Sunaree Marshall has been announced as the new Division Director for the Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) in the Department of Community and Human Services. Sunaree brings over fifteen years of housing and community development experience.
HCD Director
As the new Division Director, Sunaree will oversee HCD, one of several divisions within DCHS, which directly invests in the creation and preservation of affordable housing and community development projects by working collaboratively with local cities, housing authorities, developers, state and federal agencies, nonprofits, and community members. HCD also works in partnership with organizations to strengthen housing stability and reduce displacement of Black, Indigenous, and communities of color across the region.
“Sunaree has deep knowledge and a track record for delivering results, making her the ideal leader for HCD. She brings a wealth of experience, leadership and vision that have been invaluable to the team,” said Kelly Rider, DCHS Director. “From her experience working with the federal government, she has firsthand knowledge of housing policy from a national perspective, and she helped lead the division through the pandemic while continuing to expand access to affordable housing, Sunaree brings strong and steady leadership to the department. Sunaree’s commitment to equitable development, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and anti-displacement efforts are critical for our region.”
Since joining HCD in 2019, Sunaree has led strategic efforts within the division, overseeing affordable housing policy, planning, and regional collaboration efforts, with a focus on equitable development. In 2022, Sunaree became HCD’s Deputy Director, where she helped oversee the distribution of $425 million in funding across 325+ contracts, addressing the region’s most pressing housing challenges and strengthening communities. These investments supported King County’s flagship Health Through Housing Initiative, expanded the County’s Housing Finance Program, provided critical operational funding to organizations working with people and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and strengthened countywide affordable housing policies.
Some of HCD’s programs that Sunaree will oversee include the Health Through Housing Initiative, the Housing Repair Program, the Housing Finance Program, Operating Support, Rental Assistance, and Supportive Services, Best Starts for Kids, the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account, among others. The division also assists the Affordable Housing Committee, which recommends action and assesses progress toward implementation of the Regional Affordable Housing Task Force Five Year Action Plan and functions as a point of coordination and accountability for affordable housing efforts across King County.
Prior to joining HCD, Sunaree spent over a decade spearheading federal housing and community development work in Washington, D.C. This included leading teams to enact Affirmatively Further Fair Housing and supporting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities grant program. Sunaree also served for three years as a Community Youth Development volunteer in the Peace Corps in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.