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.
Apply Now to Join Leadership Council
The Austin/Travis County Homelessness Response System (HRS) is now accepting applications to serve on 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. Leadership Council is accepting applications for the following open seat:
- Education or Workforce Development
Apply Now
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More Information
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About the Open Seat
Education or Workforce Development: This seat will facilitate system integration in Action Plan, act as a liaison, ensure governance integration of education and workforce. Ensure Education and / or Workforce Development resources and / or efforts to support those experiencing homelessness are aligned and complementary to the system’s efforts and outcomes.
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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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About the Application Process
The window for applications is now open, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Apply here.All submissions will be reviewed by ECHO’s Governance staff to confirm eligibility. Final selections are made by majority vote of the Council, and the elected applicant will be invited to a public meeting where they will be formally recognized and onboarded following approval.
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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
Tim Mercer – Appointed
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 (Co-Chair) – Elected, System Partner
Monique Coleman – Appointed Delegate, Travis County
[Vacant] – Elected, Education/Workforce Development
Leadership Council is not currently recruiting new members. ECHO will notify the community through our website, newsletter, and social media channels when seats are open.
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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
- Equity
- 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
