CSH seeks to contract with 2 additional individuals with lived experiences of homelessness who are willing to share their expertise as part of an existing CSH California State Policy Advisory Committee that currently has four active members. The individuals selected will serve as “consultants” to CSH starting in February 2024 through May 2025.
Selected consultants will also have the option to sit on separate policy coalitions CSH is a part of. These include the Bring California Home Coalition and the Coalition for Solutions to Homelessness among Older Adults. The Bring California Home Coalition is a diverse coalition of homelessness advocates, local governments, nonprofits, affordable housing providers, and grassroots community organizations dedicated to creating an ongoing source of revenue for homeless programs statewide. The Coalition for Solutions to Homelessness among Older Adults Home is a coalition of organizations across the state focused on housing, homelessness and senior services dedicated to advancing state policy recommendations specific to older adults experiencing homelessness.
CSH is the leading organization on state policy related to homelessness and supportive housing in the state of California. We seek input from stakeholders, draft bills, educate agency staff, and advocate and lobby to legislators. We advocate for policies and budget items that create housing stability, helpful services, and race equity. The consultants selected will work with CSH staff to inform and support these activities in partnership with CSH.
Planned activities:
1. Attend monthly meetings of the Advisory Committee to brainstorm and contribute to the planning of short and long-term CSH California state policy priorities.
2. Inform CSH’s strategy and actions through regular meetings with CSH staff.
3. Attend advocacy meetings with state legislators.
4. Assist in the planning of and participate in CSH’s annual State Advocacy Day.
Expected Outcomes, Milestones, and Deliverables:
Task 1: Advisory Committee Meetings (Monthly February 2024-May 2025)
The selected consultants will participate in monthly meetings of the new California State Policy Advisory Committee. Meetings will be 90 minutes each and may require up to 30 minutes of preparation time before each meeting. Meetings will typically be held as video-conferencing calls to ensure representation state-wide. CSH will provide funding for travel expenses as needed. Some in-person meetings may be scheduled at the direction of the committee.
Task 2: Meetings with CSH staff (As-needed February 2024- May 2025)
The selected consultants will participate in meetings with CSH staff between Advisory Committee meetings as needed throughout the duration of the contract. These meetings may be held by phone, video, or in-person. CSH will provide funding for travel expenses as needed.
Task 3: Attend advocacy meetings with state agency staff and/or legislators. (As-needed February 2024- May 2025)
The selected consultants will be on-call to actively and regularly participate in meetings with state agency staff in a variety of departments, the Governor’s office, and/or legislators. Meetings will typically take one hour and will happen during regular business hours Monday through Friday via telephone, video calls, or in-person in Sacramento. The selected consultants will be requested to attend up to 10 such meetings and are required to be available for at least half of these requests. CSH will provide funding for travel expenses as needed.
Task 4: Assist in planning and participate in CSH’s Advocacy Day (April 2024)
The selected consultants will assist in planning CSH’s annual Advocacy Day. Advocacy Day is once per year in the spring and involves having as many advocates as possible come to the state capitol in Sacramento to advocate for the policy goals we have established together. This happens during multiple meetings with legislators throughout the day. CSH will provide funding for travel expenses as needed.
Task 5: Attend regular coalition meetings and report back to Advisory Committee
The consultants selected to participate in the Bring California Home Coalition and Coalition for Solutions to Homelessness among Older Adults will attend regularly scheduled coalition meetings alongside CSH staff and other coalition members. Meetings may vary from weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on the preferences of the full coalition membership. The selected consultants, alongside other coalition members, will represent the coalition in meetings with state-level staff and legislators and advocate for proposed policy
recommendations. Meetings will typically be held as video-conferencing calls to ensure representation state-wide. CSH will provide funding for travel expenses as needed.
Task 6: Other tasks as-requested (As-needed)
From time to time, CSH may request one or more of the selected consultants to participate in other activities to advance our collective state policy agenda and CSH’s work to end homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization. These activities might include: sharing their policy perspectives and life experiences with a variety of audiences, participating in training, recording videos, giving input to CSH staff on related aspects of CSH’s work, etc. These tasks will be upon request, and the selected consultants can accept them or decline them as they wish. CSH will provide funding for travel expenses as needed.
Funding Available:
This project requires a minimum time commitment of 50 hours over a 15-month period and is expected to require a maximum of 88 hours per individual, at a compensation rate of $75/hr, not to exceed $6,600. Please note, this contract requires a commitment from February 2024 through May 2025.
Application Process and Vendor Requirements:
To apply for this opportunity, please complete this interest form. Applicants may be asked to participate in one or two interviews with existing committee members prior to selection. Each interview will not be more than one hour. Any applicants not selected will be informed by phone call and email.
Required Qualifications:
Interviews scheduled before the deadline will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- The willingness and ability to share lived expertise of homelessness with diverse audiences.
- Experience and/or interest in California State legislative process.
- Must currently live in California.
- Basic understanding of storytelling or narrative development as a tool for empowerment and advocacy.
- Experience and desire to be part of and working with racially diverse people and communities.
- Demonstrated commitment to homelessness advocacy and inclusion.
- Demonstrated ability to work well with a variety of individuals and/or agencies.
- Ability to track and report hours worked.
- A balanced perspective and understanding of the ups and downs of advocacy work.
- Ability to commit to the minimum number of hours.
- Training in story-telling or other communications is preferred.
CSH encourages individuals with a diverse array of experiences and backgrounds to apply.
Please note: CSH aims to be a responsible partner to the people we pay for time-limited work who are receiving public benefits by providing them with as much support as possible and appropriate to help them make informed choices about how much they want to work for us and/or for other organizations. Due to the highly specialized and individualized nature of this work, however, CSH does not currently have the expertise to provide benefits counselling to individuals but will provide as much support as possible to connect individuals with outside partner benefits counselling, so they can make the most informed decision as it relates to their ability to commit to this position.
Please note that CSH requires subcontractors, including individuals and sole proprietors, to carry workers' compensation insurance and general liability insurance while performing work under a CSH subcontract. CSH subcontractors cannot have existing, pending or expired debarments that preclude them from doing business with the United States government and cannot have convictions for, nor have any pending indictments for, fraud or a criminal offense in connection with a public contract or subcontract.
Please contact Lauren Turner, Policy Program Manager with any additional questions regarding the California State Policy Advisory Committee and how to apply (lauren.turner@csh.org).
