Project Team Information

The City of Detroit has engaged Barbara Poppe & Associates to help facilitate the creation of Detroit’s 5-year Strategic System Improvement Plan. 

Barbara Poppe (Project Lead): Poppe established Barbara Poppe & Associates in 2014. She previously served as the Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness from November 2009 to March 2014. She also served as the executive director of the Columbus, Ohio-based Community Shelter Board and of Friends of the Homeless, Inc.

Kourtney Clark: Clark has served Franklin County, Ohio, through various organizations to develop innovative programs for at-risk youth, transitional-aged youth, and the homeless population. She created the policies and procedures for the City of Columbus’s first “Shelter for Isolation and Quarantine” which resulted in a 0% mortality rate. 

Matt White: White specializes in homeless system policy development and implementation, research and evaluation, and building effective CoC systems of care. His work has focused on unsheltered encampment decommissioning in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, and Cleveland. White is now a Senior Associate with Housing Innovations.

Matthew Doherty: Doherty has nearly 30 years of leadership experience focused on ending homelessness and the creation and integration of housing, services programs, and economic opportunities. He previously served as the Executive Director for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. He also held leadership positions at the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the San Diego Housing Commission, and the King County Housing Authority.

Kristy Greenwalt: Greenwalt spent eight years as the Director to End Homelessness in the District of Columbia under Mayor Muriel Bowser. During her tenure, the District experienced a 39% reduction in homelessness. She also served as Director of Housing Policy and Research for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.  

David Dirks: Dirks serves as Directing Attorney on Homebase’s Federal HUD technical assistance team, providing technical assistance in evaluating and addressing community needs according to evidence-based best practices. He serves as the Strategy Lead for the Racial Equity Action and Coordination Team and serves on the national HUD Equity TA Committee. 

Donna L. Price (Detroit-based Consultant): Price is a 62-year-old mother of two and housing adcocate born and raised in the city of Detroit. She was elected President of Detroit Action Commonwealth in 2020 and completed a Housing Justice Fellowship Training with Community Change in 2021. Donna now serves on several CoC committees and joined the state C4 Innovative Team in 2022. 

Elijah Earnest (Detroit-based Consultant): Earnest is a direct care worker and community advocate from Detroit who has provided direct peer support for many individuals. His passion lies in spreading awareness about recovery, particularly for those dealing with mental illnesses, addiction, and homelessness.