ABLE — Advisory Board of Lived Experience — brings the voices of people who know the system from the inside to the tables where policy is made. Because real change starts with real understanding.
ABLE exists to ensure that the people most affected by homelessness policies have a real seat at the table. We are composed of individuals with direct lived experience of homelessness who work within the Continuum of Care to advocate, evaluate, and improve the systems that serve our community.
We don't just study the problem — we've lived it. That perspective makes our advocacy more effective, our feedback more accurate, and our community stronger.
Stable housing isn't just the right thing to do — it's the smart fiscal choice. PSH reduces emergency room visits, incarceration, and crisis intervention costs across the entire community.
Data sourced from: Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). ABLE presents this information for advocacy and educational purposes.
From policy halls to frontline evaluations, ABLE works at every level to create accountability, transparency, and better outcomes for people in our community.
We analyze policies that affect people experiencing homelessness and provide structured, experience-based feedback directly to agencies and policymakers — ensuring the people most impacted have a voice.
AdvocacyABLE has gone to Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of Reno & Washoe County's most vulnerable community members. We show up where decisions are made and make sure lived experience is heard.
Federal LevelWe are strong advocates for Permanent Supportive Housing — the evidence-based approach that pairs stable housing with support services. We also work to educate communities and overcome NIMBY resistance that blocks housing solutions.
ABLE participates in the evaluation and ranking of nonprofit organizations for federal funding consideration. Our lived-experience perspective brings critical accountability to how public dollars are allocated.
AccountabilityWe participate in the annual PIT Count — the community-wide census of people experiencing homelessness on a single night. This data drives federal funding and shapes the local response to homelessness.
Data & ResearchWe conduct in-depth surveys reviewing an organization's policies and internal practices, then deliver confidential, constructive feedback — helping nonprofits improve from the inside out.
EvaluationOur trained evaluators conduct firsthand assessments of nonprofit organizations — observing administration, frontline staff interactions, and client experiences — to gauge real-world performance and surface opportunities for growth.
Quality AssuranceABLE maintains a comprehensive directory of 284 verified community resources across Reno & Washoe County — housing, food, healthcare, mental health, transportation, and more — free and open to everyone.
View Directory →ABLE is a young organization with a growing record of real impact. Here's where we stand today.
ABLE was built on a simple but powerful idea: the people who have experienced homelessness firsthand are among the most qualified voices to shape the systems designed to help them.
We work alongside the Continuum of Care, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies — not as outsiders, but as informed partners with skin in the game. Every survey we conduct, every policy we review, every meeting we attend carries the weight of real experience.
Washington D.C. Advocacy — ABLE members have traveled to the nation's capital to advocate directly for the people and policies that matter most to our community.
Federal Funding Evaluations — We participate in the rating and ranking of nonprofit organizations for federal funding, bringing accountability and lived perspective to those decisions.
284-Resource Directory — We built and maintain one of the most comprehensive community resource directories in Reno & Washoe County, connecting people to the help they need.
PIT Count Participation — ABLE contributes to the annual Point in Time count, the critical data that drives federal funding and local planning.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is not just a housing program — it's the most effective, evidence-backed solution we have for ending chronic homelessness. PSH combines stable, long-term housing with on-site support services like mental health care, addiction recovery, and life skills coaching.
The research is clear: PSH works. It reduces emergency room visits, decreases incarceration, improves mental health outcomes, and — most importantly — it ends homelessness for the people who need it most. Communities that invest in PSH save money while saving lives.
The obstacle: NIMBYISM
Despite the evidence, PSH developments are routinely blocked by community opposition — a phenomenon known as NIMBY ("Not In My Back Yard") resistance. Neighbors and community groups fight to keep supportive housing out of their neighborhoods, often driven by fear and misinformation rather than facts.
ABLE works to educate communities, challenge misinformation, and advocate at every level for the housing solutions that our neighbors deserve. We've lived the consequences of inadequate housing. We will keep showing up until PSH gets the support it needs.
PSH residents use emergency services dramatically less, saving communities money.
Stable housing paired with services leads to measurable mental and physical health gains.
ABLE maintains one of Reno & Washoe County's most comprehensive community resource directories — covering housing, food, healthcare, mental health, transportation, employment, legal aid, and more. Free to use. Always current.
Works on any smartphone — no app needed
Whether it's a new idea, a suggestion to improve services, or a complaint that needs attention — you can submit it anonymously or with your name. Every submission reaches ABLE members directly.
ABLE is actively looking for new members who want to turn their experience into impact. Whether you're currently experiencing housing instability, have experienced it in the past, or are a professional who believes in the power of lived-experience advocacy — there is a place for you here.
Our members participate in policy meetings, community evaluations, advocacy events, outreach campaigns, and more. You don't need a degree or a title. You need a voice, a commitment to your community, and the desire to make things better.
Fill this out and an ABLE member will reach out to you personally.
ABLE works alongside organizations across Reno & Washoe County who share our commitment to dignity, justice, and lasting solutions for people experiencing homelessness.
ABLE believes in the power of collaboration. We partner with nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare providers, and community groups to create a more coordinated, effective, and compassionate response to homelessness in Reno & Washoe County. If your organization shares our values, we'd love to connect.
Whether you're looking to join ABLE, partner with us, refer someone to our resource directory, or simply learn more about what we do — reach out. We're a community organization and we treat everyone who contacts us with respect and care.