On November 10, 2005, the United States Senate confirmed Orlando J. Cabrera as Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.  As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Cabrera oversees the Office of Public and Indian Housing’s mission to ensure safe, decent, and affordable housing; create opportunities for residents' self-sufficiency and economic independence; and assure the fiscal integrity of all program participants.

Mr. Cabrera has had extensive experience in the housing industry.  Before joining HUD, he served as Executive Director of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.  His involvement with Florida Housing began in December, 2000 when Governor Jeb Bush appointed Mr. Cabrera as a citizen representative on Florida Housing’s Board of Directors.  He became Florida Housing’s Vice Chairman in 2001 and he was also its Chairman prior to being named Executive Director.  Florida Housing’s Board of Directors named Mr. Cabrera as Florida Housing’s Executive Director in February, 2003.

As Florida Housing’s Executive Director, Mr. Cabrera spearheaded their technology modernization and the upgrading of data systems, maintained and improved Florida Housing’s financial condition, and led its efforts to better serve low income Floridians. Mr. Cabrera was intensely involved in Florida’s hurricane recovery efforts and served on Governor Bush’s Hurricane Housing Work Group.  

During this time, Mr. Cabrera was also elected and served as a director on the Board of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. 

In 2001, Mr. Cabrera was appointed Chairman of the City of Miami’s Community Development and Housing Committee by City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. 

Before becoming Florida Housing’s Executive Director, Mr. Cabrera was a partner with an international law firm where he practiced in that law firm’s real estate group in its Miami office. 

Mr. Cabrera earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and his law degree in 1989 from the University of Wisconsin Law School.