Leadership Council
About Leadership Council
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Overview
Communities across the U.S. receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Continuum of Care (CoC) program. These funds come with certain requirements, one of which is to create and facilitate a governing CoC Board to ensure the community works together toward solutions to end homelessness.
The CoC Board existed in Austin and Travis County as Membership Council until 2021. In 2020, our community initiated an extensive restructuring of the Board to center firsthand experience of homelessness and racial equity in both the composition and the guiding charge of the group. Stakeholders at our annual spring meeting approved the first slate of Leadership Council voting members in May 2021.
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Leadership Council Voting Members
Ashley Jones – Elected, Mental Health/Substance Use
Amanda Jasso – Appointed, City of Austin Equity Office
Candace McGary – Elected
Chase Wright – Elected
Coni Stogner – Elected, HUD Funded Provider
David Gray – Appointed, City of Austin Homeless Strategy Office
Dylan Shubitz (Co-Chair) – Appointed, Public Housing Authority (HACA)
Ebonie Trice – Elected, System Partner
Jacob Emerson – Elected
Dr. Larry Wallace, Jr. – Elected, Healthcare/Disability
Linda Jackson – Elected
Liz Baker – Elected, System Partner
Nathan Fernandes – Appointed Delegate, Travis County
Paola Silvestre – Elected, Education/Workforce Development
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Voting Seats
According to the CoC Board Selection Policy, Leadership Council voting seats are reserved as follows:
HRS Leadership Council Seat Category Number/ Seat Types Seat Terms Government
1. Local Government Representative - Travis County
2. City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer
3. City of Austin Equity Office and/or Civil Rights Office3 Appointed Seats No term Limit Public Housing Authority Representative: Housing
Authority City of Austin (HACA)1 Appointed Seat No Term Limit Homeless Response System Providers
1. HUD funded Provider
2. Provider NOT a recipient of HUD funds2 Elected Seats 2-year min to 3-
year maxHealthcare and/or Disability 1 Elected Seat 2-year min to 3-
year maxMental Health/Substance Abuse 1 Elected Seat 2-year min to 3-
year maxEducation or Workforce Development 1 Elected Seat 2-year min to 3-
year maxOther Funders (Elected) 1 Elected Seat 2-year min to 3-
year maxPersons with Lived Expertise of Homelessness
1. Youth or Young Adult Community Advocate w/ Lived
Experience of Homelessness
2. Community Advocate w/ Lived Experience of
Homelessness
3. Community Advocate w/ Lived Experience of
Homelessness3 Elected Seats 2-year min to 3-
year maxOther
To ensure maximum representation, the “Other” seats prioritize
candidates that increase diverse stakeholder representation.0 or 2 Seats Elected
Membership must equal
an odd number2-year min to 3-
year max
Apply for a Voting Seat
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Committees & Workgroups
One of Leadership Council’s duties is to oversee the activities of Committees and Workgroups. Currently there are five standing committees that create workgroups as needed for specific Committee tasks. Visit each Committee page for more information and meeting materials.
Crisis Response Permanent Housing Equity Performance Monitoring System Improvement
Unless otherwise noted, all Committee and Workgroup meetings are open to the public. Find links to join virtually at the meeting calendar below.
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Our Work
Leadership Council is responsible for developing, approving, and enforcing policies, procedures, and written standards for projects that are funded through our local Continuum of Care (CoC). Some additional funders in our community, including the City of Austin, often require projects they fund to follow these same standards.
Policies, Procedures, & Written Standards
Governance Roadmap Progress Dashboard (PDF)
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Guiding Documents
Governance Charter (PDF)
2023-24 Leadership Council Roadmap (PDF)
Shared Values and Group Agreements (PDF)
Compensation Policy for Governance Participants (PDF)
Code of Conduct (PDF)
Apply Now to Join Leadership Council
The Austin/Travis County Homelessness Response System (HRS) is now accepting applications to serve on its Leadership Council, the primary decision-making body for the Austin/Travis County Continuum of Care, tasked with guiding local policy and directing the efforts of committees and workgroups in governance.
Apply Now
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More Information
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Open Seats
The Leadership Council is recruiting new members. These are unpaid, volunteer positions, though people with lived experience of homelessness may be eligible for compensation.
- System Partner: This seat on the Board can include any community stakeholder interested in ending homelessness through the planning and coordination of the Homeless Response System. (1 seat)
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Expectations
All Leadership Council Members are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct (PDF), which lays out specific expectations for decorum and attendance. In particular, Leadership Council Members are expected to attend public monthly meetings (from 12 – 2 p.m. on the first Monday of the month), as well as monthly closed executive sessions (11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. every third Monday of the month). They are also required to participate as a voting member of at least one Committee, most of which meet once a month for about an hour. Occasionally, there are items that require additional short-term attention, such as the Housing and Urban Development Department’s Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO), which will require an additional time commitment. Including meeting preparation, members should anticipate devoting between 5 to 15 hours per month on Leadership Council responsibilities. Terms for elected seats are a minimum of two years, and a maximum of three years.
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Equity Statement
The CoC has adopted the Board Selection Policy (PDF) to ensure that the Homelessness Response System (HRS) is composed of representatives of diverse racial backgrounds, lived experiences of homelessness, and diverse professional backgrounds from across and beyond the HRS.
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Application Information
The window for applications is now open, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
The current Leadership Council members will evaluate and score candidates applying to fill vacant seats. Once the scored candidates have been selected, they will be added to a slate, and formally endorsed by the LC. The endorsed candidates will then be presented to the HRS stakeholders at an All Stakeholder Meeting, where they will be elected via consent.
Please submit your application at the link above.
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Collaborative leadership
Leadership Council is the governing body for Austin/Travis County’s Homelessness Response System. The Council is made up of people with firsthand experience of homelessness, service providers, local government leaders, and community equity advocates. The group is responsible for setting and upholding best practices, policies, and procedures for organizations that provide services to unhoused people in our community.
Meetings
Leadership Council meets publicly monthly on the first Monday of each month from 12-2 p.m. Committees and Workgroups meet publicly according to the schedules of voting members and/or group leads.
Leadership Council Agendas and Minutes
Submit a Leadership Council Agenda Item