Public and affordable housing in the USA is always at risk of budget cuts and over-regulation. Our cries as an industry for more funding and attention are often ignored. Below is a mixture of theoretical high level ideas and concepts to shake up the industry. I do realize these ideas might come off as flippant… Read More 5 Radically Different Ideas to Change Public Housing
Every socially minded housing organization across the world strives to be mission focused and goal oriented. Every couple years, the leadership at all organizations meet and sometimes hire consultants to come in and set up 2 year, 4 year 5 year plans and develop strategies to lead them into the future. However; does the strategic… Read More Public Housing and Process Improvement: Strategic Planning and Lean
The public sector and non-profits around the USA struggle everyday to provide housing and services that make an impact on the most vulnerable in our country. I recently came upon a unique private organization that takes on the role of a housing authority so that non-profit organizations that focus on services and mental health delivery… Read More Combating Homelessness in Maricopa County Arizona: A Private/Public Partnership to Learn From
Yes- this is absolute click bate. The reason for writing this blog is less about how to compare your housing authority to others but more about a trend I have noticed developing in the sector. Bench marking is completely normal and healthy because it allows housing authorities and associations to know if they are meeting… Read More Is Your Housing Authority Better Than Others?
Leading a large housing authority is no simple job. There are often thousands of employees and major issues to deal with. Outside of being the CEO of the largest property management firm in the city, an Executive Director must also handle redevelopments, new developments, tenant issues, union issues, crime and violence and employee moral. For… Read More 5 Executive Directors of Large Public Housing Authorities: Backgrounds and Education
Are there too many PHAs? I am not postulating but simply asking a question. There are around 3500 public housing authorities throughout the United States administering around 3.2 million affordable housing units mainly through public housing and housing choice voucher programs. The majority of these housing authorities are extremely small. In some states there… Read More Arguments Why Public Housing Authorities Should Merge?
Private contractors are becoming a reality in the world of public housing. Growing costs, increased complexities and the training of staff has made managing voucher programs extremely difficult. Enter the contractor. I am making zero recommendations here but just giving an overview of some of the major players in the game. I have friends who… Read More 3 Large Public Housing Consultant Companies Managing Voucher Programs
We are hard wired as humans to solve problems. Sometimes we are methodical and devise strategies and other times we just do it because it is simple and needs to be done. As I have worked in government for several years sometimes I find the need for a more methodical way of attacking an issue… Read More Lean in Public Housing: How Do You Solve a Problem?
The NetwiIT Network of professionals at housing corporations organized a very interesting session today at the International Social Housing Conference. Henk Korevaar the director of the network facilitated and led the sesstion As a participant and critique I learned quite a bit. The average I.T. costs for a public housing association in the Netherlands… Read More I.T. and Public Housing: What is Your Total Cost and Maturity?
The hot sun beams down on the Westergasfabriek complex, still bustling with families, couples and friends, chatting and drinking, taking in the last of this fine afternoon. But these people are missing out on the main attraction here at the Werkkamer, hinted at only by a banner and a flurry of activity at its front… Read More Getting associations closer to their tenants: an afternoon at Zig’s housing hackathon
Housing Futures 