Fair Housing Act Accessibility Requirements, Enforcement Tools

Rajiv Desai | 4 Minute Read

The Fair Housing Act was expanded in 1988 to protect Americans with disabilities, and their rights to safe, usable homes in communities across the country. The law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all housing transactions, and bars local zoning and land use ordinances...

How Defensible Space Inspections Protect Your Community

Scott McGill | 6 Minute Read

Wildfires can cause enormous human and financial costs when they reach Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas. The WUI is where human development transitions to wilderness, and homes are at much higher risk. About 40 percent of the US (or about 120 million people) lives in the WUI, and thousands of...

How and Why Every Community Should Offer 311 Services

Rajiv Desai | 4 Minute Read

Since the 1990s, many cities have started offering 311 services to help residents find information, request city services, and report issues in their communities. These non-emergency resources reduce congestion on emergency hotlines and improve the relationship between constituents and their local...

Why a Rental Inspection Program Is Needed in Your City

Rajiv Desai | 3 Minute Read

Code enforcement: It’s no one’s idea of an electrifying dinner party topic, but it is one of the most powerful tools city leaders have for keeping rental housing safe and neighborhoods stable. An effective rental inspection program protects tenants and their children from housing conditions that...

Wildfires Without Borders: The Case for Prevention Standards

Scott McGill | 4 Minute Read

For the past two decades, the United States has experienced an average of 70,600 wildfires a year, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center. These wildfires strike a diverse set of areas and many different terrains. They devastate populations big and small, and don’t mind county...

Outside Inspiration for Citizen Engagement in Local Government

Rajiv Desai | 4 Minute Read

Companies like Amazon and Uber have built powerhouse brands by creating easy, enjoyable experiences for their customers. It makes sense: When a product is similar or even indistinguishable from that of competitors, ensuring customers have a superior experience with your brand gives you an edge.

Wildfire Home Hardening: How to Educate Your Community

Scott McGill | 4 Minute Read

According to a recent study from CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), homes built with hardening standards are 40% less likely to be destroyed and 32% less likely to be damaged. These findings support the importance of community education when it comes to wildfire home...

Ensuring Every Eviction is a Just Cause Eviction

Rajiv Desai | 4 Minute Read

We know that housing stability has incredible benefits for children, families, healthcare systems, and local economies — and that housing instability is harmful to all of the above. That’s why it’s essential to put legal safeguards in place for renters in our communities, including laws that ensure...

Bridging the Digital Divide with Citizen Engagement Software

Rajiv Desai | 4 Minute Read

Early Silicon Valley investor John Doerr famously predicted that the digital revolution would generate more wealth in a few decades than any other technology in human history. He wasn’t wrong. The rapid pace of technological advancement over the past 30 years has created countless opportunities and...

How Solution Accelerators Are Changing Public Sector Software

Rajiv Desai | 4 Minute Read

The public sector is changing faster than ever. Amplified by the pandemic, this rapid change is only possible with the support of technology. It isn’t a question of if local governments and communities will need to adopt new technologies but a matter of when. Software as a service (SaaS) solutions...