Avona Terrell Career Background
What is your biggest career achievement?
- My biggest career achievement was being hired at one of the most recognized housing authorities in the nation. Atlanta Housing serves over 10,000 families a year with subsidized and affordable housing. As an employee I have gained more experience in the housing choice voucher program, public housing, and RAD program, which ultimately gives me an advantage in the affordable housing industry. We are currently faced with a housing deficit and economically there are a lot of individuals who are unable to seek, or find suitable housing and also have their needs met. Atlanta Housing provides low income families the opportunity to find safe, decent, and sanitary housing that can meet the needs for their family. I have a passion for helping individuals that lack the economic resources to access the quality housing. It has been a continued goal to ensure that the families that are impacted are able to live life with one less worry which is housing. Being in the affordable housing industry you are faced with a lot of challenges, which include interacting with families and individuals that are less fortunate. As an affordable housing professional I have the opportunity to make an impactful difference that may last a life time.
What is your ultimate career goal within the rental housing industry?
- My ultimate career goal within the rental housing industry is to bring more awareness to the affordable housing industry. I am going to continue my career path and advocate as a leader and innovator for affordable housing. Although, the economy has shifted and economically speaking, more individuals are employed however, the rapidly rising cost for housing is also causing a decline for the people that have a low or fixed income and are looking for housing in areas that are affordable and meets the needs of their family.
What's one rental housing trend you have your eye on?
- The emerging technology that I believe has the power to change the rental housing industry is smart phones/devices. Over the past 10 years we have noticed a huge increase in technology. From the upgraded cellphones, to the all in one laptops/tablets, to even having devices such as Google Home, Siri and Alexa in our homes that can navigate our daily schedules or turn our crockpots on to cook a meal while were are still at work.
The future of housing will start with technological upgrades. I envision any organization moving to an all technology and no paper movement. In doing so, we could take advantage of “going green” and making the apartment industry environmentally friendly by using smart devices to register applicants, renew leases, communicating with residents, tracking work orders and special projects all in a cloud system without ever cutting down another tree. Although, in Atlanta we have a large aging population, we can educate and train our aging seniors to use technology day to day. With new technology surfacing every year, we should cultivate our industry with the latest, most cost efficient devices.