County staff proposes regular agenda slot for lived‑experience advisory; board voices support

Travis Sander, Washoe County’s division director of housing and homeless services, proposed adding ABLE — the Advisory Board of Lived Experience formed through the Nevada Homeless Alliance in 2024 and contracted through RISE and the Continuum of Care — as a recurring, non‑action agenda item so people with lived experience can brief the advisory board regularly.

Sander said ABLE already has a voting seat on the Continuum of Care leadership board and that members and RISE leadership are willing to present on a standing basis. Board members responded positively: Council member Brandy Anderson said she supported the proposal and Mayor Ed Lawson and Council member Kathleen Taylor signaled assent. No formal action was taken; Sander described the proposal as a recommendation for future agendas.

Board members framed the idea as a way to ensure policy and operational development routinely incorporate perspectives from people who have experienced homelessness. Sander said the county has been studying national best practices about incorporating lived experience and would coordinate scheduling with ABLE and RISE.