Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are the backbone of affordable housing programs, but let’s be honest—they’re constantly facing an uphill battle. From limited resources to complex regulations, the challenges can feel endless. While most of these issues are well-known to anyone working in housing programs, it’s important to not only highlight them but also explore how technology can provide real solutions.

Here are five common challenges PHAs face and how Mable DocuScan can help turn things around.

1. Underfunded Operations

This one’s no surprise. PHAs frequently face budget constraints, often made worse by made worse by inflated insurance premiums and rising fair market rental rates. Underfunding can directly impact operations, making it difficult to upgrade systems, hire more staff, or improve services.

How Mable Helps: Mable DocuScan enhances efficiency by automating document workflows which reduces administrative burden. This allows PHAs to focus on key activities that directly impact program success, like improving voucher utilization. By ensuring timely and accurate document processing, Mable helps PHAs operate at the speed of modern real estate organizations which is critical for optimizing their limited funds.

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2. Understaffed and Overworked

Let’s face it—PHAs are often understaffed, and that puts a strain on everyone. With staff spread thin, important tasks can fall through the cracks. Overworked teams can only do so much, and burnout is a real concern.

How Mable Helps: Mable DocuScan lightens the load for staff by handling repetitive tasks such as document review and data entry. Think of it as an extra set of hands—allowing your staff to dedicate more time to higher-value tasks, reducing burnout and improving overall productivity without the need for additional hires.

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3. Complex Regulations

PHAs have to deal with a mountain of regulations. Keeping up with evolving federal, state, and local housing rules is no easy task. And when something gets missed? It can slow down the entire process and create federal audit findings.

How Mable Helps: Mable DocuScan makes compliance much simpler by ensuring all your client documents are organized, easy to access, and up-to-date. It’s built to streamline workflows and simplify data entry, so you can focus on running your program without worrying about missing a form or deadline. DocuScan helps collect and ensure the data reported to HUD is compliant and can flag any incomplete paperwork, keeping your team ahead of regulatory requirements.

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4. Declining Landlord Participation

One of the biggest challenges PHAs face is retaining landlord participants. Many landlords shy away from voucher programs because they see them as complicated and slow. When participation declines, it becomes harder for voucher holders to find housing—creating a frustrating cycle for everyone involved.

How Mable Helps: Mable DocuScan streamlines the landlord onboarding process, making it quicker and easier to get them involved. By processing Leases, RFTA’s and HAP contracts in 90% less time, landlords spend less time waiting for approval and more time getting tenants into units. This reduces frustration and increases participation—because, let’s be real, everyone prefers a smoother process.

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5. Declining Voucher Utilization Rates

Another issue PHAs face is declining voucher utilization rates. When utilization declines, PHAs risk losing funding. A key factor here is the declining participation of landlords, which reduces the pool of available units. Additionally, slow processing of RFTAs, Leases, and HAP contracts can delay getting tenants into homes, causing vouchers to expire before they can be utilized.

How Mable Helps: Mable DocuScan addresses both issues head-on. By speeding up the processing of RFTAs, leases, and HAP contracts, it helps move tenants into homes faster, ensuring that vouchers are used before they expire. At the same time, the platform simplifies the landlord experience, making it easier for them to participate in the program and increasing the number of available units. Together, these improvements can boost voucher utilization rates and help secure future funding for PHAs.

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Wrapping Up

PHAs face significant challenges every day, but that doesn’t mean they have to go at it alone. With tools like Mable DocuScan, it’s possible to automate many of the time-consuming tasks that slow down operations, helping PHAs better serve their communities. Whether it’s improving landlord participation or speeding up voucher utilization, Mable provides real, practical solutions to the problems that PHAs know all too well.

Interested in learning more about how Mable DocuScan can help your PHA run more smoothly?

Reach out to us today!