Challenge
Galvan and Associates created a recovery plan for a Public Housing Agency to remove it from a designated HUD Troubled Status and improve its performance. The status was based on low compliance scores resulting from a review by HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS). Possible consequences resulting from troubled status include HUD putting the housing agency into receivership.
Approach
Galvan and Associates’ Recovery Plan addressed program issues consequential to a “troubled status”. This process began with a thorough review of the HUD assessment, including input from employees in operational and administrative functions to identify problem areas, and engaged department heads and the Board of Commissioners to provide leadership and priority setting to implement the recovery plan.
Results
Galvan and Associates’ plan identified key actions and established a process to monitor its performance with the objective to improve the Public Housing Agency’s low performance rating. This resulted in the following achievements:
- Galvan and Associates developed 51 actions considered critical in transitioning from a troubled housing authority to a high-performing housing authority. These actions included initiatives to improve financial management and housing operations.
- The recovery plan was accepted by HUD without any revisions.
- The plan and actions avoided the agency going into receivership by HUD.
- The agency achieved a projected financial savings impact of over $1.5 million.
- In less than two years the agency has been designated by HUD as a High Performing Agency, a complete turnaround.