Our Team

Danielle Ferrier has more than 25 years of experience in the human services industry and holds two master’s degrees: Master of Business Administration from Simmons School of Management and Master of Social Work from Boston University. Before joining the Heading Home team in July 2017, she was the Deputy Commissioner for Clinical Services & Program Operations at the Department of Children & Families. Danielle holds the highest level of independent licensure in social work (LICSW) and was a practicing clinical therapist for 15 years. Her training and primary practice are with “high-risk” children, youth, and families with a clinical specialty in trauma and attachment. Danielle’s programs at Rediscovery specialized primarily with “aging out youth,” and unaccompanied homeless youth. Additional areas of professional interest and expertise include early childhood development, dyspraxia, and autism. Prior to heading Home, Danielle developed an innovative program, YouthHarbors, which is based in high schools and designed to prevent unaccompanied high school students from becoming homeless or to rapidly house these youth when they are experiencing homelessness. Danielle has served on many task forces designed to evaluate and address the issues facing homeless, unaccompanied youth, and youth involved in state care.

Danielle has taught at the Boston University School of Social Work in the Policy Department and provided expert consultation on cases related to the clinical impact of foster care and programs designed to work with young-parenting adults who have experienced trauma and substance abuse. She has trained nationally on topics related to homeless youth, education, and youth aging out of foster care.

Heather Martin brings over 20 years of extensive experience in nonprofit management, strategy, and operations to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Heading Home. She has a proven track record of driving operational excellence, strategic planning, and financial stewardship within mission-driven organizations.

Prior to joining Heading Home, Heather served as Vice President of Operations at March of Dimes, where she led enterprise operations, including financial planning, budgeting, facilities management, and event logistics. She also spent 18 years as Chief Finance and Operations Officer at 18Doors/InterfaithFamily.com, Inc. There, she spearheaded strategic planning initiatives, led digital transformation efforts, and navigated organizational leadership transitions. Heather oversaw HR, IT, finance, and administrative functions while driving sustainable growth through effective resource allocation and financial management.

Heather holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, where she honed her expertise in organizational leadership and operational strategy. She is deeply committed to leveraging her skills to support Heading Home’s mission of ending homelessness through innovative, community-focused solutions.

Julie DeLillo has over 25 years of Human Resources experience with 15+ years in human services.  Prior to moving to Human Resources, Julie spent 5+ years as an internal auditor in both financial and retail organizations.  Julie has a Master’s of Business Administration from Fitchburg State College and a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk Law School.  Before joining Heading Home, Julie was the VP of HR at Making Opportunity Count and before that at Perkins School for the Blind and Vinfen.  Julie is an active member of the Employer Advisory Board for Suffolk University where she enjoys working with students through mock interviews, job shadowing, and mentor programs.  Julie is also an active member of Suffolk University’s Human Services and Social Impact career community through Career Services.

Jeffrey Bailey comes to Heading Home with 25+ years of social services experience. In the role of Senior Director of Programs, Jeffrey oversees staff and services for Heading Home’s Emergency Shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing across Eastern Massachusetts. Working closely with Heading Home’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey serves as the liaison between Heading Home, EOHLC. Jeffrey directs all activities of the family shelter and family and individual PSH, ensuring all required services are made available to individuals at Heading Home’s sites. Prior to joining Heading Home, Jeffrey was Director of the Social Services Departments in a large non-profit as well as working with Federal agencies such as MEMA. Jeffrey holds a Doctorate from South University in Business Management.

Gretchen Carleton comes to Heading Home with 25+ years of Human Services experience. Prior to joining Heading Home, Gretchen spent eight years working for the Department of Children and Families supporting a network of contract management and compliance teams and collaborating on child welfare services systems. In her role as Senior Director of Contracts and Compliance, Gretchen helps the entire agency in fulfilling government and private funding contracts, managing cross-department projects expanding Heading Home’s work, and seeking efficiencies in policies and protocols in place.

Gretchen holds two Master’s degrees from Suffolk University – her MPA from Sawyer School of Management and a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. In addition to her role at DCF, Gretchen continued to be a member of the BMC BEST mobile crisis team and consulted on projects for local community and elder care service programs.

Shauna Hodge-Barnett, M.S. is a dedicated Human Services executive with over 20 years of experience leading impactful programs in behavioral health, housing stability, and trauma-informed care. She has played a key leadership role in Massachusetts’ Emergency Shelter system, overseeing large-scale operations and guiding over 150 staff in support of families experiencing homelessness. Shauna is known for her strategic, data-informed program management and her ability to drive sustainable outcomes through clinical oversight, housing-first initiatives, and strong public-sector collaboration. Her career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening systems of care for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations.

Jaclyn Manchester brings over 15 years of property management experience to Heading Home. Prior to joining the Heading Home team, she spent four years as the Regional Manager for a New England based company, overseeing a portfolio of 50 properties. Jaclyn has been in leadership roles with companies including Waterton, The Dolben Company, Trinity Management, and VTT Management. Her comprehensive property management experience includes affordable and tax credit programs, market rate units, capital planning, budget planning, policy creation, and acquisitions and dispositions.

In her role as Senior Director of Real Estate and Facilities Management, Jaclyn oversees all of Heading Home’s owned and leased properties to maximize value while minimizing risk. Additionally, Jaclyn works interdepartmentally to ensure program unit needs are met while maintaining compliance with contractual obligations, managing projects, and policy and procedural proficiencies.

David Parilla comes to Heading Home with 10+ years of Social Justice and Human Services experience. In his role as Senior Director of Data and Operational Planning, David oversees strategic initiatives involving client data to ensure Heading Home makes cross-department, data-informed decisions. David also oversees the management of all client-related data entry systems and ensures Heading Home continues to excel in the timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of data for the 1,400+ clients Heading Home serves annually.

Prior to joining Heading Home, David conducted criminal justice and police department reform across the country for over five years, working with federal agencies such as the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the National Institute of Corrections. David holds a Master’s degree from Suffolk University in Criminal Justice.