In February 2017, former Governor Cuomo appointed RuthAnne Visnauskas to serve as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. In March 2017, Visnauskas was appointed as the President/CEO of the New York State Housing Finance Agency, the State of New York Mortgage Agency, and the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation, the State agencies that comprise New York State Homes and Community Renewal (“HCR”).

Visnauskas previously served as HCR’s Executive Deputy Commissioner for Housing Development, where she was responsible for strategic leadership and oversight of multi-family housing finance programs, the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), the Mortgage Insurance Fund (MIF), the Office of Community Renewal, and the Office of Faith-Based Community Development Services.

Prior to joining HCR, Visnauskas was Managing Director of the Housing Advisory Board for the Robin Hood Foundation, New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization. The Housing Advisory Board was established to fund initiatives to advance the quantity and quality of affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.

Visnauskas held several key positions at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), including the role of Commissioner from September 2014 to February 2015. Prior to taking the helm at HPD, Visnauskas served as Deputy Commissioner for Development, spearheading innovative development programs, including the Preserving City Neighborhoods (PCN) initiative.