Navigating Public Housing - March 2018

MARCH 2018, ISSUE NO. 1

NAVIGATING PUBLIC HOUSING A newsletter from Navigate Affordable Housing Partners

WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE Children in Need - 1 When Online Reviews Go Wrong - 4 Quick PHA Facts -6

CHILDREN IN NEED Navigate Staff

Navigate Affordable Housing Partners frequently gets messages from people who are in desperate need of housing. Some of the messages are just heartbreaking. Just last month, a young man wrote to us saying: “My sisters and I have been put in quite [a] difficult situation so we need immediate help!

We’ve experienced domestic violence in our home and need to move ASAP. Our mom lives in another state and we just don’t have the money to move that far. I’m currently seeking employment and one of my sisters is a single mother so she has county assistance. The others are in school. If there is anyway [sic] you could help us find an affordable place to stay so we could be together that would mean so much!”

FAMILY AND CHILDREN

Children in Need "If there is anyway [sic] you could help us find an affordable place to stay so we could be together," he wrote, "that would mean so much!"

BY EBONY HALL

Think about the stress this

The young man says he is looking

young man and his sisters are

for a job, but will housing be “out

under. They are probably afraid

of reach” when he finds one? The

daily, not only of the domestic

NLIHC says he’d have to work 118

violence situation they are living

hours a week at minimum wage to

in but also because they’re afraid

afford a fair -market rent two

the Department of Family and

bedroom home. That’s 2.9 full-

Children Services will split them

time jobs!

up. This means the youngest sisters could go into foster care.

“HIGH-COST BURDEN” In 2016, there were 18.3 million

HOUSING SHORTAGE + GAP

children living in low-income

This family lives in California,

housing with a high-cost burden.

where there are just 21 affordable

That’s according to data from

units available for the extremely

National KIDS Count. They define

poor. That number comes from

this number as “share of children

the National Low Income Housing

living in low-income households

Coalition (NLIHC). The

where more than 30 percent of

organization says nationwide,

the monthly income was spent on

there are only 35 affordable units

rent, mortgage payments, taxes,

available per 100 extremely low-

insurance, and/or related

income households. As of this

expenses.”

writing, there were 11 Housing Authorities located in California

HOW DOES THE STORY END?

with Public Housing Waiting

Right now, we don’t know, but we

Lists that were open indefinitely.

gave him the information on how

MARCH 2018, ISSUE NO. 1

to look up those waiting lists and ways to search for a subsidized apartment. There are so many children and families just like this one in need.

Does your PHA have

GOOD NEWS? SHARE IT WITH NAVIGATE

How are you helping to bridge the gap? Let us know.

APRIL IS

NATIONAL FAIR HOUSING MONTH

WATCH OUR FAIR HOUSING VIDEO SERIES Has your PHA hit an important milestone?

What about an outstanding employee? Send it to us, and we’ll try to feature it in our next newsletter. Be sure to include a picture(s) and describe why it’s so awesome!

NAVIGATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERS

Let our Compass be your guide We have over 200 years of combined Public Housing experience. From Compliance to postRAD training, there's a seat at our table for you.

MARKETING

When Online Reviews Go Wrong Ebony Hall

"What are they saying?"

Have you checked out your PHA’s score on Google Reviews lately? If not, it’s worth a look.

Google is the most popular search engine in the world. Chances are, when people are looking for a new place to live, they will “google it” first.There’s also a good chance disgruntled current and former residents will leave bad reviews.

What can we do?

Google believes its reviews “provide valuable information about your business to both you and your customers.” The reviews will appear right next to your listing on Google’s Map and Search. Every time someone looks your PHA up, they will see whatever people have said about it.

Google encourages your PHA to do three things: • Remind your residents to leave reviews.

• Reply to reviews to build trust with your current and potential residents.

•Verify your PHA so your information is eligible to appear on Maps, Search, and other Google services. Only verified businesses can respond to reviews.

MARCH 2018, ISSUE NO. 1 When online reviews go wrong (CONT)

The Good, The Bad, The Fake Bad reviews are a part of having a business.

Fake reviews happen more often than they should. When you see a good, bad, or even a fake review, you should respond. Be careful, however, when you do.

Before you can respond, you will need to verify your business. Moving forward, Google suggests that you: 1. Be nice and don’t get personal.

2. Keep it short and sweet.

3. Thank your reviewers.

4. Be a friend, not a salesperson.

You can request Google remove certain posts.

Consider the posting guidelines first to determine if you need to flag the review as “inappropriate.”

Watch our video series on “Using Social Media in Public Housing!”

"Be nice and don't get personal"

888-466-5572 EHALL@NAVIGATEHOUSING.COM NAVIGATEHOUSINGCONSULTING.COM

"Public housing is an indispensable housing resource and ensuring its preservation is in the national interest."

"SAVING AMERICA'S PUBLIC HOUSING"

1M+ 36% 11.1M ABOUT NAVIGATE The Public Housing Practice Group at Navigate includes senior and executive staff, as well as associated professionals, with over 200 years of combined experience in every aspect of public housing.

Decades of experience in every aspect of affordable housing and multi-family operations gives Navigate a unique perspective on subjects ranging from strategic planning and portfolio re-engineering to compliance training.

People Live in Public Housing

Have Children

Pay more than half of income on rent.

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