Clients

Learn about the work SunRaise Consulting’s provides its clients. 

Detroit Housing Network

The Detroit Housing Network (DHN) is a collection of Detroit community organizations, led by CHN Housing Partners and supported by the Rocket Community Fund, that believe housing stability and affordable homeownership are the cornerstone of strong families and vibrant neighborhoods.

CHN Housing Partners and the City of Detroit engaged SRC to assist with the rollout of DHN. DHN is currently composed of six established nonprofit organizations (with a combined 200+ years of service to Detroit neighborhoods) that provide HUD-approved housing counseling services to Detroit residents.

SRC is assisting with the development and adoption of a customized DHN client management system built on the Home Keeper platform on Salesforce. This DHN system will streamline the application process for Detroiters seeking HUD-approved housing counseling and other services. SRC, in collaboration with the CHN team, is gathering partner input on the development of the system, providing training on the new system, developing training materials, and building the capacity of the housing counseling agencies.  

Testimonial:
“Libby has been an amazing thought leader, practitioner, and policy advocate for quality housing service delivery in Detroit – particularly as she has championed homeownership through HUD Counseling. She has been a huge support in building the Detroit Housing Network and it has been a pleasure working with her!” 
Jason Headen, Vice President – Detroit Market, CHN Housing Partners 

“SunRaise Consulting supports city leaders to design high impact homeownership programs. Libby brings expertise in HUD regulation and designs solutions that maximize program impact and spend. SunRaise helps city leaders identify opportunities to deploy federal funds into high impact homeownership programing. Libby is highly competent in HUD regulation while also having deep understanding of client and counselor perspectives.”
Adam Kokenakes Program Analyst IV, Housing & Revitalization Department, City of Detroit

Detroit Future City

Detroit Future City is a think tank, a policy advocate, and an innovation engine developing data-driven strategies to create a more equitable and sustainable future for Detroit.

SunRaise Consulting worked with Detroit Future City to develop the “Detroit Mortgage Catalog: A look at mortgage and cost-assistance products designed to support Detroit homebuyers.” Libby interviewed housing counseling practitioners and representatives at multiple mortgage lending institutions in Michigan to identify financial products making a positive impact on homeownership in Detroit. 

You can see the catalog here.

Testimonial:
“We appreciate Libby’s hard work on this project. We learned a lot from her knowledge of guiding low-to-moderate income Detroiters to achieve homeownership and her stakeholder interviews.”
Kimberly Faison, Director of Community and Economic Development, Detroit Future City 

Detroit Community Reinvestment Coalition

A local Coalition of NCRC (National Community Reinvestment Coalition)

In June 2021, SunRaise Consulting (SRC) was selected to support the local NCRC Detroit Coalition to implement a survey funded by First Merchants Bank. The aim of the survey was to identify barriers Detroiters face to banking and accessing capital, as well as identifying a preferred location for a new branch. The goal was to receive at least 300 responses. SRC, working with the Detroit Coalition members, was able to gather over 400 responses. The final report will soon be released to the public.

SRC has since been asked to provide ongoing support for the Coalition meetings, training and work formalizing Community Benefit Agreements with other banks in the Detroit market.

Testimonial:
“Libby is at the center of minority homeownership, financial empowerment and community reinvestment by financial institutions in Detroit and Wayne County. She is knowledgeable, experienced, smart, committed, and creative. We are thrilled to have her on our team.”
Gerald Kellman, Senior Advisor, NCRC and Community Organizing Mentor to President Obama

“Libby as a consultant for the Detroit Community Reinvestment Coalition has provided essential information to members, assisted in problem solving, suggested diagnosis which necessitate redefinition of the issue, made recommendations based on the diagnosis, assisted with implementation of recommended solutions, assisted in building a consensus and commitment around corrective action among members and NCRC national leadership and facilitated ongoing learning opportunities for members. Overall, she has permanently improved the coalition’s effectiveness.”
Phyllis Edwards, Executive Director, Bridging Communities, Inc.  

Community Housing Network

The Community Housing Network (Troy, Michigan) had recently experienced staffing changes that resulted in some gaps of institutional knowledge about the HUD Housing Counseling program. SunRaise Consulting was contracted to meet with current staff, assist in the reorganization of responsibilities, and advise about sustaining the success of the programs going forward.

Testimonial:
“Libby is smart, efficient, kind and supportive through our learning and growing process! We appreciate her openness to meet us where we were at and dive in to assist. She provided valuable written analysis with a break down of positives and areas of concern and potential growth. Thank you so so much! We are grateful for her guidance!”
Deirdre Mercer, Senior Director of Programs, Community Housing Network