Technical Assistance Innovations Help Communities Thrive

Technical Assistance Innovations Help Communities Thrive

Stephanie Stone, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technical Assistance

Stephanie Stone, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technical Assistance.

The Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) in HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) is proud to highlight the transformative role of HUD's technical assistance (TA) initiatives in fostering innovation, advancing equity, and delivering meaningful outcomes in communities nationwide. Over the past decade, our commitment to providing capacity-building support has empowered state and local governments, cities, counties, public housing agencies, housing counseling agencies, Continuums of Care, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and other customers to implement HUD programs more effectively and equitably. At the core of HUD's TA approach is the drive to empower local communities with innovative solutions to their housing and economic development challenges. Our TA teams collaborate closely with communities, leveraging data-driven tools and enhancing capacity-building efforts to drive innovation at every level. We also are committed to equity, recognizing that the challenges that underserved communities face are unique and require tailored approaches. Through our TA efforts, we center the voices of those most affected by housing instability and homelessness, ensuring that solutions are both inclusive and equitable.

One shining example is the Client-Centered Data Collection Approach: Virtual Reality Series, a recently published training product funded by the Community Compass TA and Capacity Building program. This immersive training series provides an innovative learning experience for organizations and individuals collecting data for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), including Coordinated Entry assessors, homeless shelter intake staff, street outreach workers, and case managers. Although many resources in the field address trauma-informed care, cultural competence, and related intake methods, this virtual reality immersion enhances empathy and the overall impact of the training. Accessible through mobile devices, the immersion offers users a first-person perspective on trauma-informed approaches to data collection.

This innovative TA product marks the first time HUD has employed virtual reality technology to enhance the learning experience for TA recipients. Its success is thanks to the efforts of our colleagues in the Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS); the dedication of our TA providers, who led a multifirm effort in product development; and the invaluable contributions from individuals with lived expertise, who consulted on the product's design and acted in the training videos. The product already has been demonstrated to HMIS leads and system administrators during a routine SNAPS webinar, with plans for further promotion at the local and national levels.

In addition to the Community Compass TA and Capacity Building program, our office administers PD&R's Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance (DCTA) program and the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance (TCTA) program. DCTA provides essential capacity-building support to units of general local government (UGLGs) in small communities (those with fewer than 50,000 residents) that are facing economic distress and, in some cases, to nonprofit organizations. TCTA, part of the Thriving Communities Network — a collaboration among the U.S. Departments of Transportation, HUD, Energy, Commerce, and Agriculture; the U.S. General Services Administration; and the Environmental Protection Agency — helps local governments integrate housing needs into broader infrastructure investment plans while supporting equitable development in disadvantaged communities.

One noteworthy example of impactful TA involves our direct engagement with the city of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. DCTA supported the city during its transition from a third-class city to a home-rule charter, helping the city's newly hired chief financial officer revise the administrative code and develop accounting policies and procedures. This support helped Beaver Falls achieve a positive, stable credit rating from Standard & Poor's (S&P), which will allow it to access lower interest rates for financing community, housing, and economic development projects. DCTA also facilitated the redevelopment of the city's Mount Washington Apartments by enhancing the city's partnership with the Housing Authority of the County of Beaver, securing developer interest, and using low-income housing tax credits to expand the project to adjacent parcels. Many other success stories are emerging from this 6-year program, and we look forward to highlighting them in the first iteration of the program outcome report, which is currently under production.

The TCTA program, which received funding in fiscal year 2022, has five active, direct TA engagements with UGLGs nationwide. The success story of Syracuse, New York, which won a $180 million grant as a result of our TA work, was featured in a recent edition of PD&R Edge. We anticipate sharing additional success stories as other active TA engagements reach their project milestones.

I sincerely hope these success stories will inspire us and reaffirm our collective commitment to TA. Thank you to all our partners for your dedication and collaboration in making a difference. We are excited about the continued evolution of HUD's TA. Together, we will persist in our mission to equip communities with the resources and expertise they need to address housing and economic development challenges while maintaining an unwavering commitment to innovation and equity. Together, we will create more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities.