Deborah Goddard can officially — and permanently — lead the department she’s headed for the last three months, the Rhode Island Senate affirmed in a vote on Thursday.
The Senate’s confirmation was unanimous by those in attendance, with 32 votes in favor of letting Goddard direct the state’s Department of Housing. Sen. Robert Britto, an East Providence Democrat, abstained from the vote because he works for design and construction for RIHousing — where the secretary of housing serves as chair of the board of directors.
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 Rhode Island Housing website still listed Pryor as its chair as of Thursday.
Five senators were absent Thursday, including Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who was recently hospitalized with pneumonia. Also absent were Democratic Sens. Victoria Gu of Westerly and Lammis Vargas of Cranston and Republicans Sen. Elaine Morgan of Hopkinton and Thomas Paolino of Lincoln.
In his motion to move for advice and consent, Sen. Jacob Bissaillon, a Providence Democrat, called Goddard “the ideal candidate” to permanently lead the agency responsible for housing, homelessness, and community development.
“She has made housing and public policy her life’s work,” Bissaillon said. “And I’ll note that Secretary Goddard has more experience in housing than her three male predecessors combined.”
Goddard brings more than 40 years of private and public-sector housing experience to Rhode Island, having previously overseen public housing projects in Massachusetts and New York City.
She also served as a consultant to the Rhode Island Department of Housing under the state’s first housing secretary, Joshua Saal, who resigned in January 2023 after about a year on the job.
“And she wants to continue that work and commitment here in Rhode Island,” Bissaillon.
Bissaillon also lauded Goddard for “charting a bold course” for the housing department since taking on the job in December. He highlighted a report submitted at the end of 2024 to reorganize the department in order to streamline housing governance across the state, along with her commitment to see the state permit 15,000 new homes by 2030.
“This is not just a vision for the state, it is a road map reversing the course of Rhode Island’s housing crisis,” Bissaillon said.
Goddard has also received praise from housing advocates, which Sen. Tiara Mack, a Providence Democrat, cited before casting her vote in favor.
“Her colleagues say that she listens, she learns, she listens, and builds consensus,” Mack said. “As we continue to build the department in its capacity, its leadership must have a vision, a track record, and a necessary approach for success — Secretary Goddard is that leader.”
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
