The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) honored the Seattle Housing Authority with a 2020 Award of Merit for its Digital Initiative. 

NAHRO’s award was given in the Administrative Innovation category, which recognizes programs that improve the efficiency or effectiveness of administrative operations or the general functioning of the agency/organization and creates a resource bank of information performed by housing and redevelopment agencies and community development departments.  

To increase the convenience and efficiency of engaging with the agency, and to help close the digital divide for its low-income tenants, SHA launched a comprehensive Digital Initiative in mid-2018. 

The first digital issue of The Voice, which replaced a formerly printed newspaper, launched in January 2019. The e-newsletter enables interactivity not possible in print, such as easy-to-use direct links to a host of resources, and tenants can easily translate the content into dozens of languages, enlarge text, forward content to others and engage with the editor.  

Internet connectivity and digital skills are increasingly necessary to conduct business, obtain health care, participate in online education, access services and banking, obtain jobs and many more life needs. 

SHA has established strong partnerships with the City of Seattle, The Seattle Public Library, Seattle Public Schools, University of Washington, Somali Family Safety Task Force and community organizations to help increase digital equity for SHA tenants. 

In 2019, SHA began installing Wi-Fi in the lobbies and community rooms of 61 of SHA’s properties, enabling residents to access free internet service. 

SHA plans to roll out an emergency electronic notification system for tenants in the future. The system potentially could improve life and safety during emergencies such as power outages, fires, and earthquakes or other natural disasters. Text would be used for urgent messaging such as a gas leak or elevator outage versus email which could be used for less-urgent issues.   

The pandemic has accelerated the trend to online overnight. Many transactions, services and resources essential to basic life are increasingly accessible exclusively, or at significantly greater convenience, online.  

While SHA recognizes not everyone is online and continues to maintain alternatives to digital communication, the Digital Initiative is touching almost all of the agency’s programs, and digital strategies are becoming embedded in daily practices and operations. 

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