Acting Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard speaks before the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
Rhode Island’s acting housing secretary is one step closer to permanently leading the agency for housing, homelessness, and community development after gaining the endorsement of the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government Tuesday afternoon.
The committee voted 11-0 to advance Acting Secretary Deborah Goddard’s nomination to the full Senate. Goddard’s confirmation is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, chamber spokesperson Greg Paré said in an email.
Speaking before the committee, Goddard billed herself as someone who can nurture the still fledgling Department of Housing by relying on her 40 years of experience in the private and public sectors.
“I believe that we can get our hands around the issues of housing and homelessness challenges in the state,” she said. “This has been my life’s work.”
Gov. Dan McKee appointed Goddard last November to be the fourth leader in three years at the department established in June 2022, succeeding interim director Daniel Connors — who replaced Stefan Pryor in July. Goddard has served in an acting capacity since Dec. 2, 2024.
The veteran housing administrator previously oversaw public housing projects in Massachusetts and New York City. She also has previous experience in Rhode Island, serving as a consultant to the Department of Housing under the state’s first housing secretary, Joshua Saal, who resigned in January 2023 after about a year on the job.
“My experience in housing is unique, deep and broad, and has given me valuable insights into the intricacies of housing policy and development,” Goddard told the committee.
If confirmed, Goddard said she plans to overhaul its organizational structure in order to streamline housing governance across the state. The acting secretary has already got that ball rolling via a 141-page report submitted to state leaders at the end of 2024 that aims to bring more decision making under the state’s umbrella — along with changing the department’s name to the Executive Office of Housing.
The plan calls on the state to merge the Housing Resources Commission and the homelessness advisory council into a single advisory body. The department also recommends making the housing secretary the permanent chair the board of commissioners for RIHousing, the quasi-state agency that finances affordable home construction
Goddard also pledged to fully staff up the department, which has a budget for 38 employees, but still has only 17.
Spokesperson Emily Marshall said seven positions are close to being filled with interviews conducted or formal offers made, including three within the department’s homelessness team. Four additional positions are expected to be posted in the next few weeks, she told Rhode Island Current.
Goddard’s nomination by McKee drew wide praise from housing advocates — including one of the women who sought the job last year. HousingWorks RI Director Brenda Clement wrote to the committee to say she believes Goddard’s strong knowledge and experience with housing programs will be critical in the event of federal cuts.
“HousingWorks RI envisions a Rhode Island in which all communities embrace a variety of housing choices so that all residents, regardless of income, can live in healthy and affordable homes in vibrant and thriving neighborhoods,” Clement wrote. “I know Deb shares that vision, and we look forward to working with her in this role to achieve these goals.”
However, Vincent Marzullo, founder of USA Compassion Corps, offered conditional support for Godard. He said while the acting secretary has vast experience, she needs to focus on tackling the state’s homelessness crisis. At least 2,442 unhoused people across Rhode Island were counted when volunteers conducted an annual survey in late January 2024 — up 35% from the 2023 count.
Marzullo in his written testimony said that despite Goddard reactivating the state’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, the panel has only convened three times without engaging the Permanent Advisory Council — which consists of legal representatives from the unhoused community, advocates, service providers.
“What is additionally appalling is the fact that we don’t even have an appointed and functioning Advisory Council — also a requirement of the law,” he wrote.
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