Leadership Council
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 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.
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. Leadership Council is our community’s CoC Board, comprised of people who’ve used services in our Homelessness Response System, service providers, local government representatives, and stakeholders across our community invested in some way in ending homelessness.
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Leadership Council Voting Members
Amanda Jasso (Co-Chair) | Appointed, City of Austin Equity Office
Ashley Jones | Elected, Mental Health/Substance Use
Candace McGary | Elected
Coni Stogner | Elected, HUD Funded Provider
David Gray | Appointed, City of Austin Homeless Strategy Office
Dylan Shubitz | Appointed, Public Housing Authority (HACA)
Ebonie Oliver | Elected, System Partner
Jacob Emerson | Elected
Dr. Larry Wallace, Jr. | Elected, Healthcare/Disability
Linda Jackson | Elected
Liz Baker (Co-Chair) | Elected, System Partner
Monique Coleman | Appointed Delegate, Travis County
Sheila Joseph | Elected, Non-HUD Funded Provider
Tim Mercer | Appointed
[Vacant] | 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
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Committees
Leadership Council convenes five committees that establish workgroups as needed for specific tasks. Unless otherwise noted, all committee meetings are open to the public. Find links to attend virtually on the meeting calendar below.
The committees are:
- Crisis Response
- Permanent Housing
- Community Impact
- Performance Monitoring
- Systems Improvement
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Our Work
Leadership Council is responsible for developing, approving, and enforcing policies, procedures, written standards, and best practices 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.
Approved Policies, Procedures, Written Standards, & Best Practices
2023-24 Governance Roadmap Progress Dashboard (PDF)
[Review the 2023-24 Governance Roadmap here (PDF)]
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Guiding Documents
Governance Charter (PDF) (Revised September 2025)
2025-26 Leadership Council Roadmap (PDF)
Shared Values and Group Agreements (PDF) (Revised January 2025)
Compensation Policy for Governance Participants (PDF) (Approved July 2024)
Code of Conduct (PDF) (Revised September 2025)
Meetings
Leadership Council meets publicly monthly on the first Monday of each month from 12-2 p.m. Committees meet publicly according to the schedules of voting members and/or group leads.
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Leadership Council Agendas and Minutes
