The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has appointed Steven A. Palmer as the state’s first Housing Ombudsman. The new position was created under Governor Wes Moore’s “Housing Starts Here” executive order, with the goal of increasing housing production and improving intergovernmental coordination across the state. Palmer will join the department’s Division of Policy, Strategy and Research.
According to DHCD, the Housing Ombudsman will focus on resolving delays in ongoing development projects, especially those stalled due to state or local permitting or entitlement processes. The role also includes facilitating new development on sites identified as having high potential, such as government-owned land. DHCD Secretary Jake Day stated that increasing housing production across all types and price points is central to improving affordability and supporting economic growth.
Palmer most recently served as Director of Public Policy at Housing&, a regional nonprofit housing association serving Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. His previous public sector experience includes legislative roles with the Council of the District of Columbia, where his work included agency oversight and policy drafting. Earlier in his career, Palmer practiced law as an associate at Covington & Burling LLP.
Palmer grew up in Olney and attended Montgomery County Public Schools before graduating from the University of Maryland and later Harvard Law School. In a statement, he cited Maryland’s historically abundant housing supply as a key factor that allowed his family to settle and build stability in the state. DHCD has indicated the new ombudsman position will support the administration’s broader housing strategy and engagement with local government, industry partners, and stakeholders.
