Resident service coordinators as an underutilized resource in the design and development of affordable housing

ABSTRACT Drawing on 20 semi-structured interviews with industry professionals, this study considers whether barriers to collaboration prevent affordable housing developers in the U.S. from collaborating with resident service coordinators when making development decisions. Results suggest executives working in both fields perceive barriers to collaboration to exist, many of which stem from competing interests, financial concerns, and organizational cultures that do not appropriately emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary cooperation. Recommendations for overcoming these barriers include ongoing communication, a willingness to compromise, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of people who make affordable housing their home.