Pamela Patenaude was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
HUD Secretary Ben Carson said the appointment is particularly timely given all the displacement and housing issues related to 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,” Carson said. “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, 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.
Patenaude previously served as HUD’s assistant secretary for community planning and development. In that role, she provided leadership for the long-term recovery efforts necessitated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.