Ashley Halladay-Schmandt is the Director of the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness and the Programs Director for the Michigan Balance of State Continuum of Care. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Western Michigan University and has worked in the field of ending homelessness since 2011. Ashley led the creation of the Grand Traverse County Housing and Homelessness Task Force in partnership with city and county government, coordinating a diverse leadership team to develop a community-wide plan to end homelessness. She specializes in systems thinking, policy advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration, and regularly provides training to communities on housing-focused strategies like diversion, permanent supportive housing, and coordinated entry. Ashley’s work is grounded in the belief that homelessness is a housing problem—and that effective solutions start with partnership, data, and political will.