In 2016, John Brady experienced homelessness firsthand, spending a year on the streets of San Diego. During this challenging period, he found solace and inspiration with the Voices of Our City Choir, a group dedicated to uplifting individuals through the healing power of music and community. This experience ignited John's passion for advocacy, leading him to amplify the voices of those experiencing homelessness at local city and county meetings.

By 2023, John transformed this passion into action by founding Lived Experience Advisors (LEA), a nonprofit organization committed to training, supporting, and compensating individuals with firsthand experience of homelessness. LEA ensures that those directly impacted have an effective seat at the table, shaping policies that affect their lives.

Our Mission

At Lived Experience Advisors, we believe that those who have faced homelessness firsthand are the most powerful advocates for change. Our collective comprises individuals who have successfully rebuilt their lives and are now leading efforts to create a more effective, compassionate, and trauma-informed housing recovery system.

Our Impact

• Policy Influence: LEA members hold over 41 leadership roles in community boards, public forums, and city hall discussions, actively shaping policies and challenging misconceptions about homelessness.
• Community Engagement: Through public speaking and community outreach, our members share their stories and insights, driving real solutions that address homelessness at its root.
• Systemic Change: We advocate for economic security, civic engagement, and personal empowerment to tackle the systemic inequalities that fuel poverty.

LEA has developed a unique mentorship and training experience. We work with people who have lived experience and are ready to use their voice to change the system. Our goal is to empower individuals with lived experience of homelessness to become effective, informed advocates for housing justice and system reform

At Lived Experience Advisors, we train advocates in trauma-informed care with a dual focus: preparing them to support others while also caring for themselves. Our approach recognizes that many advocates carry their own lived experiences of trauma, so we prioritize emotional safety, boundaries, and self-care as essential components of training. Advocates learn how to engage with compassion and resilience, understand the impact of trauma on others, and navigate difficult systems—all while being equipped with tools to manage their own well-being. This ensures they are both effective in their roles and supported in their journey.

At Lived Experience Advisors (LEA) in San Diego, we believe that real change begins with those who have walked the path of homelessness. Our mission is to amplify the voices of individuals who have firsthand experience with the challenges of housing instability, ensuring their insights guide policies, programs, and community solutions.

We do this because we understand that homelessness is not just a statistic—it’s a deeply personal experience. Each individual has a unique story of resilience, hardship, and survival. By sharing these stories, we aim to humanize homelessness, break down stigma, and inspire innovative approaches to ending this crisis.

Our work is driven by a commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice. The members of LEA have lived through the very issues they now work to address. Whether it’s advocating for affordable housing, safer streets, or more accessible services, our Advisors provide invaluable perspectives that policymakers and organizations cannot ignore.

We do it because we believe that no one should have to endure the dangers and uncertainties of life without a home. By bringing the voices of lived experience to the forefront, we aim to build a San Diego where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their past.

The work of Lived Experience Advisors is a testament to the power of community, resilience, and hope. Together, we’re transforming lived experience into lived solutions.