Lived Experience: Truth, Challenges, and Moving Beyond Tokenism
Lived Experience programs are all the rage in the homelessness sector, but are they really making a difference, or just ticking boxes? In this episode, we sit down with Iain De Jong to have the most honest, unfiltered conversation about the good, the bad, and the ugly of lived experience. We dive deep into the truth behind the tokenism that often plagues these programs, the real challenges of involving people with lived and living experience, and what it takes to truly move beyond superficial efforts.
This isn’t just another feel-good chat—this is about fixing what’s broken. We explore best practices for creating programs that actually empower people instead of exploiting their stories. If you’re ready for a conversation that goes beyond tokenism and into real, actionable solutions, stick with us till the end. This is the raw, authentic dialogue that the homelessness sector needs.
00:00 Discomfort & disruption at homeless events
01:07 Defining “lived experience” focus
03:20 Why “lived experience” surged—and tokenism risks
06:10 Lived vs. living experience (and why it matters)
09:30 The “hidden” lived experience among staff & volunteers
12:05 Token seats & the burden of representation
15:20 Success stories vs. ordinary progress; power dynamics in feedback
19:05 Peer support on outreach: pay gaps & training needs
22:30 “Lived expertise”: when it applies—and fair compensation
26:20 Pedestals, lack of support, and participant purpose
31:30 Doing it right: feedback loops, training, and co-design
37:30 Bright spots & models (Hennepin County, Destination: Home, Howie the Harp, CAEH)
43:50 Digital inclusion & creator voices (TikTok/YouTube)
50:20 Invisible People’s role, ethics, and closing call to action
Iain's YouTube channel: / @iaindejong
Executive producer: Mark Horvath
Producer/editor/cinematographer: Alex Gasaway / alexgasaway
Associate producer: Erin McGinnis
Created by: Alex Gasaway and Erin McGinnis
YouTube Podcast https://bit.ly/4bHgCEu
Apple Podcast https://apple.co/4cckQ86
Spotify https://spoti.fi/3XyM98c
Amazon Music https://amzn.to/3zbPu39
iHeartRadio https://bit.ly/4cciTZy
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About Invisible People
There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.
We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.
This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.
However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.
Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.