365 Connect, the New Orleans-based online technology platform for the multifamily industry, launched a new revamp of one it’s established products today: its Comprehensive Online Resident Services Program for the affordable housing industry. The online platform is the first Resident Services Platform in the nation to be Approved by a Housing Finance Agency.
365 Connect’s Resident Services Program allows affordable housing operators to utilize a realistic comprehensive plan to serve residents living in their affordable communities. The platform delivers educational content through its Learn TV Video Channel, providing 60 different videos across 10 different categories, such as Parenting, Money Matters, Health, Fitness, and more. The platform also links to local resources, a critical component to resident services, through its Get Local Mapping System, which delivers information on schools, medical services, child care and numerous other local resources. In addition, platform distributes community news, events and hosts a resident communication platform and can be accessed by desktop and mobile applications.
“Traditionally, Resident Services Programs are organized on-site, through scheduling an activity at a certain place and time,” said 365 Connect President and CEO Kerry W. Kirby. “With active lifestyles, families working multiple jobs and children’s activity schedules, it is nearly impossible to achieve a good attendance record to almost any on-site program.”
There are many issues with on-site programs, Kirby stated. “On-site programs are not always convenient to residents. They have a history of poor attendance and are expensive to maintain. 365 Connect has been successfully delivering relevant educational content and linkage to local resources for almost 10 years. 365 Connect’s Online Delivery method is a cost-effective solution to serve residents of affordable housing communities with a proven success rate that far exceeds on-site programs,” Kirby said.
“We have been quietly delivering services in this market since 2003, and over the past few years, we have tracked online usage against on-site programs. We have seen a large migration to access educational content online. For example, at one community we serve, their on-site program attendance has dropped to near zero levels, while they are experiencing in excess of 2,000 views a month on educational videos on our Learn TV Platform. Residents clearly prefer this type of program.” stated Kirby.
The eight year old company has thrived in New Orleans, despite the relatively low profile and not having taken any outside capital. 365 Connect CEO Kerry Kirby told Silicon Bayou News that all the company’s technology is built in-house and he is proud that the company is located here. Today, 365 Connect is rapidly becoming a leader in web-based multifamily technology platforms with an array of award-winning products ranging from online leasing centers and interactive resident platforms to MultifamilyBiz.com, a leading B2B industry portal.