Sandra Henriquez
President Barack Obama last Friday announced his intent to nominate Sandra Henriquez, administrator and chief executive officer of the Boston Housing Authority, to the position of Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Henriquez assumed her duties as CEO of the Boston Housing Authority in April 1996. She is the chief of public housing for the City of Boston, a Cabinet-level position within the administration of Mayor Thomas M. Menino. She had previously served at the Boston Housing Authority in various capacities from 1977 to 1983.
Henriquez returned to public housing after 10 years as a principal of Maloney Properties Inc., a full-service real estate property management firm specializing in the delivery of services to resident-controlled and nonprofit sponsored housing. Prior to her time with Maloney Properties, she served as the director of housing management and tenant services for the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
She is also a director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, and is the immediate past chair of the board of directors of the YWCA Boston. In addition, she is a director of the Massachusetts-based Citizens Housing and Planning Association.
The Rental Housing Association of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board honored Henriquez in 2000 with the Excellence in Public Service Award. In 1997, she received the Abigail Adams Award from the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus and was recognized by the Banker and Tradesman newspaper as a “Leader Making A Difference.” Henriquez was also named Executive Director of the Year in 2002 by the National Organization of African Americans in Housing.
Henriquez has three children, two sons and a daughter. One son, Carlos Henriquez, is running for the District 7 seat on the Boston City Council, now held by City Councilor Chuck Turner.
