Deborah Goddard
Deborah is an accomplished executive and housing professional with a substantial record of effective strategic leadership.
She has extensive experience in community development and affordable housing across a spectrum of disciplines including law, policy, planning, and real estate development, as well as a successful record of policy and program leadership, management of complex projects, and multi-party negotiations. Deborah has a uniquely broad expertise in state and federal programs for both private assisted and public housing; excels at organizational and personnel administration and development; and has a strong record of forming and sustaining critical relationships. Deborah was appointed Secretary of Housing for the State of Rhode Island in December of 2024. In this role she directs the work of the Executive Office of Housing, which leads housing policy for RI, including the policies and programs designed to address homelessness. As Secretary, Deborah also serves as Chair of Rhode Island Housing, the State’s housing finance agency..
Her prior experience includes positions as Managing Director for Policy and Program Development at MassHousing, General Counsel at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, Director of Community Planning at Urban Edge Neighborhood Development Corp., and Director of Real Estate Development at the Boston Housing Authority.