Guiding the future of homelessness services in South Australia through a lived experience lens. We are committed to amplifying and strengthening the voices of those with lived experience, ensuring they are central to the design and delivery of services.
Supported by the Government of South Australia.
The Lived Experience Engagement Service (LEES) is committed to strengthening the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity to help guide South Australia's homelessness services.
LEES provides lived experience training to South Australia’s specialist homelessness services and to people with lived experience of homelessness, building sector capacity and supporting meaningful participation.
LEES leads projects that centre lived experience, generating insights that shape policies and services. It also coordinates a Lived Experience Reference Group and offers specialist advice and mentoring across the sector.
What a lived experience of homelessness means to those who have experienced it:
Lived experience of homelessness is having your sense of identity, life chances, safety, stability or wellbeing threatened due to a lack of appropriate housing.
In this context, appropriate is defined as:
- Stability (security of tenure)
- Accessibility (specific needs of people are taken into account)
- Affordability (it does not compromise a person’s ability to afford other necessities in life)
- Location (access to physical, social and economic supports)
- Habitability (fit to live in)
- Culturally appropriate (inclusive housing policies free of discrimination)
Our definition acknowledges that homelessness goes beyond the lack of a physical shelter.
People with lived experience
Have you experienced homelessness or housing insecurity, or are you currently experiencing it?
If so, you may be interested in joining our Lived Experience Reference Group or participating in one of our lived experience projects to help create meaningful change in the homelessness sector.
Information for specialist homelessness services
LEES offers a range of supports, services, and resources designed to help you embed lived experience into your service.
Contact the LEES team at SYC
