The CLELN’s seven guiding principles are as follows:

1. Nothing about us without us and for us.
   We believe and are guided by and advance seven principles for leadership and inclusion of people with lived experience of homelessness.  That begins with the principle of Nothing About Us Without Us and For Us.
2. We believe that ending homelessness is possible.
   We believe homelessness should, and can become rare, brief, and non-recurring.
3. We work for those who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness.
   We work with humility and without judgement and take a rights-based approach to ending homelessness.
4. We believe in the Right to Housing.
   We believe in the fulfilment of all peoples’ rights to a safe, permanent, and affordable home of their choosing, with the support necessary to sustain it.
5. We are committed to equity and inclusivity.
   We strive for equity and inclusion within our network. By being sensitive to the compounding impact and complexity of intersectional realizations of stigma, prejudice, and oppression, we aim to support all homeless-identifying people, including those who experience multi-marginalization, in addressing homelessness and housing need.
6. We are committed to being curious and honouring a space of learning and understanding.
   We welcome people of colour, marginalized groups and individuals, and those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. We are committed to ensuring that the Canadian Lived Experience Leadership Network is a safe and respectful space for all members. CLELN members will treat fellow members respectfully and will work collectively to ensure CLELN is a space where everyone is heard and strive for a space where conflict can be a source for learning for all. We will not accept or allow any form of discrimination, violence, bullying or abusive behaviour.
7. We commit to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
   We are guided in our work by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the principle of self-determination.