Over the last two decades, governments and service providers have come to expect that people with lived experience of homelessness should participate in and influence homelessness policy design and practice. 

This research examined the evidence for, and experiences of, people with lived experience participating in and influencing housing and homelessness policy, service design and practice. People with lived experience felt their participation and influence was often far from meaningful. They spoke of being unheard and of their concerns not being taken seriously. 

Participants recommended and endorsed a series of principles, conditions and strategies that have the potential to advance meaningful lived experience participation and influence in the Australian housing and homelessness sectors.