Affordable Housing Providers Embrace Technology to Enhance Services
- Author: Ben Reilly
- Posted: 2025-07-23
These new tools are now helping housing organizations work more effectively, assist tenants better, and cut down on paperwork.
A Shift Toward Technology
Affordable housing providers are now using software and online systems to improve their operations. For example, they’re adopting programs that help them reduce time spent on tenant paperwork, make the process of recertifying housing vouchers faster, and give tenants online access to key services.
Using these tools, tenants can now submit maintenance requests, check information about their rent, and even make payments online—anytime, day or night. This switch has made things easier for both tenants and housing managers.
According to Allen Feliz, a vice president at MRI Software—a company that provides tech solutions for over 2,200 affordable housing providers—these technologies have also allowed people who work in the housing sector to be more flexible, like being able to work from home for some tasks.
Public Housing Authorities Go Digital
One example is the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), which is modernizing its systems to better serve tenants. They’ve introduced integrated platforms, like Yardi Voyager and RentCafe, that allow tenants to manage housing-related tasks online.
Through these platforms, tenants can upload documents, report changes in income, or ask for help if they lose their job. This streamlined process reduces waiting times and improves communication.
Unlike some housing providers that rely on AI chatbots, HACLA has chosen to focus on providing personalized service. Tenants can still call and talk to a live representative if they have questions or need assistance, ensuring their concerns are addressed directly by staff.
Cutting Paperwork and Saving Time
Switching to online systems has also helped reduce the mountains of paperwork that housing providers had to handle. For example, verifying tenant eligibility often required pages and pages of forms.
In some cases, technology even helps improve residents' quality of life. For example, a nonprofit in Philadelphia, Inglis, uses assistive technologies like voice-controlled devices to help seniors and people with disabilities live more independently.
The organization goes beyond just installing tech—they ensure residents are comfortable using it and provide ongoing support.
Tech for Equity and Inclusivity
Beyond efficiency, technology is also helping housing providers be more inclusive. For example, SAGE, a nonprofit that serves LGBTQ+ seniors, uses virtual training tools to teach housing staff how to respectfully and effectively work with this vulnerable population.
Their interactive online courses aim to address the unique challenges LGBTQ+ seniors may face, such as fear of discrimination in housing environments.
Challenges in Adopting Technology
Although tech is improving many aspects of affordable housing, it’s not always easy to implement. Some organizations hesitate to adopt new tools, especially when budgets are tight or funds are uncertain.
There’s also the risk that some tenants may struggle to use online services if they lack internet access or are unfamiliar with technology.
Still, advocates like Allen Feliz believe that these innovations can bring significant benefits to affordable housing providers, including cost savings in areas like utility management.
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