About Housing Delaware

Longtime housing advocate Matthew Heckles became Delaware’s Housing Cabinet Director and the Director of Housing Delaware on January 29, 2025.

As leader of the agency, he will work with the Governor’s Office, community partners and stakeholders to address Delaware’s growing housing affordability crisis and lead efforts to reduce costs, increase housing units, and combat homelessness and housing insecurity.

Director Heckles brings extensive experience to his new role, having previously served in the Biden-Harris Administration as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). There, he oversaw the delivery of federal housing programs across six states, including Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Prior to his service at HUD, Matthew led the Community Development Administration in Maryland, overseeing a wide range of affordable housing and economic development programs.

This appointment marks a return to Housing Delaware for Matthew, who first joined the housing authority as a legislative and policy advisor and then advanced to Director of Policy and Planning. During his past tenure, he helped pass legislation to protect domestic violence survivors, reconstitute the Council on Housing and created the State Rental Assistance Program. Matthew also advocated for the landmark legislation that created the Downtown Development Districts (DDD) Rebate program.

As Director of Housing Finance, Heckles was responsible for all mortgage lending activities, multi-family bond financing, and foreclosure prevention programs. His leadership led to new partnerships with realtors, lenders, and other stakeholders, as well as innovative programs to support low- and moderate-income families.

Matthew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Relations and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Delaware. He lives in Wilmington with his wife and three sons.