The insurance industry has spotlighted the rise of external fraud, and rightfully so, as cybersecurity incidents continue impacting organizations at an alarming rate. But incidents of internal fraud—a dishonest or fraudulent act committed by one or more employees—remain a constant threat to housing organizations.

Housing organizations that have been deferring maintenance during the pandemic should start making plans to safely address outstanding work orders to avoid potentially costly housekeeping issues.   

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) physical inspections were paused for health and safety reasons. REAC inspections have since resumed, so whether you're new to public housing or haven't dealt with a REAC inspection since the pre-pandemic days, it's the perfect time for a refresher on the topic. 

Marianne Krager, an associate trainer with Nan McKay and Associates (NMA), sits at a desk covered in black felt as she dutifully prepares for a long day’s work. It’s early morning, and there’s a sense of calm about Krager, even with a formation of cameras aimed at her. She’s clearly at ease about the task at hand.

While vandalism incidents may seem trivial compared to violent crime, they still come at a potentially high cost to affordable housing organizations. Repeated vandalism incidents can harm an organization’s reputation and could lead to more serious crimes.

Affordable housing organizations rehabilitating aging residential properties or building new developments are exposed to new risks, including the potential for fire on a construction site.

Public and affordable housing organizations strive to fill vacancies as quickly as possible to fulfill community housing needs and avoid loss of rental income, but it's not always feasible. 

With flooding now the top natural peril in the U.S., and research finding that 40 percent of the nation’s occupied rental stock is located in areas likely to experience a substantial annual loss due to natural disasters, one thing’s for sure: It is critical for affordable housing providers to be prepared. On the heels of their recent webinar, titled Flood Planning and Mitigation for Affordable Housing Organizations, the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation’s Lead Research Analyst Kelly McElwain, and HAI Group’s Lynn Crisci, assistant director of Product Development, along with Mary Ciccaglione, manager of Risk Control and Consulting, spoke with HAI Group’s Staci Canny to answer some of the webinar audiences’ top questions.

If an emergency strikes, does your housing organization have a plan in place to remain operational, or is the development of a business continuity plan stuck on the back burner?

No matter your answer, HAI Group is here to help. We've developed a tool to guide your organization through creating a customized business continuity plan (BCP). Watch the video below for a step-by-step overview, or keep reading to learn more! 

Not every structure fire can be prevented—there’s a reason nearly every town, no matter how small, has a dedicated career or volunteer fire department. But there are proven steps public and affordable housing organizations can take to reduce the risk of fires and ensure residents, visitors, and staff remain safe if a fire does occur.