HOU Capabilities

Statement of Experience and Corporate Capabilities

Housing Opportunities Unlimited (HOU), a privately-held company, has been providing relocation assistance and direct resident services in public and subsidized housing as well as consulting assistance to housing entities for over thirty-four years.  The company works in a diverse range of low- and mixed-income communities, and specializes in assisting communities that are in transition due to major redevelopment.

HOU’s clients include PHAs, private developers, management firms, investors and resident organizations.  HOU’s projects have included providing relocation implementation, community and supportive services and/or consulting assistance at over 170 sites in eighteen states and the District of Columbia, including sixteen HOPE VI-funded projects.  HOU provides a wide-range of services including:

• Large-scale Relocation Planning and Implementation, including Housing Choice Voucher Program Implementation
• CNI & HOPE VI CSS Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
• On-site Case Management & Resident Service Coordination (including elder services)
• Section 3 and M/WBE Participation Compliance Oversight
• Community Needs Assessment, Social Service Program Evaluation and Technical Assistance
• Resident Council Training and Resident Leadership Development
• Youth Development Services
• Family Self-Sufficiency/Welfare-to-Work Program Development

HOU has a national reputation for its support service and community building programs, receiving many awards, including the Rudy Bruner Award for Excellence in the Urban Environment, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) National Award for Merit, the HUD Community Development Award for National Excellence and 3 HUD Best Practice Awards. 

Selected Client List

• Housing Authorities: Washington DC, Pittsburgh PA, Boston MA, Springfield, MA, Hartford CT, Norwalk, CT, Holyoke, MA, Newark NJ, Pawtucket, RI, Seattle WA, Portland OR, Danville VA, Houston TX, Richmond, CA, New Haven CT, Paterson NJ, Newport RI, Chester PA
• Jonathan Rose Companies
• AHC, Inc.
• Mayor’s Office of the District of Columbia
• Winn Development
• The Community Builders, Inc.
• Preservation of Affordable Housing
• McCormack Baron Salazar
• Pinnacle Development Co.
• The NHP Foundation
• Trinity Financial
• TAG Associates
• Corcoran Jennison Companies
• Related Midwest
• Just-A-Start Corporation
• Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly
• Pennrose Development
• Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse
• Alexandria Housing Development Corp.
• Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
• Connecticut Housing Finance Authority
• East Lake Management & Development Corporation
• Gilmore Kean LLC
• East Capitol View CDC
• Mission First Development

The following is a list of HOU’s past and current projects.

Relocation Consultation and Implementation

HOU plans and carries out the relocation of residents who must move temporarily or permanently as a result of a change in ownership or the renovation of a property.  It is our mission to ensure that residents are treated fairly and experience minimum physical and emotional stress during the relocation process.  We have provide relocation services and all needed technical assistance as part of larger resident service programs as well as under independent contracts.  HOU has permanently relocated over 16,000 households in connection with major revitalization efforts at the following developments:

HOU has built its Expertise as a result of its Experience Implementing Large-Short-Term Relocation and Occupied Rehab Programs, also known as “Renovation-in-Place Programs” under Strict Timeframes.

For developments undertaking unit renovations, HOU has facilitated temporary on- or off-site relocation as well as worked with households experiencing “tenant-in-place” unit renovations.  HOU has conducted relocation surveys with impacted households; undertaken advance planning for households with special needs; worked closely with construction and management in developing and implementing a relocation schedule; identified off-site temporary relocation units and ensured uninterrupted social service provision to households while temporarily relocated.   HOU has been involved in temporary relocation or occupied rehab at the following sites:

Relocation Plans

A number of clients have sought HOU’s expertise in drafting relocation plans to submit to their funders.

CNI & HOPE VI CSS Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation

HOU has provided CNI and HOPE VI CSS planning, implementation, and evaluation services from application-writing through project completion.  HOU first provided HOPE VI-related planning assistance for the Indianapolis Housing Authority in 1994.  Since then, HOU has developed HUD-approved CSS Workplans for 6 redevelopment efforts.  HOU has also written the CSS portion of the successfully funded HOPE VI application for Southfield Village, collaborated on HOPE VI applications in Yonkers, NY and Chicago Heights, IL and served as the HOPE VI evaluator in Danville, VA.  HOU has also provided customized training, capacity building and fundraising services for HOPE VI resident councils.

HOU provides CSS implementation, including case management and family self-sufficiency support, Section 3 compliance programs; neighborhood economic development, fundraising and coordinating/monitoring service providers, at the following CNI/HOPE VI developments:

On-Site Case Management and Resident Services in Multifamily and Elderly Mixed-Income and Tax Credit Housing

HOU works in cooperation with management and residents to address community issues and lease violations in order to improve residents’ quality of life and prevent unnecessary evictions.  On-site resident service coordination encompasses the development, coordination and monitoring of educational and recreational programs for youth and/or the elderly, access to jobs and training programs, and systems for responding to management referrals.

Section 3 and M/WBE Compliance Programs Oversight

HOU has a strong track record of hiring and training low-income residents and developing Section 3 and M/WBE compliance programs for developers and housing authorities.  HOU has coordinated Section 3 employment programs at three HOPE VI sites and has been recognized with a 1999 HUD Best Practice Award for resident employment efforts at Allequippa Terrace in Pittsburgh, PA.

Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Certification

A number of HOU Relocation staff are certified to perform HQS inspections of Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) and Moderate Rehabilitation Program units and perform HQS inspections for relocation contracts.  HOU’s ability to conduct HQS inspections has expedited the lease-up process, and the relocation of households from projects slated for redevelopment.

Social Service Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation

HOU has provided social service needs assessment and program evaluation at sites where it is the resident service provider as well as under independent contracts.  HOU staff have assisted residents, ownership and developers in evaluating existing social service providers and creating a plan for community center programming that best suits residents’ needs.  HOU has provided social service program evaluation and community center planning at the following sites:

Elderly/Disabled Service Coordination

HOU has expertise gained through its experience operating specialized human service programs designed to meet the needs of low-income elders, adults with mental and physical disabilities as well as substance abusing populations and the mentally ill.  HOU coordinates with management at various sites to provide supportive services for the elderly and disabled including social service and health-related referrals, recreational activities, and assistance with lease compliance issues.  In its work at these sites, HOU has been actively involved in helping residents with “aging in place”, mental health, substance use and financial assistance issues.  HOU’s existing staff includes individuals with extensive experience serving each of these populations.

Training and Consulting

HOU shares its expertise through training sessions and consulting assistance with a diverse client base that includes resident organizations, management companies, developers, housing authorities, foundations and other service coordinators.  HOU staff conducts Resident Service Coordinator/Case Manager training sessions, resident council capacity building and provides independent assessments of resident service needs and resources at subsidized housing developments.  David Connelly and HOU staff have also given numerous industry lectures:

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