Case Study

Reorganization of Housing Agencies
Philadelphia Office of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation

PFM was engaged to team with national housing leader The Reinvestment Fund to review the structure of housing and neighborhood services provided by the City of Philadelphia and affiliated agencies that use Community Block Grant funds. The City's housing agency, a non-profit providing housing preservation services, and the City's Redevelopment Authority offer services that are combined in one agency in some other jurisdictions.

PFM and its team members have interviewed numerous housing agency personnel and outside stakeholders; reviewed organizational documents and procedures; surveyed employee attitudes; and managed five separate teams of employees from each of the three agencies to identify specific recommendations for improvement.

Those recommendations ranged from simple modifications in organization and training to major shifts in how the agencies manage their information technology and back office functions.