Trump picks housing expert for key HUD post

WASHINGTON — President Trump has nominated Pam Patenaude, the president of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for Housing America's Families, to serve as deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

If confirmed, Patenaude will become No. 2 to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

Her nomination brought immediate praise from housing groups.

Pam Patenaude, director of housing policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center

"Patenaude is a strong leader with decades of experience cultivating bipartisan solutions to America’s affordable rental housing crisis," said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "She has deep knowledge of, experience with and appreciation for the critical programs she will oversee."

David Stevens, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, said “Pam is an exceptional choice for the position."

"She has a well-informed understanding of the agency, and essential technical knowledge of the real-estate finance industry. I would encourage the Senate to move swiftly in confirming her nomination," Stevens said in a statement Friday.

National Association of Realtors President William Brown also welcomed Patenaude's nomination.

“Pam is an ideal candidate for the position; she understands the issues that impact the industry and our Realtor members, and we look forward to continuing our work together with HUD and Pam," he said in a press release.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Affordable housing HUD
MORE FROM NATIONAL MORTGAGE NEWS