The Fellowship

Your experience
is expertise.
Apply now.

The LELI Fellowship is open to anyone with current or former lived experience of homelessness. Our flagship cohort works with Contra Costa County, and the training can be customized for any municipality. No prior policy or research experience required — that's what the fellowship builds.

Application Details
Applications open Announcing soon
Fellowship start TBA
Duration 12 months
Cohort size TBA
Compensation Paid
Eligibility Lived experience
Location Contra Costa & beyond
How to Apply

Four simple steps.

The application is designed to be accessible — no writing samples, no resumé required. We want to hear from you in your own words.

01

Fill out the form

Basic info, your community connection, and a few short questions in your own words. Takes about 20–30 minutes — and we can complete it with you by phone or in person.

02

Introductory conversation

Selected applicants are invited to a brief 30-minute conversation with the LELI team — a chance to ask questions and tell us more about yourself.

03

Cohort orientation

Fellows selected for the cohort attend an orientation session before the fellowship begins. We'll cover expectations, logistics, compensation, and introductions.

04

Fellowship begins

You're a LELI Fellow — paid, trained, and connected to the heart of Contra Costa County's homelessness response.

The Application

Tell us about yourself.

01 — Basic Information
Give us at least one reliable way to reach you — email, phone, or a trusted contact’s number works too.
We want to make this process accessible in your language.
02 — Your Experience & Connection
Sheltered, unsheltered, doubled-up, vehicular, or in transition — you define your experience.
03 — About You

There are no right answers here. We want to hear from you in your own words — not polished policy language. Answer honestly and as specifically as you can.

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This question is optional and will not affect your application.
04 — Background (Optional)

This section is entirely optional. It helps us understand who is applying and ensure the cohort reflects the communities we serve.

I confirm that I have current or former lived experience of homelessness, and that the information I've provided is accurate. I understand that submitting this form is an expression of interest — I will be contacted by the LELI team to discuss next steps.

Your application will be submitted securely to the LELI team. We'll be in touch within 2 weeks.

Application received.

Thank you for applying to the LELI Fellowship. We'll review your application and be in touch within 2 weeks. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

What we're looking for

Lived experience of homelessness Required
Contra Costa residency Not required
Policy experience Not required
Research experience Not required
College degree Not required
Full 12-month commitment Required

Need help applying?

If you'd like support completing this application — in any language — reach out to us directly. We can walk through it with you by phone or in person.

Contact the LELI team

Learn more first

Not sure if the fellowship is right for you? Read about the full program before applying.

The Fellowship page
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions we hear often.

No. The fellowship is designed to build those skills — not to require them upfront. What matters is that you have lived experience of homelessness and can commit to the full 12 months with our support. Your experience navigating the system is the foundation everything else is built on.
Yes. Fellows are compensated for their work at rates that reflect the professional value of lived expertise and civic research. The fellowship is not a volunteer opportunity or a stipend-based internship — it's paid work. Specific compensation details will be shared with applicants during the introductory conversation stage, including an honest walk-through of how fellowship pay may interact with any benefits you receive.
No. Current or former experience both count — each brings knowledge the other can't. If you're currently experiencing homelessness, you are eligible and we will work with your circumstances: no fixed address, documents, or technology required to start, and wraparound support is part of the program design.
The fellowship runs 12 months. Weekly hours vary by phase: Phase One (months 1–4) involves more scheduled training and cohort sessions, while Phase Two (months 5–12) is structured around the County's planning, implementation, and evaluation timelines. We'll share detailed scheduling expectations with applicants before they commit. If you have concerns about conflicts — work, appointments, childcare, transportation — let us know in your application. Wraparound support is part of what we offer.
Fellow-produced findings are delivered into the County's strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation processes — real input into real decisions. Findings are attributed to Fellows, not to the organizations supporting them. Each Fellow leaves with a documented portfolio of consulting work they can point to in future job applications, academic programs, or community leadership roles.
Absolutely. We actively encourage multilingual applicants. The Civic Signals Network includes AI-powered language translation, and we're committed to making the fellowship accessible in every language spoken across Contra Costa County. If you'd like to complete this application or the interview conversation in Spanish or another language, contact us and we'll make it happen.
Yes. LELI's flagship work is with Contra Costa County, but the training is designed to be customized for any municipality. Your experience navigating your own community's homelessness response is exactly the expertise we build on — and exactly what your local systems need at their planning tables.
No. Navigating reentry alongside homelessness is part of many people's story, and that experience is valuable at the planning table. A record does not disqualify you from the fellowship.
Not to apply. The application needs only a way to reach you — and we can complete it together by phone or in person. If you're selected, we'll help you work through any documentation needed to get paid, step by step.
Yes. Your story belongs to you. What you share in your application is only used to consider your candidacy, and as a Fellow, you always decide what parts of your experience are shared, where, and with whom.
We review applications on a rolling basis and aim to respond within 2 weeks of receiving your submission. If you're selected for an introductory conversation, we'll reach out to schedule a 30-minute call. If you haven't heard from us after 2 weeks, you're welcome to follow up at any time.

Still have questions?

Reach out to the LELI team directly. We're happy to talk through the application, eligibility, or anything else before you apply.

Contact LELI Read the Fellowship page