Experts by experience: uplifting and integrating the knowledge of people with lived experience of homelessness in social care research, education, and practice

Experts by experience: uplifting and integrating the knowledge of people with lived experience of homelessness in social care research, education, and practice [PDF]

Speakers: Kadisha Davis (Health x Housing Lab, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine), Kelly Doran (Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine), Antoine Lovell (School of Social Policy and Practice, Fordham University), Giselle Routhier (Health x Housing Lab, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine)

Description:

This session was a moderated discussion, comprised of two social care researchers/practitioners and two people with lived experience of homelessness, all of whom are part of the Health x Housing Lab at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. They discussed specific examples of how the Lab has engaged people with lived experience of homelessness in social care research and education. Kadisha Davis discussed her role as an educator in our 'Flipping the Script' teach-ins where people with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity teach healthcare students, trainees, and practitioners about how health and housing are interconnected and offer solutions for better care integration and policy responses. Kadisha also spoke about her work as a summer consultant with the Lab, providing expertise on research projects and mentoring student interns. A Health x Housing Lab Advisory Committee member with lived experience of homelessness discussed the role of the Lab's Advisory Committee, including developing the Lab's core values statements and shaping research proposals and educational events. Kelly Doran will provide an overview of the origins of the Health x Housing Lab and the need for social care research that bridges health and housing policy. All of the panelists provided input on the effectiveness of our engagement strategies and opportunities for future work. Giselle Routhier moderated the discussion. To engage the audience, they posed questions in between their moderated discussion topics about their opinions on and examples of engaging experts with lived experience. Specific questions for the audience focused on gaining feedback on identified strategies, how to best engage people with lived experience and overcome barriers to engagement, how to prevent exploiting people with lived experience for internal aims, and what existing models other researchers are using. The group structured the presentation to be interactive and bidirectional so presenters and participants were able to share information, pose questions, and discuss identified topics.