They Lived It — Now They Lead It: The Model That’s Changing Homelessness

What if the people who lived through homelessness were the ones in charge of solving it?

In this powerful podcast episode, we speak with Jack Robinson and Dolores Cook of Thompson, Manitoba — two remarkable individuals who survived homelessness and addiction and are now decision-makers on Thompson’s Lived Experience Circle. Also joining the conversation is Andrea Hatley, the city’s Community Entity Advisor, who helped build the groundbreaking Thompson Model from the ground up.

In a sector where lived experience is too often reduced to tokenism, Thompson is doing something different. Here, people who have lived it are leading it — shaping policies, making funding decisions, and changing lives. It’s a model every community should be watching closely.

This episode is about recovery, real leadership, and the power of giving decision-making authority to the people closest to the problem. Don't miss it

Special thanks to the Canadian Alliance and Homelessness.