I am back in the USA and working in the public housing industry. With that comes my return to using six sigma lean methodology to help me with my projects and work. I loved six sigma lean from my first introduction to it because it gave me a way to work through issues/projects. Everything I… Read More How to Start a Process Improvement Initiative at a Public Housing Authority
I am beating the same drum as usual here. First I lecture that you should define a problem before fixing it, now I am saying you should measure it before fixing it. You probably wonder if I actually ever get to fixing the damn problem. The answer of course is yes. Can you fix a… Read More Public Housing: Why you should Measure your Problems before Fixing Them
Define the problem seems like an easy enough idea right? Something is not happening or working the way we want so we just define exactly what that problem is and then we can solve it. Wrong! From my experience in public housing and other jobs, we often jump to the solution without ever trying to… Read More Process Improvement in Public and Social Housing: Define the Problem
I am not writing this week but sharing an article where I was quoted. It is an interesting look at the refugee crisis in Germany from the standpoint of housing. Enjoy! http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/why-syrian-refugees-are-living-like-sardines-in-berlin/67103
My first natural response to this question is, “Why the hell are we even asking such a stupid question?” I am inclined to gravitate to technology solutions at a housing authority because I personally feel like we as an industry are behind the times. Most public housing authorities/social housing companies I visited across the USA,… Read More Mobile technology and Public Housing: Is it time?
I am sitting here from the confines of my counterbalance residence in Seattle contemplating technology and its role within a public housing authority or a social housing company if you want to be European/Australian about it. No I am not that damn boring that I cant think of something better to do but after a… Read More Public/Social Housing: Lazy Sunday Dreaming of Technology Solutions
Last week I wrote a little about the idea of process improvement in social and public housing. I made it clear that I do not consider any process improvement methodology religion and that common sense can be our best friend. With that said, I wanted to start writing about specific tools and ideas that I… Read More Process Mapping in Social and Public Housing
Can we process an annual review more efficiently? Can we make our ADA process more streamlined? How about improving the time it takes for us to turn a unit after a move out or increase the number of work-orders we close per day or week? If you buy a new housing software system or start… Read More Process Improvement within Public or Social Housing:The Basics
Portuguese Social Housing: Stronger, Smarter and Better Than Before. As I walk around the beautiful old neighborhoods of Lisbon, it is not easy for me to believe these are social housing units. The bright colors of the buildings seem to fit in well with the sunny skies and intensely colored lemon and orange trees. The… Read More Fear and Loathing in Portugese Social Housing Part I:
I am only three weeks returned to Seattle. Since returning, the city shocks me day by day with the fast transition and change. In many ways it does not look the same. Buildings that were under construction when I left 1.5 years ago are complete while double the number are now being built. Everywhere I… Read More Homelessness in Seattle: My Suprising Return Home from Germany
Housing Futures 