The Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA) manages more than 2,700 public housing units across 15 developments in Onondaga County, New York. Throughout its properties, SHA serves thousands of residents, including vulnerable elderly and people with disabilities.
As one of the community's largest property managers, SHA faced growing challenges with its aging door access control system. The Hirsch key fob technology, first installed on SHA properties in 1996, became obsolete over time as replacement parts became unavailable. In addition, only a single technician in the region was knowledgeable about servicing it, creating significant risks for both residents and staff.
SHA was the recipient of the 2025 HAI Group Risk Management Award for Best Use of Grant Program Funds, recognizing its efforts in upgrading its door access control system. Continue reading to learn more about the difficulties SHA faced and the solution the organization found.
Not only was technical support waning due to SHA's aging technology, but if a key fob could not be issued or deactivated, doors sometimes had to remain unlocked. This led SHA to hire employees as overnight doorguards, locking all doors except one at the central office, which created safety concerns and limited access.
Former employees could not always be removed from the system, increasing the chance of unauthorized entry.
Recognizing the urgent need for a safer, more reliable solution, SHA turned to HAI Group's Loss Prevention Fund (LPF). Grant funding allowed them to replace the outdated Hirsch system with a modern Genetec access control system across multiple senior- and disabled-designated buildings, as well as the main office.
"Without this funding, we would not have been able to upgrade," said Alissa Italiano, Risk Manager and Management Analyst at SHA. "It was truly a game-changer for the safety of our residents and employees."
Before |
After |
|
|
|
| The entrance featured a rotating door with no key fob access, offering limited security. | The entrance now features a double-layer door system with key fob access for enhanced safety and controlled entry. |
According to the agency, the upgrades have already made a noticeable impact. Residents and staff now benefit from:
The improvements have reduced incidents of unauthorized access and provided both residents and staff greater peace of mind—critical for senior- and disabled-designated buildings, where safety and security directly affect residents' overall well-being.
The new system also makes daily operations more efficient and smoother. Property managers and maintenance teams can quickly issue and deactivate fobs, streamlining tasks. In the event of legal claims, fob usage data helps verify who accessed a building and when, providing valuable support for investigations and insurance defense.
Recognizing the need to not only upgrade the door access control system at one of the residential buildings, SHA combined its LPF award with capital funds to reconfigure that building’s front entrance—enhancing and modernizing its look and feel while increasing safety and security.
Installation and wiring were completed in partnership with IK Systems, working closely with SHA's IT team. In some cases, SHA folded these upgrades into larger capital projects, such as redesigned entrances that are both more welcoming and more secure. The project also aligned with broader public safety efforts, as the Genetec system integrates with the Syracuse Police Department's systems.
So far, six of SHA's 10 buildings have been upgraded, along with the main office. Plans are in place to expand the system to all remaining properties as additional funding becomes available.
Resident feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and staff noted a significant drop in reports of unauthorized access. By combining LPF support with strong leadership and external partnerships, the housing authority has created a model other organizations can follow.
"For housing authorities facing similar challenges, get key fob access, move away from hard keys, and invest in modern systems," said Lisa Hart, Public Health Analyst and Grant Manager.
The benefits presented by the new door access technology extend beyond security, improving staff efficiency while strengthening residents' confidence in their homes.
As Hart emphasized, ensuring residents feel safe at home is not just about security; it is about health, wellness, and overall quality of life.
This article is for general information only. HAI Group® makes no representation or warranty about the accuracy or applicability of this information for any particular use or circumstance. Your use of this information is at your own discretion and risk. HAI Group® and any author or contributor identified herein assume no responsibility for your use of this information. You should consult with your attorney or subject matter advisor before adopting any risk management strategy or policy.
HAI Group® is a marketing name used to refer to insurers, a producer, and related service providers affiliated through a common mission, management, and governance. Property-casualty insurance and related services are written or provided by Housing Authority Property Insurance, A Mutual Company; Housing Enterprise Insurance Company, Inc.; Housing Specialty Insurance Company, Inc.; Housing Investment Group, Inc.; and Housing Insurance Services (DBA Housing Insurance Agency Services in NY and MI).