Danielle Garcia

Experience

• 

  Southwest Housing Compliance Corporation (SHCC)

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2013

  Train, develop, and evaluate a team of 7 Asset Managers that conduct annual compliance audits of multifamily properties. Provide general oversight, guidance, and assistance to a team of 35 Asset Managers to ensure housing program goals are achieved. Review and approve annual compliance reports of 180 contract portfolio to reflect the correct tone, content, and condition of multifamily properties. Conduct on-site audits for an assigned portfolio of 55 multifamily properties. Draft an extensive compliance report that identifies areas of noncompliance and corrective actions. Monitor properties to ensure the areas of noncompliance identified in the compliance report are corrected. Review contracts, financial statements, and operating budgets for an assigned portfolio of 100 multifamily properties. Review and approve rent adjustments and contract renewals for owners of multifamily properties. Document paper files and a database diary with all correspondence pertaining to the life-cycle of a contract.

  • Senior Asset Manager

    Jul 2009 - Jan 2013

  • Asset Manager

    Oct 2007 - Jul 2009

  • Financial Analyst

    Jan 2005 - Oct 2007
• 

  Housing Authority of the City of Austin

  Oct 2012 - May 2013

  Choice Neighborhoods Planning Coordinator

  Gather community input to create a Transformation Plan for a Public Housing property and surrounding neighborhood in east Austin. Coordinate and attend onsite planning meetings with stakeholders, community activist, service providers, faith-based organizations, residents, and local businesses. Execute deliverables outlined in the grant agreement with HUD.

• 

  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

  Jun 2013 - now

  As the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) in REAC, I provide executive leadership for an office of 184 employees, overseeing quality assurance, property inspections, financial reviews, tenant income verification, and risk assessments to ensure operational excellence. I spearheaded budgeting, contract management, and process improvements, optimizing resource allocation and service delivery. Through strategic planning, I established measurable objectives and integrated stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement. I engaged with HUD leadership and key stakeholders, providing critical analyses on property conditions, risk assessments, and program challenges, while ensuring transparency and responsiveness. Additionally, I ensured contractor accountability, establishing performance benchmarks and corrective actions to maintain integrity and efficiency across programs. Show less Leading a $5 billion Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Through the EHV program, approximately 70,000 housing choice vouchers were provided to local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to assist individuals who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Subject matter expert for the unprecedented eviction moratoriums that were enacted due to COVID-19. I successfully collaborated with leadership in various HUD program offices, the Secretary’s office, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prior to authoring/publishing program FAQs, tenant flyers, and a comprehensive toolkit to promote resident stability. Authored Notice PIH 2020-32 on remote administrative hearings and remote voucher briefings (published November 2020). The COVID-19 and social distancing requirements presented significant challenges for PHAs to conduct in-person hearings and briefings, and it was critical to provide guidance on best practices and requirements for PHAs. In addition, during COVID-19, I collaborated extensively with leadership in other offices to ensure the Department provided consistent messaging between program offices. Specifically, I led the coordination that the 30-day notice to vacate in Section 4024 of the CARES Act remains in effect, unemployment income in the CARES Act, 2021 Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan would be excluded from tenant income, child tax credit in Section 7527A of the American Rescue Plan would be excluded from tenant income, and COVID-19 FAQs were consistent between program offices. Show less Serve as the Director for the Program Standards and Compliance Division and the Acting Director for the Policy Legislative Initiatives Division. Advise the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) on high profile civil rights related matters and offer resolution for program offices. Execute cross-cutting policy measures. Brief the Secretary of HUD, FHEO Assistant Secretary, and other executive leaders on high-profile Rental Assistance Demonstration conversions that warrant a disapproval. Improve operational efficiency and strategic planning through special projects. Provide technical assistance, training, and direct support to FHEO field and HUD program offices on civil rights and fair housing requirements. Show less Led the Subsidy Oversight Division to monitor compliance of occupancy standards for HUD's multifamily subsidy programs. Establish goals and report on the Department's progress in reducing improper payment levels. Pioneered and authored new policy initiatives for FSS, VAWA Final Rule, 811 PRA, FAST Act, HOTMA, Streamlining Rule, Student Rule, EIV, RAD Quick Reference Guide, iSERS, and the Do Not Pay System. Expert knowledge of HUD's multifamily programs: Project-based Section 8, Section 101 Rent Supplement, Section 202 PRAC, Section 202 SPRAC, Section 811 PRAC, Section 811 PRA, Section 236, Section 236 RAP, Section 221d3 BMIR. Show less Advise the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Multifamily Housing on high profile policy related matters. Assist with the craftsmanship of the congressional justification for the President’s FY 17 and FY 18 proposed budget. Brief the White House Transition Team on topics related to multifamily programs. Develop training curricula for use by staff and industry partners for Project-based Section 8 programs. Implement cross agency policies that link directly to planning of future affordable housing programs. Show less

  • Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acting), Office of Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC)

    Oct 2024 - now

  • Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs

    Feb 2020 - Oct 2024

  • Director, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

    Sept 2017 - Jan 2020

  • Branch Chief, Office of Multifamily Housing

    Apr 2015 - Aug 2017

  • Senior Advisor (Acting), Office of Multifamily Housing

    Aug 2016 - Apr 2017

  • Housing Program Manager, Office of Multifamily Housing

    Jun 2013 - Apr 2015