When it comes to mastering the complex processes of affordable housing, staying up-to-date and compliant is easier than ever only when you have access to effective training resources. That’s where Yardi Aspire comes in. From bite-sized courses to personalized learning plans with unlimited user access, Aspire delivers unlimited user access to unparalleled training content. This can elevate the skills of your housing specialists, accountants, front office staff, maintenance teams and more.  One of the primary visionaries behind Aspire’s affordable housing training development is Patty Evans, industry principal for Yardi. She has been with Yardi for more than two decades with a focus on training Yardi team members and software users. Evans recently shared insights about Aspire as she considered the benefits of the Yardi affordable housing training solution. Here are the five stand-out takeaways: Shorter content is more engaging In Patty’s expert opinion, shorter content is much more effective in capturing and retaining the attention of learners. This is because each Aspire course encourages them to apply key information and practice a specific skill in just a few minutes.  “That’s why Aspire’s courses average just 12 minutes compared to other training providers that offer lengthier courses that take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 25 hours to complete. Studies show that longer training programs are the leading cause of learner fatigue, which reduces the likelihood of training completion,” says Evans. Aspire’s micro courses, paired with immediate recognition like rewards and badges, encourage continuous skill development and positive learning habits. This creates an ongoing cycle of “learning and earning” throughout a user’s career. Shorter courses do not mean less content  While affordable housing training courses in Aspire are usually quick to complete, that doesn’t mean there is any lack of overall content.  Aspire has more than...

Guide dogs are a precious miracle for many. BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a Yardi-supported nonprofit organization founded in 1996 in Delta, Canada, that breeds and professionally trains guide dogs, autism service dogs, and OSI-PTSD service dogs for citizens of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is not just a place; it’s a community. It hopes to raise awareness, attract new volunteers (puppy raisers), and raise funds for its Capital Campaign—a new building. Support, whether through volunteering or donations, keeps them going. Learn the journey timeline a guide or service dog takes to become such an asset: Breeding & Care: focuses on the human-dog bond for up to eight weeks Training with Volunteer Puppy Raiser: eight to 15 months Formal Advanced Training: This is done in various settings with professional instructors for 18-22 weeks after the dog turns 15 months old Training with Teammate: Done in the student’s home/living environment for 15 days Follow-up Support: Yearly after-care visits. The dog’s working life averages about eight years, and it retires at the age of ten Yardi funding gives BC & Alberta Guide Dogs a better marketing and outreach program to secure more volunteers and donations. “Thank you for supporting us all these years through your corporate donations,” expressed Melissa Toong, marketing and communications coordinator for BC & Alberta Guide Dogs. Team Terrific Living with autism is tough for not only the person living with autism but also for the family. Meet Reece, a child with autism, and Shay, his labrador retriever service guide dog, who has been a miracle companion and a source of hope for Reece and his family. Shay entered Reece’s life in May 2023, and they have formed an incredible team from day one. Reece’s mother no...

The world’s largest Santa was saved from demolition in Carpenteria, California and moved to Oxnard, where this novel toy drive started in 2003. Santa to The Sea (STTS), a Yardi-supported nonprofit organization, makes a significant impact by providing toys to over 1,500 kids in Nyeland Acres, one of the most impoverished communities in California, and ensuring holiday dinners for the community families with turkeys. STTS aims to provide every kid in Nyeland Acres with a toy and families a celebratory dinner this holiday season. For some kids, this is the only gift they receive. Yardi’s funding of Santa to The Sea guarantees a sense of joy and community and supports the development and well-being of kids through play. This recognition also teaches kids the value of giving back and empathy towards others. “We are so grateful for your support and would love to see more Yardi team members at the race and toy giveaway,” said Suki Sir, fundraise and sponsorships for Santa to The Sea. Volunteer Opportunities Santa to The Sea welcomes Yardi employees and other community members to get together for a run, walk, and crawl (diaper dash). Enjoy team building with inter-departmental challenges, throw the gauntlet down, and dress up fun! “We want Team Yardi to know that the support you give to the community is vital. It bears repeating: Santa to The Sea and the Nyeland Acres community are grateful for your support. You are invited to come out to the world’s largest Santa and take a group photo! I know Santa personally…” expressed Sir. Check out more photos of Santa to The Sea and a glimpse of the world’s largest Santa! Find future non-profit profiles...

This Yardi-supported nonprofit organization’s mission is to make the world a more inclusive place. Backyard Players & Friends (BYP), founded in 2015 in Rockville Centre, NY, is an inclusive arts-based community program for teens and young adults of all abilities. BYP has opened its own ‘backyard’ space in the heart of Rockville Centre. It also has two additional storefronts: Love, Nana, a community service project and Front Porch Market, which features merchandise and artwork from neurodiverse entrepreneurs. BYP seeks to expand its arts-based classes and community outreach initiatives. In addition, it plans to enhance the training program for participants who wish to work at The Front Porch Market and increase its online presence to create more opportunities for its participants. Funding from Yardi allows BYP to increase its capacity to offer more classes to participants. In 2023, BYP launched two new cooking classes—BYP Test Kitchen and Healthy Eats 101—in its kitchen classroom. Both were possible with Yardi’s support. In the future, BYP hopes to enhance and expand all programs to provide recreational, community-based opportunities to its participants. “Yardi has been an incredibly generous and active supporter of Backyard Players & Friends,” said Cristine Daly, director and co-founder of BYP. She continued, “We held a game night with Yardi staff and BYP participants and attended a movie sponsored by Yardi. Additionally, volunteers from Yardi have attended our Dance-A-Thon Fundraiser. We are grateful for their consistent engagement and support.” Crafting Inclusivity Each year, BYP continues to build its mission of making the world a more inclusive place. In late 2022, BYP launched crafting classes to create a place where participants learn crafting, retail and economic skills related to budgeting, marketing and commerce. In 2023, they launched The Front Porch Market, a retail store that celebrates crafters,...

As we enter the bustling event season, many will attend multiple events and conferences this spring. It’s crucial not to let the whirlwind of activity disrupt the work-life balance. Let’s explore some key reminders on maintaining a balanced life, allowing positivity to flow naturally rather than being forced. Work-life integration, a concept that emphasizes blending professional responsibilities with personal interests and well-being, can be a powerful tool during the event season. It’s not about juggling but about finding a harmonious balance. Explore strategies that promote this harmony, such as flexible scheduling to accommodate personal commitments. Remote and compressed workweeks are particularly beneficial during the event season, especially for event planners. There are several apps to streamline activities and stay on track for event managers and planners, such as Eventbrite and Asana. Practice some time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro technique. This technique was developed in the late 1980s by university student Francesco Cirillo, who struggled to focus on his studies. Feeling overwhelmed, he asked himself to commit to ten minutes of focused study time. Encouraged by the challenge, he found a tomato (pomodoro in Italian) shaped kitchen timer and founded the Pomodoro technique. Cirillo wrote a book about the method, but its most significant strength is simplicity. There might be minimal places to recharge at conferences, but many now incorporate designated workstations. Using your smartphone or watch, set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on the most important task until the timer goes off. When the session ends, mark off one Pomodoro and record what was completed. Enjoy a five-minute break, do some deep breathing or stretches, then continue the rest of the event activities. Schedule regular breaks. Recharge during events and create designated “unplugged” times to disconnect from work and enjoy...

Attention all adopters, fosters and volunteers! Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is a Yardi-supported nonprofit animal shelter and rescue organization that pioneers comprehensive, innovative programs designed to save the most at-risk homeless companion animals and educate others to do the same through its American Pets Alive! nationwide education and outreach division. Austin, a city that has proudly held the title of America’s largest no-kill city for the past nine years, owes much of its success to Austin Pets Alive! This nonprofit organization has been instrumental in helping over 12,000 dogs and cats annually in Central Texas and beyond, providing them with a chance at the life they truly deserve. This year, APA! is redoubling its efforts to save even more pet lives, both within its facilities and by offering hands-on assistance to local shelters. The funding from Yardi enables APA! to continue their life-saving work on a daily basis. “We could not be more grateful for Yardi’s support. We understand that Yardi is committed to the communities they serve, and it’s a privilege to be selected as a recipient of this gift,” said Nigel Fuentes, director of philanthropy and partnerships for APA!. Senior Love Velcro, originally named Beluga, arrived at Austin Pets Alive! in 2022 and spent over 700 days at the Texas rescue. The ten-year-old dog has special needs (deaf and partially blind with neurological and mobility issues), which made it harder to find a suitable adopter until Velcro met Jeanette, a 74-year-old woman who committed herself to spoiling Velcro since bringing the senior dog home. Over time, Jeanette felt the dog was meant for her, and his special needs only made her want him more. After a few days with Jeanette, Velcro became more personable yet still acted like a sedate old gentleman but...

Here’s the latest on our periodic reports on research by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), a statistical and analytical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy that collects, analyzes and disseminates energy information. Sun is up in forecast EIA’s short-term energy outlook in January projected that solar electric generation will account for 7% of total U.S. electricity generation in 2025, up from 4% in 2023. Almost 80 gigawatts of solar power will come online over the next two years, increasing U.S. solar generating capacity by 84% and making solar the leading source of growth in U.S. electricity generation through 2025. “We are experiencing a significant shift in U.S. electric generation, as solar generation grows rapidly, taking market share from coal and tempering the growth in natural gas usage,” EIA Administrator Joe DeCarolis said. Rising oil production, falling gas prices, declining coal output The January outlook also forecasts that: U.S. crude oil production will establish new records of 13.2 million barrels per day in 2024 and more than 13.4 million barrels per day in 2025. U.S. natural gas production will also establish new records both years. Gasoline prices will fall from an average $3.52 per gallon in 2023 to about $3.40 per gallon in 2024 and about $3.20 per gallon in 2025. Coal production will drop by 26% over the next two years, reaching 430 million short tons in 2025, its lowest level since the early 1960s. Renewables seen growing Electricity generation from renewable sources will likely grow in every region of the U.S. in 2024, with an estimated 36-gigawatt increase in solar generating capacity. U.S. solar generation is expected to rise by 43% and wind generation by 6% this year. “The mix of energy sources used for generating electricity in the United States...

One in ten children will be sexually abused before reaching the age of 18, but working together can make our community a safe place for children. SungateKids is a Yardi-supported nonprofit organization founded in 1993 in Greenwood Village, Colorado, that advocates for children in Colorado’s 18th Judicial District, which includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties. SungateKids mission is to empower children to use their voices, which it believes helps create a world where children are safe and free from abuse. SungateKids provides expert forensic interviewing, victim and family advocacy services, therapeutic support programs and child abuse prevention education. These five programs are provided at no cost to children and families: Forensic Interview Program: SungateKids conducts about 650 interviews per year, each by highly trained, highly skilled interviewers who know how to talk to children in every situation. They also provide a full-time bilingual Forensic Interviewer, and about 20% of all interviews are in Spanish. Family Support Coordination Program: Every family who undergoes a forensic interview receives ongoing support and resources to help them navigate the civil and criminal justice systems and obtain what they need to recover and heal. Families rely on Family Support coordinators for as long as they need because everyone’s healing journey is different. Therapeutic Support Program: On average, therapists assist more than 150 children and caregivers annually with individual counseling and support groups. America is experiencing a mental health crisis, and SungateKids is the only provider in its jurisdiction that offers these specialized services at no charge to children and families. Parent Coaching Program: Parent coaching helps families re-establish the routines of family life that are disrupted when a child is victimized. Parent coaching works in conjunction with therapy to help families heal together. SungateKids SafeKids Child Abuse Prevention...

Stupid Strong is a Yardi-supported nonprofit organization founded in 2014 in Colleyville, TX, dedicated to raising awareness about gastric cancer, advancing research funding, and providing education and support to families in need. Stupid Strong raises awareness and critical research funds for early detection through its fall gala and golf outing, which it hosts annually. “Since 2014, we have granted over $1.6 million to reputable research medical institutions. This funding allows researchers to expand their efforts in early detection and the search for a cure,” said Ashley Elmore, vice president of Stupid Strong. Stupid Strong partners with groundbreaking researchers and leading organizers in the search for a cure for gastric cancer. It is also a founding partner for Test Your Bio Markers, which collects information unique to an individual’s cancer. “We were very surprised and honored to have received the money gift from Yardi’s Non-Profit Giving Campaign in 2022. Jeanine Bowens nominated Stupid Strong in honor of her mother, Renetta Bowens-Garrison, who sadly passed away from stomach cancer,” expressed Elmore. Jeanine Bowens, a team lead for Yardi’s REACH by RentCafé from our Dallas office, shares her quick words of wisdom and compassion towards Stupid Strong: “Stupid Strong is passionately committed to increasing awareness of gastric cancer, fostering research funding, and offering education and assistance to families facing this challenging journey. This mission resonates deeply with me, as I lost my mother to stomach cancer in June 2015. Tragically, my maternal grandmother also succumbed to this illness 30 years prior, significantly impacting our family. Initiatives like those undertaken by Stupid Strong provide a beacon of hope for all those affected, with their unwavering dedication to eradicating stomach cancer through concerted efforts and tireless work.” Volunteer Opportunities Stupid Strong would love to have volunteers for its two events,...

Yardi Matrix’s Q2 Self Storage Supply Forecast remains mostly unchanged, as the development pipeline in the first quarter was consistent with previous expectations. The construction pipeline was flat in the first quarter of 2024, leading to relatively no changes in the near-term forecast for 2024 and 2025. In the Q1 look, those expectations were upped by 10.9 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively. The current levelling-off period is driven by elevated completion times. Forecasted completions for 2026 to 2029 are still expected to decline. Supply growth for 2026 and 2027 will likely contract by two percent of inventory, and further in 2028 and 2029. “The number of deferred and abandoned self storage projects continued to increase in the first quarter of 2024. Growth in the planned pipeline has moderated, while the prospective pipeline contracted. Street rates are on a declining path, with project sponsors reporting a difficult financing environment,” say Matrix analysts. In the first quarter of 2024, the planned pipeline rose by 4.9 percent, while the prospective stage saw a 5.1 percent quarter-over-quarter decrease but remained mostly flat on a yearly basis. The number of deferred projects grew 67 percent annually and the number of abandoned storage properties rose to 50 properties as of March 2024. Review the new Self Storage Supply Forecast from Yardi Matrix. Yardi Matrix offers the industry’s most comprehensive market intelligence tool for investment professionals, equity investors, lenders and property managers who underwrite and manage investments in commercial real estate. Yardi Matrix covers multifamily, student housing, vacant land, industrial, office, retail and self storage property types. Email [email protected], call 480-663-1149 or visit yardimatrix.com to learn...

Let’s explore worldwide conservation efforts to safeguard endangered species, preserve critical habitats and restore ecosystems. Wildlife conservation has many challenges. Habitat loss is experienced by many species running out of habitats due to agriculture, urbanization, deforestation and resource extraction. Habitat loss can also occur due to environmental changes such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, climate or sea level changes, primarily due to human activities. Successful habitat restoration requires understanding species life cycles and interactions and food, water, nutrients, space, and shelter, which are necessary to sustain species populations. When habitats cannot be restored, wildlife corridors, such as marshes or bridges are made to allow animals to cross busy highways. Poaching, sometimes called Big Game hunting, is illegal trafficking and killing of wildlife. Sometimes, these animals are sold as trophies or pets. Many magnificent animals across the world have been pushed to the brink of extinction due to poaching. The African elephants and Rhinos are critically endangered due to high demand for their horns and tusks, and the loss of these species is detrimental to the ecosystem’s health. Raising awareness and strengthening legislation and law enforcement are solutions to poaching. Having compassion and supporting nonprofit organizations or NGOs with conservation efforts brings money from afar to invest in local communities. Climate change and pollution have its fair share of wildlife conservation challenges. According to Yale University, conserving wildlife can help mitigate climate change. Animals remove vast amounts of carbon dioxide yearly, and restoring species will help limit global warming. “Wildlife species, throughout their interaction with the environment, are the missing link between biodiversity and climate,” says Oswald Schmitz, Oastler Professor of popular and community ecology at Yale University. Pollution has detrimental effects on wildlife health. As big as our planet is, it’s not big enough to...

Kinderherzen e.V. is an international organization that excels at research, advocacy, and education. This Yardi Germany-supported nonprofit, founded in 1989 in Bonn, aims to significantly improve the treatment options for children, adolescents, and adults with congenital heart defects worldwide. Conducting research around 20 locations throughout Germany, Kinderherzen develops the latest standards in cardiac medicine. This enables children to receive gentler, less painful treatment and comprehensive therapy. Kinderherzen equips children’s heart centers in Germany and crisis areas worldwide with modern and gentle technology, enabling interventions at the highest medical level. “Therapy measures initiated by us represent highly emotional and social offers for children with heart disease and offer small long-term patients developmental support that encompasses all the senses,” said Maria Zach, press and public relations for Kinderherzen e.V. This organization also promotes measures for further education, exchange and training of doctors and nursing staff. This ensures that all those involved have the best possible expertise long-term. In addition, they provide scholarships for those in pediatric cardiology, which is intended for specialists to further their education and gain experience. Kinderherzen’s international emergency aid enables children with heart conditions from crisis regions to receive life-saving surgery directly in their home country, so they are not torn away from their familiar culture and family environment and do not have to make a long flight to Germany in their poor state of health. “Our volunteer medical expert teams from Germany ensure the best possible cardiac medical care during our surgical missions. We create sustainable structures and help people to help themselves directly on site,” explained Zach. MOHKI Kinderherzen developed the world’s first mobile children’s heart clinic, MOHKI, which opened in January 2024. The first mission took place in El Salvador, where three teams of doctors operated on children with...

Yardi Matrix hosted its Q2 2024 Multifamily Webinar this week, providing more than an hour of useful insight and analysis on rent performance, supply dynamics and opportunities for investment in the sector. Miss Jeff Adler’s insight? View the presentation recording or review the slide deck on the Yardi Matrix website. The latest Matrix monthly multifamily report can also be found here. The average U.S. asking rent gained $6 to $1,725 in April, up 0.7 percent year-over-year. Meanwhile, occupancy remained at 94.5 percent in March, a rate it has held since the beginning of the year. “All things considered, March and April were positive months from a seasonal standpoint, April is right in line with (a typical) seasonal uplift in rents,” said Adler, vice president of Yardi Matrix. Topline webinar takeaway: rental market performance currently varies by region, with factors such as supply response, job growth, and regulatory issues playing critical roles. And while rents for “renter by necessity” properties have increased, margins have not necessarily followed suit due to rising expenses, especially insurance. Regional trendlines include the Southeast, where rents are decreasing due to a high volume of new supply. In the Midwest, there are more modest completions and good rent growth, making it an attractive option for portfolio diversification. Cincinnati, Omaha and Lexington led year-over-year rent growth last year. Columbus, Louisville and Dayton are also performing well in 2024. More generally, select tertiary markets are performing well because job growth is driving demand without a significant supply response. Madison, Louisville, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids top that list, supporting the strong performance of the Midwest overall. In addition to a thorough look at the state of the U.S. economy (food for thought: household sentiment doesn’t align with the generally positive perspective presented by the...

Preleasing at Yardi 200 schools reached 73.5 percent in April, exceeding last year’s rate by 50 basis points, while rent growth stood at 5.5 percent, according to the latest Yardi Matrix National Student Housing Report.  As of April, the average rent reached $895 per bedroom, unchanged from the previous month and 5.5 percent higher year-over-year. Similar to the preleasing rate’s evolution, rent growth has slowed from the beginning of the leasing season, but is still above the average growth rate of 3.5 percent. Rent growth slowed from 6.8 percent early on in the leasing season and has averaged six percent throughout the leasing season to date. A total of 35 U.S. markets saw double digit rent growth, while 23 posted rent declines. State schools across the Sun Belt with growing enrollments have seen the biggest jumps in rents. Preleasing has lately been trending in line with last year. A total of 19 schools were at least 90 percent preleased as of April, including Ole Miss (100 percent), Kentucky (93.3 percent), Purdue (93 percent) and James Madison (92.5 percent). But 22 universities didn’t reach a 50 percent preleasing rate, such as UT–Arlington and Georgia State. “Strong rent growth is indicative of solid demand for product and consolidation of higher education into the largest student housing markets, as primary state schools have been able to outgrow their peers,” state Matrix analysts.  Student housing investment has been on par with last year, with 18 properties changing hands year-to-date through April. The average price per bed stood at $100,857—well ahead of previous years. Gain more insight on leasing, rents and investment in the new Yardi Matrix National Student Housing Report.  Yardi Matrix offers the industry’s most comprehensive market intelligence tool for investment professionals, equity investors, lenders and property managers...