Computer use among PHAs

Article Abstract:

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) in May 1989 completed a survey of 483 public housing authorities (PHA) to determine the extent of their computer use. The survey respondents represented 14% of all PHAs, and over 50% of all public housing units in the US. Results of the survey show that 69% of the PHAs responding use minicomputers, over 49% use stand-alone PCs, and the remainder use either networked PCs or mainframes. One-hundred percent of large PHAs, 50.75 of small PHAs, and 85.8% of medium-sized PHAs use computers. Nearly 93% of the PHAs in the Pacific Southwest, 80% in New England, and over 78% in the Mid-Atlantic states use computers. The operating system used by 37% of PHAs in the US is MS/DOS, while 20% use PC/DOS, and 10% use UNIX. Word processors and accounting packages are the most popular software, followed by PHA-specific applications.

Usage, Microcomputers, Surveys, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials

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New deals: PHAs as financiers

Article Abstract:

Changes in federal tax and housing statutes have eliminated or altered ways in which public housing authorities can finance housing construction and rehabilitation. Among laws that have changed the financing picture for public housing are: the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985, 1983 amendments to the US Housing Act, and the 1986 Tax Reform Act. Remaining options for housing authorities include substitution of federal subsidies with state or private funds; issuing their own bonds; using mixed-income developments to generate more income; and utilizing taxable financing. It is unclear whether housing authorities have the legal right to have projects which do not serve strictly low-income residents.

Laws, regulations and rules, Public finance

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Utility cost control

Article Abstract:

Public housing authorities (PHAs) have increased utility cost monitoring and control responsibilities because of a reduced federal role. Tenant organizations and public legal service groups stimulated the shift from Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to local authority in this area through successful court challenges of old HUD rules. PHAs can sharply cut the cost of determining energy use by engaging an engineering firm for initial set-ups, by taking advantage of computer applications software, and by collecting, organizing, and annually updating information. Typical energy study costs are less than $10 per housing unit, and the first-year savings payoff may be several times study cost, assuming program implementation.

Methods, Energy consumption, Cost control

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