CHAB agrees to study adding members with lived experience and return options to governing bodies

The Community Homeless Advisory Board discussed a proposal to recommend that each governing jurisdiction modify its CHAB resolution to add community members — including people with lived experience — and to clarify whether those members would have voting rights.

Council member Kathleen Taylor asked whether Washoe County could take a lead role on representation. Multiple board members said staff should return with options, including one member per municipality, a single regional appointment, or a lived‑experience subcommittee. “We are open to the county commission’s guidance on what that looks like officially,” a board member said. The board voted to ask staff to present options at a future meeting and to then take any agreed changes back to the jurisdictions that created the CHAB.

Members and public commenters who have lived experience urged full voting rights for people appointed to CHAB. Taylor Balc, who said she has lived experience, recommended creating a clear, consistent mechanism for peer mentorship and for lived‑experience representatives to be connected to board decision‑making.

Board members noted legal steps will be required; several participants said existing MOUs and resolutions that created CHAB will need modification by each jurisdiction. Staff and legal counsel will prepare a staff presentation that outlines options and compliance with open‑meeting law for a future agenda.