Streamlining Tribal Housing Services With Salesforce Solutions
Tribal housing programs are essential in providing safe, affordable housing to Native communities across the U.S. As a tribally designated housing entity, the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority plays a leading role in serving Southeast Alaska. With modern technology like Salesforce, tribal housing authorities are improving outcomes for both residents and staff through better workflow management and grant tracking.
Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA) serves as the Tribally Designated Housing Entity for 12 tribal partners in Alaska, overseeing a wide range of tribal housing programs and services. Its mission is to connect Southeast Alaskans with sustainable housing opportunities and innovative financial solutions. THRHA offers many services, including LIHEAP, housing, home repair, and home construction. It also owns and operates Fireweed Place, a 67-unit apartment building for senior citizens who can live independently.
Because THRHA serves so many communities, they wanted to utilize Salesforce to streamline their intake process and improve their workflows. Previously, they worked from Excel sheets, which made it difficult to see the status of projects and to get an accurate applicant count.
All New Grants Management Workflows
THRHA wanted a better method for managing its multiple grants. The following features were built to streamline the many stages of grant applications: from application to funder reporting.
Add grants into the system to track their lifecycle
Complete an implementation checklist for each grant to ensure they are collecting all required documentation
Record grant report due dates and the timeline of reports to ensure they don’t miss any due dates.
Record a grant’s deliverables and grant activities to meet funder requirements
Staff members receive notifications when they have been assigned a grant task
A Dashboard to highlight metrics and figures
Home Repair Application Process & Management
The creation of an online portal for home repairs on Salesforce Experience Cloud improves the client experience by making it easier to apply for services, increasing transparency during review, and empowering THRHA staff to better manage the entire process.
Applicants use an online portal to complete applications
Applicants can track their status updates during the review process
Staff can track which application documents are present and which are missing, ensuring all required documentation is submitted
Staffers receive a reminder when a client is approaching 30 days to submit documents and can generate letters to inform clients of missing documentation.
When a client’s income is entered, the system will calculate the client’s FPL and AMI income and automatically check to see if a client is eligible for any other programs, ensuring families receive more comprehensive support.
The eligibility determination tool links the grant management and home repairs together
Case management tasks are then assigned to staff
THRHA can record Environmental Review (ERR) details, upload ERR documents, and track statuses.
Enhanced Processes for LIHEAP Applications
THRHA accepts applications for Low Income Home Energy Assistance as part of its broader suite of tribal housing programs supporting Southeast Alaska. Community members can submit their applications online, and THRHA will review them to determine whether their household meets the income guidelines to qualify for assistance. The benefit amount is determined by household income, household size, fuel type, housing type, and geographic location.
To help THRHA better serve their clients and improve processes, Provisio built the following features within Salesforce:
The system automatically sends an email to each portal applicant letting them know their application was received
Applicants can check the portal to see what documents are missing
A record that indicates whether a client owns or rents properties to determine if they are eligible for other grants and meet mandatory reporting requirements
Staff can generate letters on what documentation is missing to ensure clients submit the required documentation
The Role of Tribally Designated Housing Entities in Modern Housing Programs
Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) like the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority are at the forefront of transforming how tribal housing programs operate. By embracing innovative solutions like Salesforce, TDHEs can better manage housing development, energy assistance, and grant reporting. These tools ensure that Native communities receive timely, equitable, and transparent access to essential services. As the designated housing authority for 12 tribes, THRHA continues to demonstrate how TDHEs can lead through innovation and data-driven processes.
Why Technology Matters
Technology upgrades like the ones THRHA implemented through Salesforce are crucial to organizations aiming to improve client support. Improved technology leads to a better client and staff experience. Streamlined processes, reduced paperwork, and less time spent on administrative tasks result in more job satisfaction for case workers and faster service delivery, allowing clients to receive the help they need more quickly.
Contact Provisio Today to Get Started
By modernizing systems and streamlining services, the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority is setting a new standard for tribally designated housing entities and their approach to managing tribal housing programs. If your organization is ready to enhance service delivery, improve grant management, and better support your community through technology, Provisio is here to help. Contact Provisio today to learn how we can tailor Salesforce solutions for your tribal housing program and get started on your path to transformation.
FAQs
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Tribal housing programs are initiatives designed to provide safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing for Native American communities. These programs often include home repairs, energy assistance, rental support, and new construction, and are managed by tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs).
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A Tribally Designated Housing Entity is an organization authorized by a Native American tribe to administer housing assistance and manage housing programs under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). TDHEs play a key role in developing and managing tribal housing programs tailored to the unique needs of their communities.
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Technology platforms like Salesforce help tribal housing authorities streamline workflows, manage grants more efficiently, and improve the client experience. Automation, digital portals, and real-time tracking enable TDHEs to provide faster, more transparent support to community members.