Author: jcrites

I have a strong interest and passion for helping those who have the least. In the last five years, I have worked in housing policy at the Tacoma and Seattle Housing Authorities in Washington State. I am currently a German Chancellor Fellow researching best practices in affordable housing in Germany.

Public Housing and Process Improvement: Can Lean Help You Create Capacity and Weather The Looming National Budget Crisis?

By Josh Crites and Job Pangilinan Since the last time we wrote an article, a lot of information regarding the HUD budget has come out.  The President’s budget is calling for a six billion dollar cut.   We knew tough times were coming but this sheds a little more light on what the deal is.  Although… Read More Public Housing and Process Improvement: Can Lean Help You Create Capacity and Weather The Looming National Budget Crisis?

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Trump, Nationalism and Public Housing Funding: Wait and See or Act Now?

I spoke recently with a colleague that works at Housing Europe.  Our discussion focused on how nationalism is sweeping across not only the USA but other European countries.  Austria almost swept a nationalist presidential candidate into office, Marine Le Pen in France is doing well in polling,  and Geert Wilders’ party is looking to score… Read More Trump, Nationalism and Public Housing Funding: Wait and See or Act Now?

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Public Housing and Process Improvement: (Lean Transformation)-Addressing Challenges to Change

Today I welcome my friend and co-worker Job Pangilinan to my blog to help co-author.  You can visit his LinkedIn page here- https://www.linkedin.com/in/attyjobpangilinan In an environment where everyone is expected to do more with less, implementing process improvement programs and initiatives is not easy within the affordable housing arena.  Sometimes it is the perception that… Read More Public Housing and Process Improvement: (Lean Transformation)-Addressing Challenges to Change

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Process Improvement and Public Housing: Lean is Like Learning a Second Language

I speak with a lot of housing authority staff from around the country and one of the first thing people ask me about lean is, “How do I get started?”  I often respond by giving resources like books, Youtube links, websites and even local resources if I have time.  Starting a process improvement initiative or… Read More Process Improvement and Public Housing: Lean is Like Learning a Second Language

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Public Housing in New Zealand: Something is a Bubbling Down Under

I started this blog in 2014 to monitor my research and fellowship time in Germany and EU.  I wrote dozens of blogs about what was happening in the realm of public housing and homelessness across multiple EU countries.  Since returning to the US, my blog has focused a lot on process improvement.  Today I want… Read More Public Housing in New Zealand: Something is a Bubbling Down Under

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Public Housing Process Improvement: Translating High Level Strategy to Daily Problem Solving

Over the last couple weeks, my lean work has ranged in several areas ranging from visual management boards to problem solving.  The key concept that keeps coming up revolve around bigger picture strategy and where the agency is headed.  My lean coach often refers to, “True North“.  What is True North at your agency and how… Read More Public Housing Process Improvement: Translating High Level Strategy to Daily Problem Solving

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Public Housing Process Improvement: Use Visual Management to Improve Performance

It’s been a while since I posted here but my lean activity at work has been off the charts.  We are going through a lean transformation and one of the first things we started working with is visual management.  What is visual management?  In reality it is something that helps guide you through your day… Read More Public Housing Process Improvement: Use Visual Management to Improve Performance

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