LCCoC Lived Experience Advisory Board

Executive Chair Member of Lake County Continuum of Care (LCCOC)

Dustin Lawson is more than a leader—he is a survivor, a changemaker, and a fierce

advocate for those who are too often unheard. As Executive Chair of the LCCOC and chair

member of Live Experience Advisory Board, Dustin brings wisdom born from lived

experience. He grew up navigating unstable housing, incarceration, and addiction, and

understands in his bones what it means to live without safety, support, or a place to

belong.

For Dustin, this work is deeply personal. He lost his brother on the streets of San

Francisco—an unbearable tragedy that became a turning point in his life. It taught him that

housing isn’t just about shelter—it’s about dignity, healing, and survival. He knows

firsthand that most families are only one or two missed paychecks away from becoming

homeless, and he’s committed to building a system that never forgets that truth.

Today, Dustin is a college graduate with degrees in Human Services, Chemical

Dependency Counseling, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. He works as a Community

Health Worker and is the founder of Recovery Scholars, a student-led movement that

uplifts people in recovery and dismantles the stigma that so often holds them back.

Dustin serves on the Lake County LEAB to be a voice for those still struggling in silence—

those in jail cells, in recovery, in shelters, or just trying to hold it all together. His heart

beats for real justice, recovery, and second chances. His focus areas include reentry

support, mental health access, substance use recovery and creating spaces where healing

and community can thrive.

Willow Nunez is a resilient and compassionate young woman whose journey reflects extraordinary strength and perseverance. At just 22, she has overcome the profound challenges of homelessness and rejection, navigating life as an unaccompanied transgender youth. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree at Lake County Woodland Community College while also working as a clerk and tutor in the Student Success Center. Willow’s story is one of transformation—from despair to hope, from isolation to community. Willow strives to ensure that no one feels unloved or forgotten. Her voice is a beacon for homeless youth everywhere. 

Maria is just freshly starting to begin what she believes is her soul's purpose in life. Most of her adult life she has battled addiction, housing instability, and homelessness. While in the midst of her addiction she realized she was being called to become an advocate for herself and others in shoes like hers. Now with the resources of the transitional housing project   the Hope Center, she is looking to start a certificate training program to become a peer support specialist. Maria hopes to be an inspiration to other community members as well as having an impact on changing how addicts and the homeless are viewed and treated by law enforcement and the community. Most importantly Maria’s goal is to turn her negative life experiences into a blessing by enabling her to help others.  

Tiffany Hall, a beacon of resilience and hope, serves on Lake County

COC’s Lived Experience Advisory Board. Her life, a

testament to the human spirit’s resilience, has been forged in the fires of

homelessness, abuse, and addiction. She has transformed trauma -

including childhood sexual abuse and a violent kidnapping - into strength

and healing through spiritual practices and recovery groups, as well as the

support and guidance of her entire healthcare team. A dedicated mother

and mental health advocate, Tiffany’s diverse background from

entrepreneurship to higher education fuels her compassionate community

service. She is dedicated to her recovery and is currently working a 12-step

program, and is on pace to complete 180 meetings in 90 days. Her story

inspires hope, and her journey demonstrates the transformative power of

perseverance and the enduring strength of the human spirit.