When a property owner participating in a federal voucher program fails to meet unit health and safety obligations, the public housing agency (PHA) administering the program must step in to enforce compliance or face potentially serious consequences. 

Since cybersecurity can feel overwhelming for those outside the information technology sphere, we've developed a list of 15 (mostly non-technical) cybersecurity terms that public and affordable housing leaders and employees should know in 2023. 

At a time when a decent, safe, and affordable place to call home is out of reach for more than 15 million Americans, the preservation of affordable housing is more important than ever. For over a decade, the Public and Affordable Housing Research Organization (PAHRC) has been on a mission to help improve this statistic by providing data, research, and tools to help policymakers, housing providers, researchers, advocates, and other stakeholders raise awareness about this critical issue, and ultimately impact change.

In addition to partnering with some big names in the industry, PAHRC has a longstanding relationship with the affordable housing insurance carrier HAI Group, which has been a key sponsor of PAHRC since its inception in 2012. Both organizations share the same goal of supporting the affordable housing industry through various avenues. Over the years, HAI Group’s financial support has made numerous initiatives possible, from webinar opportunities to obtaining data for PAHRC’s annual Housing Impact Report, and most notably, developing the National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD).

HAI Group’s Staci Canny sat down with Kelly McElwain, a lead research analyst at PAHRC, to discuss her work.

Active shooter and workplace violence incidents are a growing threat to businesses of all types, including public and affordable housing organizations. 

The word ‘equity’ has become a buzzword in today’s social landscape. And when it comes to public housing authorities (PHAs), striving to achieve equitable outcomes through their policies, practices, and partnerships is a continuous goal. Although it can be challenging to implement initiatives when PHAs face hardships, from funding constraints to a lack of community partners, many organizations are making this happen. To help PHAs learn from their peers, the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) surveyed PHAs about their equity initiatives and the resources needed to expand this work. This data came together to form PAHRC’s latest report, How Public Housing Authorities Are Addressing Equity. The report, which HAI Group sponsored, also includes a resource guide that outlines the strategies PHAs can pursue to help residents of all backgrounds achieve successful outcomes. 

HAI Group’s Staci Canny sat down with PAHRC’s Lead Research Analyst Kelly McElwain, and Eric Brushett, a research analyst at PAHRC, to discuss this report. 

New resources released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) seek to clarify the housing protections owners and managers of federally-assisted properties must grant to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

As part of a larger tort reform, the Florida legislature has leveled the playing field for tort claims against multifamily residential property owners based on third-party criminal acts. While this legislation only applies to Florida properties, it's comprised of security best practices that may reduce liability on properties across the county.

When Enfield (CT) Housing Authority Executive Director Scott Bertrand heard about the KnowBe4 cybersecurity awareness training discounts available to HAI Group members, he didn’t hesitate to take advantage.

An indemnity clause is a form of contractual risk transfer that shares similarities with the hold harmless provision, but with some crucial differences.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this week announced “substantive changes” to a portion of its Section 8 Renewal Policy Guidebook to streamline project-based rental assistance contract renewals.