10. Shaun Donovan (D) - Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Former Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing, Housing & Urban Development Former Commissioner, Federal Housing Administration
Nominated: December 13, 2008 Obama’s comments: “We need to approach the old challenge of affordable housing with new energy, new ideas, and a new, efficient style of leadership. We need to understand that the old ways of looking at our cities just won’t do. That means promoting cities as the backbone of regional growth by not only solving the problems in our cities, but seizing the opportunities in our growing suburbs, exurbs, and metropolitan areas. No one knows this better than the outstanding public servant I am announcing today as our next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development—Shaun Donovan. “As Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development in New York City, Shaun has led the effort to create the largest housing plan in the nation, helping hundreds of thousands of our citizens buy or rent their homes. Prior to joining Mayor Bloomberg’s administration, Shaun worked both in business, where he was responsible for affordable housing investments, and at one of our nation’s top universities, where he researched and wrote about housing issues. This appointment represents something of a homecoming for Shaun, who worked at HUD in the Clinton administration, leading an effort to help make housing affordable for nearly two million Americans. Trained as an architect, Shaun understands housing down to how homes are designed, built, and wired. “With experience that stretches from the public sector to the private sector to academia, Shaun will bring to this important post fresh thinking, unencumbered by old ideology and outdated ideas. He understands that we need to move past the stale arguments that say low-income Americans shouldn’t even try to own a home or that our mortgage crisis is due solely to a few greedy lenders. He knows that we can put the dream of owning a home within reach for more families, so long as we’re making loans in the right way, and so long as those who buy a home are prepared for the responsibilities of homeownership. “In the end, expanding access to affordable housing isn’t just about caring for the least fortunate among us and strengthening our middle class—it’s about ending our housing mess, climbing out of our financial crisis, and putting our economy on the path to long-term growth and prosperity. And that is what Shaun and I will work to do together when I am President of the United States.” Others’ comments: “‘Shaun Donovan has been one of the most effective housing commissioners in New York City’s history,’ said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, who had championed Mr. Donovan. “‘At this time, with the housing crisis raging, he is exactly the kind of person we need as HUD secretary.’ “‘Shaun is brilliant, really thoughtful and creative, and knowledgeable about a broad range of housing policies in ways that unfortunately is very unusual,’ said Barbara Sard, the director of housing policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research and advocacy group.”
Sworn in: January 26, 2009 Challenges: “Spur the development of affordable housing in our cities and towns across America. “Ease the economic pain that millions of American families are feeling right now because of our unsteady housing markets. “Ease our foreclosure crisis. “Work with the Treasury, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to help stabilize our housing markets. “Make sure our mortgage markets and other financial markets are transparent, open and fair. “Reach a bipartisan consensus on how to reform the outdated and often overlapping regulatory system that failed our citizens in the run-up to the current crisis. “Within HUD: modernize I.T. systems, overhaul sluggish human resource systems and strengthen contract oversight. “Restore HUD as a respected research institution. “Reform HUD management.” —Shaun Donovan statement