On September 14, 2017, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Trump’s nomination of Pamela Patenaude to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD Secretary Ben Carson welcomed the Senate’s action and said it comes at a critical time as the Department prepares to support the long-term recovery following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
“At this moment when so many of our citizens are suffering, Pam will bring strong leadership when we need her most,” said Secretary Carson. “Pam’s extensive housing and community development experience will be invaluable as we embark upon the long road to recovery for communities hard-hit by disaster and I’m grateful the Senate confirmed her nomination.”
As Deputy Secretary, Ms. Patenaude will lead the Department’s Disaster Management Group (DMG) and will play a primary leadership and operational role in coordinating the long-term recovery efforts of 16 program and support offices within HUD, including the Offices of Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, Policy Development and Research, and Housing / Federal Housing Administration (FHA). To facilitate post-disaster recovery of damaged homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, Congress appropriated $7.4 billion in funding for HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program.
Ms. Patenaude, a resident of Fairfax County, is uniquely qualified to contribute to these efforts immediately, as she previously served as HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development and provided leadership for the long-term recovery efforts necessitated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.