteen (15) individuals.
The Equity Advisory Committee will consist of individuals who represent one or more of the following categories with an emphasis on BIPOC communities:
- Individuals who represent Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color communities
- Individuals representing the Youth i.e. currently between the ages of 18-24 or between the ages of 18-24 when they experienced homelessness
- Individuals who represent the Family experience of homelessness (this could be someone with personal lived experience and/or someone employed with the Family System of Care)
- Individuals who represent the Veteran experience of homelessness (this could be someone with personal lived experience and/or someone employed with the Veterans System of Care)
- Individuals who represent survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or sex trafficking (including lived experience)
- Individuals who represent as having a disability (including lived experience)
- Individuals who represent the LGBTQIA2S+ community
- Individuals who represent the senior population (55+)
- Individuals who represent as immigrants and/or refugees (including lived experience)
- Individuals who represent jail/prison/reentry experience (including lived experience)