Ruby Dhillon-Williams, the newly confirmed director of the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH), has spent more than 20 years in housing development in both the public and private sectors, with a specialty in navigating the tricky world of low-income tax credits to greenlight affordable rental communities.
The University of Southern California political-science graduate helped found and lead various development companies that brought much-needed housing options to growing areas in the Southwest, including Arizona.
“Housing is the foundation of everything,” said Dhillon-Williams, who also holds a law degree from American College of Law. “Without a stable roof over your head, it’s nearly impossible for individuals, families or communities to truly thrive. I’ve dedicated my career to housing because where you live dictates your access to opportunity, health and economic mobility.”
Dhillon-Williams was nominated to become ADOH’s Interim Director by Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2025 and confirmed by the state Senate as Director in May.
She first joined ADOH from 2010-2012 as its rental programs administrator before leaving for the private sector. Dhillon-Williams returned to public service as ADOH’s Assistant Deputy Director of Housing & Community Development in 2020 and advanced to Deputy Director in 2023.
Championing One of the ‘Most Powerful Engines For Public Good’
During her time at the agency, Dhillon-Williams has succeeded in streamlining government to accelerate the development of new housing.
Early in her career working with developers, the Southern California native cultivated an expertise in utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which at both the federal and state levels has been an instrumental tool in financing affordable housing.
“LIHTC is single-handedly one of the most powerful engines we have to turn private capital into public good and get doors open for families who need them most,” Dhillon-Williams said. “Without tax credit programs, the math on affordable housing simply doesn’t work, making federal and state LIHTC essential to bridging the affordability gap.”
At ADOH, she played a key role in simplifying procedures for awarding federal LIHTC projects and eliminating excess regulations. In 2022, this resulted in the most applications for affordable housing projects in the state’s history, with an 80% increase in applications from rural Arizona communities and a record amount of LIHTC dollars ($30.1 million) awarded. She also led the rollout of the state’s LIHTC program (modeled after the federal program) that was initiated under Gov. Doug Ducey.
An Efficient Partner to Match Market Demand
Dhillon-Williams is committed to expanding housing opportunities for both current and future residents.
“Our priority is to match the urgency of the market, serving as an efficient partner so that state and federal funding flow seamlessly to support every step of the housing continuum — from emergency shelter to homeownership,” she said. “We are streamlining our processes to operate at the pace of our partners, ensuring public resources are reliable and accessible no matter where a family lands on the housing spectrum.”
Members of the development community supported Dhillon-Williams’ nomination to head the department.
Heather Lafferty, a senior advisor with the Ulysses Development Group, testified in a confirmation hearing that Dhillon-Williams was an asset to the state.
Her promotion benefits home builders who want to be creative in bringing new homes, including low-income housing, to the state.
“She has been incredibly successful in this role and we need her continued leadership to meet the housing challenges across the state,” Lafferty said. “Arizona is incredibly fortunate to have Dhillon-Williams’ strategic, responsive and impartial leadership.”
