Amplifying Voices: Client Advisory Group
At PorchLight, we strive to provide compassionate, effective support to unhoused men on their journey from homelessness to stability. In keeping with our mission, we have launched a new initiative: the PorchLight Client Advisory Group, a vital forum created to amplify the voices and experiences of those we serve. Through their input, we have an opportunity to understand needs better, identify gaps, and ensure our programs and services are client-centered and effective.
“This group is an essential step forward on our pathway to better understand the client experience at PorchLight from their perspective.” Troy Christensen, Executive Director
The Client Advisory Group embodies PorchLight’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for all individuals who have walked through our doors. Now, those individuals will have an active role in shaping the future of our programs.
Partnership in Understanding
We have identified 5 areas where we believe the Client Advisory Group will have a crucial impact:
- Feedback on services. Group members can provide firsthand insights into what aspects of our programs are working well, what may need improvement, and what services might be missing.
- Identify barriers to access. Our unhoused neighbors face many obstacles. Each group participant has the opportunity to give a firsthand account of their experiences to better inform us of how we address barriers.
- Empowerment and voice. Participants get a platform to share honest viewpoints in a safe environment and feel valued as partners in addressing homelessness.
- Community awareness. Client perspectives will be used to educate the broader community about the realities of homelessness and advocate policy changes.
- Program development. Input from the group will help us as we evaluate programs and services to ensure they meet real needs.
Structure of the Client Advisory Group
The group includes four current/former PorchLight clients: Board Member Judy Faast, Executive Director Troy Christensen, and Senior Manager of Case Management Tom Miles, who also facilitates the group.
Our original plan was to meet quarterly, but the first meeting in mid-October was met with such enthusiasm that the group requested to, and will now, meet monthly. Already, they are educating us on nuances we had not considered.
“A barrier I can share is, I would much rather stay in the shelter where I know people than move into an apartment where I don’t know anyone.” Client Advisory Group Member
This is precisely why we wanted to start this group: Clients share their unique perspectives, open our thinking, and then we engage in collaborative problem-solving. In this case, we are looking at ways to keep ties to the PorchLight community – with staff and other shelter guests – intact when one of our guests moves into housing.
Looking Ahead: A Pathway to Positive Change
By inviting clients into this new advisory role, PorchLight is taking a decisive step toward enhancing our services and deepening our understanding of what it truly means to support individuals on their journey from homelessness to stability. The feedback gathered from these sessions will directly inform how we approach our policies and improve our service offerings, creating an environment that is ever more responsive to the needs and preferences of those we serve.
We believe the insights provided by our Client Advisory Group will be instrumental in shaping PorchLight’s direction. As we continue to expand our programs and refine our support services, the perspectives shared by group members will guide us toward a future that honors dignity, compassion, and understanding.
Join Us on This Journey
This group reflects the heart of PorchLight’s mission: working together to create pathways to stability. We look forward to sharing the progress and insights gained through our Client Advisory Group in the coming months. If you are not currently subscribed to our newsletter and want to receive updates on our impact in your inbox, subscribe here.