In a pivotal step towards modernizing affordable housing, OPEN Technologies and OXD partnered to design the Affordable Housing Navigator tool, offering better functionality to meet the project planning needs of housing developers. The digital tool helps non-profit developers make informed choices for comfortable, high-performance, aand affordable homes by guiding them through sustainable and practical design options.
OPEN Technologies initially focused on adapting the tool for British Columbia and Ontario during its Proof of Concept phase. OXD later partnered with them to expand the tool's reach to developers across all of Canada. Our expertise in user experience helped define a clear minimum viable product (MVP) by refining the application's scope and identifying essential features and functionalities. Through mapping workshops, the OXD team outlined user journeys and key features necessary for both the MVP and future iterations of the application. This collaborative process led to the development of the MVP and the formulation of a user story backlog for ongoing and future enhancements.
The Affordable Housing Navigator tool empowers non-profit housing developers to identify cost-effective design strategies that meet the rigorous performance standards set by regulators and funders.
The user-centered research conducted by the OXD and OPEN Technologies team of experts equips non-profit housing developers with the knowledge and tools needed to better understand and achieve their affordability goals, ultimately leading to the approval and construction of more affordable housing in our communities.