Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Connecticut Commissioner of Housing
Seila Mosquera-Bruno was appointed the Commissioner of Housing by Governor Ned Lamont in 2019 and re-appointed for his second term in 2023. As Commissioner, Seila leads the state agency responsible for all affordable housing matters including development, preservation, and homeless prevention and support for the State of Connecticut. The Dept of Housing administers more than $200 million for homeless and emergency support services annually and more than $800 million for development and preservation.
Under Seila’s tenure, the Dept. of Housing has completed construction on 13,000 units of housing since 2019 with 6,400 currently under construction; administered $600MM in COVID emergency relief funds; created a COVID emergency rent relief program; redesigned congregate emergency shelters with the use of hotels and the creation of micro units; reimagined the homeless shelter experience by adding on-site wrap around services and recently created regional “HUBS” across the state to serve as walk-in access points for residents needing emergency support services.
In 2024, Governor Lamont Appointed the Commissioner as Chair of the newly established Connecticut Interagency Council on Homelessness, a panel of agency leaders tasked with strengthening the state’s homelessness prevention and response efforts.
In the last three years, Seila has been responsible for creating two signature programs to accelerate development and homeownership: Time To Own, the state’s first down payment assistance loan program for first time homebuyers. Since its launch in late 2022 over 6,000 Connecticut residents have become homeowners with an average age of 34 and annual income of $70,000.
The second, Build for CT a workforce specific, gap financing program for developers building market-rate housing, launched as a direct response to rising costs from supply chains and inflation. The state’s investment secures a minimum of 20% high-quality affordable units within the existing development plans. Since late 2023, the program has generated more than 1,900 new units with over 500 set aside for middle-income residents.
Seila is the Board Chair for the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), the state’s quasi-public organization dedicated to financing the production and preservation of affordable housing.
Her participation in community service is extensive. She currently serves as Vice President of the CT Municipal Development Authority, a board member for the Capital Region Development Authority, and a board member of the Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA).
Previously she served on the board for Connecticut Legal Rights, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Santander Bank, Connecticut Housing Coalition, the National NeighborWorks Association and the National Real Estate Development Advisory Council of NeighborWorks America and a member of the Home Connecticut Steering Committee.
As an affordable housing developer herself for more than 20 years in Connecticut, Seila has developed partnerships with financial institutions, service providers, advocates, and nonprofits, municipal leaders, government officials, private developers, architects, and thought leaders in the housing space.
Prior to her appointment, Seila was the President and Chief Executive Officer of NeighborWorks New Horizons (NWNH) a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing opportunities and neighborhood revitalization. After joining NWNH in 1994, Seila served in many different capacities and became the Executive Director in 2003. Under her leadership, the organization expanded operations beyond New Haven County to New London and Fairfield Counties, managed 38 employees and $100 million in Assets.
Seila holds a master’s degree in urban studies from Southern Connecticut State University, a B.A. in Business Administration from Charter Oak College, and a fellow of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is also a frequent guest lecturer on housing policy at Yale and NYU.
Seila received the Forty under 40 Award from New Haven Business Times; the Housing Good Egg Award and was recognized as a Rising Star by Business New Haven. Seila was inducted into the Gateway Community College Foundation’s Hall of Fame for her exceptional contributions to the community. She was named one of the 50 most influential Latinos in Connecticut recognized by Latinos United for Professional Advancements (LUPA) and a Mujer Imparable recognition in 2025.
Seila is fully bilingual, a native of Ecuador and has lived with her husband and two daughters in Connecticut for more than 30 years.
Julian A. Pierce, Deputy Commissioner
Julian A. Pierce was named the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing on December 6, 2024. In this role he will oversee the Individual/ Family Support and Program Unit, Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Coordinated Access Networks, and other emergency related services within the department.
Prior to his appointment, Julian was the Director of Economic Opportunity at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. At the Community Foundation, Julian spent nearly a decade leveraging approximately $1MM in annual discretionary funding to partner with local non-profits, private business, government, and the philanthropic sector to address systemic issues in the areas of housing, adult workforce development, asset building, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. He specializes in the development and implementation of collective impact and community-based strategies.
Before joining Fairfield County’s Community Foundation in 2017, Julian worked as a Housing Counselor for Building Neighborhoods Together (formerly Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust) focusing on first-time homebuyer counseling, financial literary, and loss mitigation. He’s previously served on the board of directors for The Housing Collective and New Neighborhoods, Inc.
Julian holds a master’s in community program development from the University of New Haven and a bachelor’s in psychology and Sociology from the University of Miami.