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The Challenge
Since 1996 Draper & Associates (Draper) has provided comprehensive planning and program management services to The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta (AHA). Among the many successful programs instituted during this time was the initiative to provide a risk assessment for all of AHA’s affordable housing communities.
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The Draper Approach
Draper’s evaluation process of AHA was based upon an integrated inspection process customized to their specific needs. The community risk evaluation followed this process:
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Conducted client interviews to articulate the critical components that would be included within the review
- HUD requirements
- Management company contract requirements (private or public)
- Lease holder requirements
- Local government requirements
- Major system inspection verifications
- Insurance carrier recommendations
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Once these requirements were researched and assembled, a matrix was prepared and the most stringent requirements became the review standard |
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Community-based staff training of these standards was carried out by the Draper team |
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A defined period of time passed while the property staff incorporated these standards into their regular operations and maintenance protocols |
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Unannounced inspections of the community took place. Some of the items reviewed included the following:
- Site: including roads, parking, sidewalks, playfields, fencing, centralized trash collection zones and other shared facilities such as Playgrounds
- Building exteriors, including obvious structural issues and mold accumulation
- Major Systems
- Common Areas
- Maintenance Records
- Evacuation Drill Records and Fire Safety Requirements
- Resident Training / Resident Orientation and Resident Housekeeping
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Results Realized
As a result of the inspection findings, an itemized report was created that included photographs of critical items, a proposed remedy timeline, and a community ‘score’. As the varying conditions of the properties were identified, the reports were adjusted to include recommendations for necessary procedural modifications. With this inspections and scoring system in place, the housing authority was able to establish a clear vision to prioritize critical items and efficiently remedy potential risk.
Through implementation of this risk control program, the Atlanta Housing Authority has taken an important step in the risk reduction process. Reducing this potential loss can save any organization time and money and the cost of starting and annually implementing this program is outweighed by the benefits of reducing the frequency and severity of claims.
Other Risk Management expertise Draper is prepared to offer in order to help your organization better control claims risk and insurance costs:
- Verify compliance of the remedies or provide follow-up training for the staff.
- Professional staff readily available to provide expanded inspection services that could include ADA compliance, natural gas meter/exposed pipe leak detection or apartment interior inspections.
- Annual inspection of the communities allows for year to year inspection comparisons, and management/maintenance team performance review for continuity of the program goals.
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