Every third Wednesday of the month, the Newberry Housing Authority is closed to the public.
Employees still show up for work, settle in at their desks, and log in for the day. But instead of opening their inboxes or jumping into meetings, they open the HAI Group Housing Training Institute.
Courses are in progress. Certifications are underway. Policies are reviewed alongside training modules. For a few uninterrupted hours, the focus shifts from day-to-day demands to learning and growth.
This approach, introduced by Executive Director Jessica Holcomb, reflects a broader philosophy: supporting communities starts with supporting the people behind the work, and giving them the tools to succeed.
From experience to action
Holcomb’s commitment to professional development is rooted in her own career.
She began in 2011 as a temporary employee at Spartanburg Housing Authority. Early on, she took advantage of a certification course through what is now the Housing Training Institute. That course was an experience that helped shape her path forward.
Over the next 12 years, she advanced into leadership, eventually serving as chief operating officer. Along the way, she saw a consistent challenge across teams: staff wanted to learn, but rarely had the time.
“We are busy,” Holcomb said. “We have to manage all the day-to-day operations that go on, so it makes it so much easier for professional development to be pushed to the side.”
Between onboarding new employees, managing properties, and meeting deadlines, training was often delayed or deprioritized. The issue wasn’t a lack of resources: it was a lack of time to use them. So, Holcomb changed the structure.
At Spartanburg, she introduced a dedicated professional development day each month. Offices closed to the public. Phones were limited to emergency checks. Staff were given uninterrupted time to focus on learning, often through self-paced courses on the Housing Training Institute platform.
“You never know how your day might go,” she said. “So that just really gave all of the team members an opportunity to learn and have some professional development that they might otherwise not be able to do.”
What started as a practical solution quickly became part of the organization’s culture.
Building a culture of learning at Newberry
When Holcomb joined Newberry Housing Authority in 2023, she brought that same approach with her.
Despite leading a smaller team, many of the same challenges remained: new staff needing training, limited time during the workday, and varying levels of comfort with technology. Rather than treating professional development as something separate from daily operations, she embedded it into the organization's day-to-day operations.
“You have to find time to learn,” Holcomb said. “Training and growth are very important. It needs to be part of the culture of your agency.”
New hires now begin their roles with structured onboarding, completing foundational courses such as New Hire Orientation for HCV and Public Housing within their first week, and continuing with role-specific training over time.
Courses are tailored to each role. For example:
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Asbestos Awareness for maintenance
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Bed Bug Awareness for housing operations
- New Commissioner Orientation for those joining Newberry's board
Organization-wide training, such as Slips, Trips, and Falls Prevention Informative Short and Sexual Harassment Prevention and Hostile Work Environment, reinforces key priorities like safety and workplace expectations, while the platform’s flexibility allows staff to learn at their own pace.
That accessibility has also helped bridge gaps beyond job-specific knowledge. For some employees, particularly those with limited experience using technology, the platform has supported the development of broader digital skills. To increase employee accessibility, Newberry installed computers in areas where none had previously existed, such as maintenance areas. In addition, the Institute's mobile-friendly access allows employees to learn on the go using their cell phones.
The impact shows up in day-to-day operations. With the right training in place, staff are more confident, more efficient, and better prepared to navigate the complexities of their roles.
“When you don’t know what you’re doing, it can make what you do take much longer than it should,” Holcomb said. “You might spend two hours on something that could have taken 30 minutes.”
A more practical way to develop staff
Professional development often comes with trade-offs, especially when it requires travel.
Holcomb noted that attending a single conference can cost thousands of dollars when factoring in registration, travel, and accommodations, yet it may not always provide lasting value.
“Just to go to one conference… it can cost maybe $2,500,” she said. “Versus using this software, it’s right there at your fingertips.”
With the Housing Training Institute, staff can complete courses, access resources, and earn certifications without leaving their roles. The platform also provides tools like workbooks, templates, and real-world examples, helping employees apply what they learn immediately.
For the organization, that means training is no longer an occasional event but part of ongoing operations.
Explore training that fits your team
Creating time for professional development is one part of the equation. Having the right tools makes it sustainable.
The HAI Group Housing Training Institute provides housing organizations with self-paced courses, certifications, and practical resources designed for the public and affordable housing industry. With flexible, role-based learning and dedicated support, teams can build training into their daily operations without disruption.
Want to explore? Visit the Housing Training Institute to see what courses are available.
Ready to subscribe? Contact our Customer Success Team to determine the right pathway for your organization's needs.
