Robert V. Hess

Rob Hess is currently Commissioner of the New York City Department of Homeless Services under the administration of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. As Commissioner, he leads a more than 2,000 member staff dedicated to overcoming the experience of homelessness for the men, women and children of New York City.

Prior to being appointed Commissioner, Rob spent five years as a member of the administration of City of Philadelphia's Mayor John F. Street, serving as the Deputy Managing Director for Special Needs Housing in our nation’s fifth largest city. He was responsible for overseeing Adult Services, which included the Office of Emergency Shelter and Services, the Office of HIV Planning, Philadelphia Housing Support Services, and a number of collaborative programs with other City departments.  Rob’s accomplishments in Philadelphia include leading the development and implementation of the City’s 10-year, $10 million plan to end homelessness, and also dramatically reducing the number of men, women and children experiencing homelessness.  

Rob’s previous positions include President & CEO of the Center for Poverty Solutions, Executive Director of the Maryland Food Committee and Action for the Homeless prior to the merger of the two organizations.  He played a key role in the start-up of the Maryland Center for Veteran Education and Training, serving as President and CEO, and also worked his way up to Executive Director of Economic Enterprises during a 16 year stint with the Disabled American Veterans of Maryland.  Rob is a powerful and effective advocate for our nation’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens and has earned wide recognition for his innovative approach to poverty issues.  Rob was appointed by former Mayor Curt Schmoke to the Baltimore City Homeless Advisory Board, by Maryland Governor Parris Glendening to the Council on Block Grants, and by former Maryland Governor William Schaefer to the Vietnam and Disabled Veterans Business Resource Council. 

Rob is a graduate of the University of Maryland and has also studied at Johns Hopkins University.  Rob currently lives in New York with his wife and their two daughters.