Housing Authority of Portland

Building a new foundation for housing
Housing Authority of Portland

For more than 50 years, the Housing Authority of Portland (HAP) has relied on federal funding as the foundation for its work. Cracks have formed in the system, however. Federal support is waning significantly – a trend expected to continue if not worsen.

Counted among the top 30 of more than 3,000 public housing authorities in the U.S., HAP continues to look for creative ways to address the shortfall in federal funding and to do what it does even better.

HAP selected ACME to help identify operational efficiencies and tap into new sources of revenue generation. Why did they choose ACME? Number one: We’re local and involved in the community. Number two: We had no preconceived notions and were willing to knock down well-entrenched walls to find solutions.

Following multiple interviews with HAP management, staff and outside stakeholders, we drilled into operations and discovered opportunities for improvement and revenue growth. It was clear, however, that these gains would not offset continued declines in federal funding to support HAP’s mission. Being candid, we explained that far-reaching changes were needed, including a fundamental paradigm shift in how both HAP and the community view and provide affordable housing. We recommended a far-reaching plan that called for HAP to do the following:

  • Implement operational changes to increase HAP’s ability to support additional revenue opportunities and reduce existing expenses.
  • Pursue alternative organizational structures and delivery models to better provide quality social services for residents.
  • Lead the political discussion to consolidate a fragmented system to create a coordinated and effective model to deliver affordable housing.
  • Build a coalition and support through public hearings and community input.
  • Create accountability within the community and political jurisdictions to effectively fund needed programs.

Status report: HAP’s executive team has approved our blueprint for change and is now laying a foundation for it within the community. Doors are opening to the future.

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