AI Readiness vs. Reality: 41% Have No Strategy—And Only 6% Have a Policy

INSIGHTS FROM THE 2025 AHTA AFFORDABLE HOUSING STAFFING SURVEY

The State of AI in Affordable Housing

• 41% of organizations report no organized AI strategy or policy.

• 12% identify as early adopters, experimenting with AI tools in pockets of their operations.

• Only 6% have a comprehensive, clearly defined AI policy guiding usage, governance, and compliance.

This means most operators are either dabbling without guardrails—or sitting on the sidelines entirely. And that’s risky.

Why This Matters

AI can transform staffing and operations, but without a plan, it can also introduce compliance risks, data privacy issues, and reputational harm. Affordable housing is a highly regulated space—think Fair Housing, LIHTC compliance, resident data security. Deploying AI without governance is like driving without brakes.

Where AI Can Help—Right Now

Even with limited resources, AI can deliver quick wins in areas that directly impact staffing challenges:

• Automated SOP Drafting: Generate standard operating procedures for maintenance, leasing, and compliance tasks faster.

• Work Order Triage: Use AI to prioritize urgent repairs and route tasks to the right tech, reducing cycle times.

• Personalized Training: AI-driven learning platforms can tailor onboarding content to each role and skill gap, accelerating time-to-proficiency.

• Resident Communication: Draft clear, compliant notices and FAQs in multiple languages—saving staff hours while improving resident experience.

The Risks of Going Ad Hoc

Without a policy, these benefits come with hidden dangers:

• Data Privacy Breaches: AI tools often process sensitive resident information. Without clear rules, you risk violating HUD or state regulations.

• Bias in Decision-Making: AI models can unintentionally reinforce bias, impacting fair housing compliance.

• Operational Chaos: Multiple teams experimenting with different tools creates inconsistency and security vulnerabilities.

Building an AI Roadmap in 90 Days

You don’t need a 200-page manual to start. Here’s a practical, phased approach:

Phase 1: Adopt and AI Policy and Governance Framework

• AHTA offers a robust Policy & Governance Framework that can get you to 3rd base very quickly with a downloadable template in MS Word format that you can modify for your own use [see below for a link for more information]

• AHT offering includes a free 30-min consultation with Anne Hollander, a leading AI consultant focused on Housing (and affordable housing)

  
  

Phase 2: Inventory & Awareness

• Audit where AI is already in use (even informally).

• Canvass staff to identify high-impact, low-risk use cases where AI can be introduced with small projects

  • Creating knowledge stores to assist with staff trainings

  • Drafting standard operating procedures

  • Triaging on work orders

Phase 3: Pilot & Measure

• Launch one or two small, controlled pilot projects (e.g., AI agent that is designed as an expert on your employee handbook or departmental policies to aid in onboarding a new employee).

• Monitor effectiveness of effort and continually refine to improve outputs.

• Document lessons learned for scaling of next projects.

What Good Looks Like

A mature AI program in affordable housing should include:

• Clear governance framework (policy + training for staff)

• Role-based AI applications (maintenance, leasing, compliance, considering security implications)

• Continuous monitoring for bias, accuracy, and regulatory alignment, with a focus on managing risk to increase trust amongst staff and other stakeholders

• Integration with existing systems (property management software, Office 365 environment or other key systems)

The Bottom Line

AI isn’t optional—it’s inevitable. But the difference between competitive advantage and compliance nightmare comes down to planning and quality governance and oversight. Start small, start smart, and build the guardrails before you hit the accelerator. In doing so, you will gain that edge -- that competitive advantage -- that will help you ease the impact of the staffing crisis that is impairing the affordable housing industry today.

Where AHTA Comes In

You don’t have to start from scratch. AHTA’s AI Policy & Governance Framework gives you:

• Ready-to-use templates for AI policies tailored to affordable housing

• Step-by-step guidance for building governance without slowing innovation

• Practical examples of AI use cases that improve staffing and operations

• Expert-led training modules to help your team adopt AI responsibly

👉 Learn more about this important course offering now at https://www.ahta.online/ai

This isn’t theory—it’s a practical toolkit to move from “no strategy” to “AI-ready” in weeks, not months.