Oral history interview with Diane J. Johnson, 2022
Abstract
Diane Johnson recounts her career in housing policy, paying close attention to her time as director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Newark field office during Obama's presidency. She also provides insight from her role as chief of staff to Newark Mayor Luis Quintana, regional director of HUD's New York field office, recovery advisor and board chairperson for the Hous ing Authority of New Orleans and director of Federal Housing Administration in the 1990s. She details her collaboration with local communities in advocating for comprehensive housing policy from post-Hurricane Katrina work in New Orleans to working with the archdiocese of Newark. She emphasizes the intersectionality of health and housing, the importance of media coverage and the dissemination of information, and working with communities. Johnson pays close attention to Section 8, the Hope VI program, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity law, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. She also discusses the role of Shaun Donovan, HUD Secretary; Congress and the Obama administration; Hurricane Sandy; the importance of funds; and the New Community Corporation
Presidents--United States; Housing policy--United States; Housing and health--United States; Hurricane Sandy, 2012; Hurricane Katrina, 2005; Johnson, Diane J; Obama, Barack; Housing Authority of New Orleans; Housing Choice Voucher Program (U.S.); HOPE VI (Program); HUD-VASH Program (U.S.); Mortgage Bankers Association of America; New Community Corp; United States. Department of Housing and Urban Development; United States. Federal Housing Administration; United States; Fair Housing Act; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2022
Physical Description
49 pages
Note (Biographical)
Diane Johnson served as director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Newark field office during the years that President Obama was in office. She has also served as chief of staff to acting Newark Mayor Luis Quintana, regiona l director of HUD's New York and New Jersey field offices, acting field office director for HUD's Detroit field office, and recovery advisor and board chairperson for the Housing Authority of New Orleans
Note
Interviewed by Dov Weinryb Grohsgal on May 13, 2022. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Diane J. Johnson, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022