Resident Voice & Leadership
From “Program Recipients” to Partners in Change
Trauma-Informed Housing recognizes that residents are experts in their own experience and essential partners in creating vibrant, healing communities.
Our approach to resident engagement moves beyond traditional “input gathering” to build authentic partnerships where resident voices drive meaningful change. The resources in this section provide practical tools for housing organizations to cultivate resident leadership, respond to community priorities, and create sustainable feedback loops that strengthen trust.
Trauma-Informed Guidelines
All resources in this section follow these key principles:
CULTIVATE RESIDENT LEADERSHIP
Create platforms where residents can contribute ideas in ways that build trust and confidence.
WORK WITH LEADERS’ STRENGTHS
Leverage residents’ existing skills and passions rather than expecting them to fit predetermined roles.
SHOW PEOPLE YOU VALUE THEM
Compensate resident leaders for their time and expertise while regularly acknowledging their contributions.
EXTEND GRACE
Recognize that life happens and maintain open doors for residents to engage when they’re able.
Tools & Resources
Ready to step up your engagement? These tools provide practical examples of how to engage resident voice & leadership throughout operations:
RESIDENT ADVISORY BOARD FRAMEWORK
Establish a structured platform for resident voice in organizational decision-making. This framework includes meeting templates, recruitment strategies, and best practices for meaningful collaboration between residents and staff.
GUIDE FOR EFFECTIVE RESIDENT MEETINGS
Transform resident meetings from low-attendance obligations into collaborative spaces where real change happens. This guide provides trauma-informed tips on planning, outreach, facilitation and follow-up to ensure resident input translates into visible community improvements.
RESIDENT SURVEY
Gather feedback that leads to action with our redesigned resident survey. This tool focuses on what matters most to residents while using accessible language, providing transparency about how data will be used, and incorporating multiple response methods.
RESILIENT COMMUNITIES RESIDENT FELLOWSHIP
Center resident expertise on your journey to become a trauma-informed organization. The fellowship program that identifies, trains, and supports resident leaders as experts in designing trauma-informed communities and organizations.