The Organization for the Advancement of Technology in Housing Agencies is a group that was formed to assist and support Public and Indian Housing professionals to successfully identify, implement and integrate technology into organizational business processes.

By sharing ideas, experience, and technology solutions to common housing problems, pooling resources for education and training, members can implement the latest technologies in the housing market and offer effective assistance and support to all Housing Agency members in the industry.

The membership is not vendor specific. As a group, the membership is more easily accessible, presents a single voice and provides greater strength to discuss problems and concerns with vendors and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

OATHA provides resources that allow the membership to get answers, get support and get connected to other agencies. Sharing information, as a group, allows members to explore multiple methods of doing things, provides for more efficient, effective operations and is especially beneficial for smaller agencies with limited staff.

The membership stays connected through conferences, subject specific mailing lists, a website, and discussion forums. OATHA offers the resources to examine hardware, software, exchange thoughts, ideas and share solutions. By optimizing the available technology information to all housing agencies, members are better equipped to make sound, cost effective decisions.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.

In 2003 NAHRO and OATHA entered into an agreement to advance their shared goals regarding the advancement of technology among their respective members. Together they formed The Joint Technology Working Group. NAHRO and OATHA believe that the effective application of available technology is vital to the ability of local housing agencies and officials to carry out their mission of providing decent, safe and affordable housing to low and moderate income Americans. Currently the two organizations are working on an agreement that would merge the annual OATHA conference with the NAHRO Summer conference. OATHA would provide a track of sessions pertinent to Information Technology, which could be attended by any conference participant. OATHA has always been supported by many excellent HUD presenters, which will add much value to the summer conference. Remember, the sharing of information is one of OATHA's main goals. More news to come!

The annual conference was held at the Golden Nugget Hotel in downtown Las Vegas from April 28-30, 2008. Again this year we had the pleasure of an entire day of HUD presenters speaking on a variety of HUD systems and processes. Concurrent sessions were held all day Wednesday, to include vendor sessions.