Author's note: This story was informed by conversations with Lived Experience Committee (LEC) Chair Matt Seifert, committee members Clyde Elkins and Constance Bozeman, and Joe Scalise, Director of Housing Services for United Way of Summit & Medina. In May 2026, GAR Foundation provided support to strengthen stipends, training, and capacity-building efforts as the committee continues to grow. The perspectives shared here reflect the committee's purpose, impact, and hopes for the future.
“I wish people would see the person before they see the homelessness.”
-Constance Bozeman, LEC Member
When communities talk about homelessness, the conversation often centers on programs, policies, and statistics. What can be missing are the voices of people who have experienced homelessness themselves. That is exactly what the Summit County Continuum of Care's Lived Experience Committee (LEC) was created to address.
The committee brings together individuals with firsthand experience navigating homelessness and housing instability to help inform decisions, strengthen local strategies, and improve systems designed to serve Summit County residents.
More Than a Seat at the Table
The LEC exists to ensure people with firsthand experience of homelessness have an opportunity to contribute to conversations that shape policies, programs, and community priorities. That perspective matters because homelessness does not look the same for everyone.
As Matt Seifert explained, committee members bring a range of experiences and perspectives that help them connect with people in different ways. “We're all going to connect differently with somebody out there that's going through the same thing I went through or somebody else on our committee.”
Those differences help the committee provide meaningful feedback, identify barriers that may otherwise go unnoticed, and contribute solutions grounded in real-world experience.
Constance Bozeman noted that the committee's work extends beyond sharing personal experiences. “We don't just talk about problems," Bozeman said. "We work toward solutions and help make sure those solutions are informed by the people who have actually experienced homelessness.”
The committee provides feedback on programs, contributes to planning efforts, and helps organizations better understand what is and is not working. Instead of simply asking members to reflect on their experiences, they are helping shape conversations about how the community responds to homelessness.
Experience Creates Insight
Throughout the conversation, members described how lived experience strengthens outreach, engagement, and community planning. People who have experienced homelessness often understand the realities of life without stable housing in ways that cannot be learned from reports or statistics alone. They know what barriers exist, how trust is built, and what support can look like in practice.
That perspective is increasingly informing efforts across Summit County. Whether participating in Point-in-Time counts, providing feedback to service providers, or helping shape strategic discussions, committee members offer insight that helps organizations better understand the people they serve and the challenges they face.
Clyde Elkins emphasized that people with lived experience can often build trust and make connections that others cannot. “If you bring in experience, you know how to reach people that you otherwise wouldn't be able to.”
Members also discussed the importance of moving beyond one-time interactions and focusing on genuine relationships. Building trust, listening, and creating pathways to longer-term support were themes that repeatedly surfaced throughout the conversation.
According to Joe Scalise, Director of Housing Services at United Way of Summit & Medina, those insights are increasingly reaching the organizations and agencies responsible for delivering services. While not every outcome can be measured by a single statistic, the committee's influence can be seen in the way conversations and approaches continue to evolve.
“If it wasn't for the Lived Experience Committee, there's no way in my mind that I would be a caseworker right now."
-Matt Seifert, LEC Chair
Leadership Creates Opportunity
The committee's impact extends beyond the systems it helps inform. For Seifert, the LEC became more than a committee. It became a pathway to leadership.
He first became involved in community planning conversations while working in manufacturing. Through the strategic planning process and his growing participation in the LEC, he began to see how his experiences could contribute to efforts addressing homelessness in Summit County. As his involvement grew, so did his confidence. Seifert has served on Lived Experience panels at national conferences in Washinton D.C. and San Diego. He eventually ran for chair of the committee and began taking on leadership roles throughout the community.
Today, Seifert serves as chair of the LEC and works as a Homeless Outreach Worker with Community Support Services (CSS), helping individuals navigate challenges he once faced himself. Looking back, he credits the committee with helping him see a different future for himself. “If it wasn't for the Lived Experience Committee, there's no way in my mind that I would be a caseworker right now," Seifert said.
His experience reflects something members returned to throughout the conversation: when people are invited into meaningful community conversations, they often discover strengths and leadership abilities they didn't know they possessed. The committee has created similar opportunities for others. Members described gaining confidence, developing leadership skills, participating in planning efforts, and serving on boards and committees throughout the Continuum of Care.
As Bozeman shared, participating in the committee has shown her that her past does not define what she can contribute to her community and has provided an opportunity to use both her professional experience and lived experience to help others.
Creating Change Through Connection
Members were quick to point out that progress does not happen in isolation. Addressing homelessness requires collaboration among service providers, community organizations, faith-based groups, funders, advocates, and people with lived experience. The LEC has become an important part of that network, helping ensure perspectives from those directly affected by homelessness are represented in planning discussions and community initiatives.
Committee members now participate on boards, advisory groups, and planning efforts throughout the Continuum of Care. Through those roles, they are helping shape conversations around outreach, housing stability, and community solutions. For many members, one of the most encouraging signs of progress is seeing organizations actively seek their input and apply what they learn.
As Seifert reflected, the goal is not simply to have conversations. The goal is to see ideas translated into action. “I'd like to see that what we're bringing to the table is going into effect. I'd like to see things implemented."
That desire reflects why the committee exists in the first place: to make sure people with lived experience help shape the decisions that affect their community.
“I want people to say, ‘I need something. I can go to the LEC.’”
-Clyde Elkins, LEC Member
Seeing the Person First
Perhaps the most important message shared throughout the conversation was a reminder that homelessness is not a person's identity. People experiencing homelessness are parents, children, siblings, friends, neighbors, employees, and community members. Their circumstances may be complex, but their humanity should never be overlooked.
As Bozeman reflected: “I wish people would see the person before they see the homelessness.” The Lived Experience Committee puts that idea into practice.
Its members are leaders, advocates, volunteers, professionals, and problem-solvers who are using their experiences to help strengthen Summit County's response to homelessness. Through their insight, leadership, and commitment to helping others, they are helping ensure that the people most affected by homelessness have a meaningful voice in shaping what comes next.
Looking Ahead
When asked about the future, committee members described a vision centered on growth, awareness, and continued impact. They hope more people become aware of the LEC, see it as a trusted place to share perspectives, and recognize that their experiences can help improve systems designed to support others.
Members also hope to continue expanding opportunities for people with lived experience to participate in decision-making and leadership roles throughout the community. For Seifert, success means knowing that the committee is helping create meaningful change while serving as a trusted resource for people seeking support, information, or connection.
Elkins sees the committee growing into a resource people across Summit County know they can turn to when they need guidance, support, or a connection to services. “I want people to say, ‘I need something. I can go to the LEC.’”
Others share a similar vision. Bozeman hopes to see lived experience become a standard part of decision-making and continue informing solutions that address the real barriers people face when trying to obtain and maintain stable housing. "Our experiences give us perspective that is valuable. We want to be involved in creating the solutions."
The Lived Experience Committee is open to the public and welcomes new members with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability. In-person meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. at the United Way of Summit & Medina, located at 37 N. High Street, Akron, OH 44308.