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LOCAL STORIES
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
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B-Konnected: Revolutionizing Housing Success Through Technology and Social Impact
From Student Loans to Housing Stability
Published on:
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Ignite Business Insider shares the stories of businesses that are making an impact in their local markets. We highlight their stories in order to inspire entrepreneurial growth and to let readers learn more about businesses across the world that are growing and scaling.
Featuring
Brittany Katalenas
Founder & CEO
B-Konnected.LLC
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Thank for taking the time to sit with us, again. You have been featured in Ignite before, but we wanted to sit with you again to catch up. For our readers, can you share a little bit about yourself and your company?
I'm Brittany Katalenas, founder and CEO of B-Konnected. We're a women and LGBTQ+-owned technology company based in Denver that's revolutionizing how housing providers measure and improve their resident success. After spending a decade in housing and urban development programs, I noticed a critical gap: there was no standardized way to measure and improve housing stability. So in 2018, I took a leap of faith and used my student loans to launch B-Konnected.
We've developed what we call the Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program – evaluating properties across five key areas: management, maintenance, neighborhood, education, and resident well-being. Our technology helps housing providers reduce turnover by up to 90% and boost maintenance efficiency by up to 30%. In 2022, our success led to the creation of Konnected Technologies Inc., expanding our impact across both public and private sectors.
What makes us unique is that we're not just a tech company – we're a social enterprise that uses technology to create thriving communities. Our team of software developers, data scientists, and social work professionals helps properties make data-driven decisions while keeping the human element at the center of everything we do.
A question our readers love is, "How you got started". Can you share with us what you were doing before, and how you got started in the business you are in now?
I understand the critical importance of housing stability firsthand. Growing up in the foster care system taught me just how fundamental safe, stable housing is to a child's well-being. Even after being adopted, those early experiences of housing insecurity shaped my understanding of how deeply housing impacts every aspect of life.
The real turning point in my career came during my work with non-profits, connecting renters who had housing vouchers to community housing options. I noticed a disturbing pattern: 6 out of 10 of my clients were losing their housing within just six months, even though their rent was covered. This revealed a critical gap in the system – having rent assistance wasn't enough. What we needed was a solution that would work for both residents and housing providers.
While pursuing my Master of Social Work at Metropolitan State University, I began envisioning a different approach. Instead of the traditional landlord-tenant dynamic, what if we could create a model where everyone wins? This led me to launch B-Konnected in 2018, using my student loans as seed funding.
Our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program transforms how properties approach housing stability. We help housing providers reduce turnover by up to 88% while improving residents' lives. Through real-time data collection and analysis, we offer concrete insights that benefit both sides: residents get the support they need to maintain stable housing, while properties see dramatic cost reductions and increased operational efficiency.
By 2022, this win-win approach had proven so successful that we launched Konnected Technologies Inc. Today, we're not just helping people get housed – we're helping them stay housed while helping properties thrive. Our model has helped secure over $30 million in housing rewards for our partners while achieving an 88% housing stability rate.
What makes me most proud is that we're redefining housing relationships. We're showing that when you invest in resident success, everybody benefits – properties see better returns, residents achieve stability, and communities grow stronger. That's the kind of transformation I wished for as a child in the system, and it's what drives our innovation at B-Konnected every day.
Well, let's not keep our readers waiting. What is your announcement?
Here's a personal response focusing on those early experiences and desires:
As a child in the foster care system, my dreams weren't about becoming a doctor or an astronaut like many kids. What I wanted most was something much more fundamental – safety, regular meals, a healthy family dynamic, and most importantly, a sense of belonging. I remember lying in bed at night, not dreaming of future careers, but of having a stable place to call home, knowing where my next meal would come from, and having adults in my life who would stick around.
These basic needs that many take for granted shaped everything about who I am today. Even after being adopted, those early experiences of instability never left me. They taught me that safety and stability aren't just physical needs – they're the foundation that allows people to grow, dream, and thrive.
It's interesting how life comes full circle. Those childhood yearnings for stability and belonging didn't lead me to become what I thought I wanted to be – they led me to become what I needed to be. Today, through B-Konnected, I'm working to create the very things I longed for as a child: stability, security, and successful housing outcomes. We're not just helping properties reduce turnover or improve efficiency; we're helping create environments where families can feel secure, where children don't have to worry about constant moves, and where communities can flourish.
So while I may not have had a traditional childhood dream job, my experiences gave me something more powerful – a mission to ensure others don't face the same uncertainties I did. Every time our Resident Success™ program helps a property improve its stability rates, I think about the children in those homes who will now have the security I once dreamed of. That's better than any childhood career aspiration I could have had.
What about this latest news are you personally excited about the most?
Here's a response focused on the excitement of improving resident connections and housing stability:
What excites me most about our latest developments is how we're revolutionizing the way housing stability actually works. Remember those 6 out of 10 clients I used to see lose their housing even with vouchers? Our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program is completely transforming those outcomes. We're not just getting people housed – we're keeping them housed.
I'm particularly thrilled about our data-driven approach that creates a continuous feedback loop between residents and housing providers. When a property achieves an 88% housing stability rate, that's not just a number – those are real families who get to stay in their homes, children who don't have to change schools, and communities that remain intact. Given my own experiences with housing instability as a child, seeing these results is personally meaningful.
What's really exciting is that we've proven this is a win-win solution. Housing providers who implement our program can reduce turnover by up to 90% while residents gain the tools and support they need to maintain stable housing. We're breaking down the traditional barriers between property managers and residents, creating a new model where everyone succeeds together.
The fact that we've helped secure over $30 million in housing rewards for our partners shows that this approach isn't just good for communities – it's good for business too. We're demonstrating that investing in resident success and stability isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. That's what makes me jump out of bed every morning – knowing we're creating the kind of stable, supportive housing environment I wished for as a child in the system.
Lets focus on how and why this latest news impacts your clients.
Here's a response focusing on the critical impact for clients amid the housing crisis:
The housing crisis in America isn't just about affordability – it's about stability, and that's where our latest developments are making a real difference for our clients. When housing providers implement our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program, they're not just getting a scoring system; they're getting a comprehensive solution to one of the most pressing challenges in housing today.
Think about this: across America, we're seeing a pattern where even when people get housing, they struggle to keep it. The lack of community supports, clear accountability measures, and real-time feedback creates a cycle of instability that costs everyone. Housing providers lose money through high turnover rates, while residents lose their foundation for building stable lives.
Our clients are seeing dramatic transformations. Properties using our system are achieving up to 90% reduction in turnover rates. But what's really powerful is how this translates into real community impact. Through our data-driven approach, housing providers can identify and address issues before they lead to housing loss. They're creating environments where residents don't just survive – they thrive.
The Social Determinants of Health methodology we've developed helps quantify community impact while providing actionable insights. This isn't just about maintaining buildings; it's about building communities. When properties achieve our Success Badge (86%+ rating), it means they're creating environments where families can put down roots, where children can grow up with stability, and where communities can strengthen over time.
For housing providers facing today's challenges, our program offers something unique – a way to improve their bottom line while making a meaningful impact on the housing crisis. We've helped secure over $30 million in Housing Rewards for our partners while achieving an 88% Housing Stability Rate. This proves that addressing resident stability isn't just socially responsible – it's financially smart.
What makes this particularly impactful is that we're creating accountability and support systems that work for everyone involved. In a world where housing instability seems endemic, we're showing there's a better way forward – one that benefits both housing providers and residents while building stronger, more stable communities.
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What is the greatest value this brings to your customer? And why?
Here's a response enhanced with benefit-focused language:
The greatest value B-Konnected brings to our customers is transforming housing stability from a hope into a measurable, achievable reality that benefits everyone. Our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program creates winning solutions for both housing providers and residents.
For housing providers, the benefits are substantial and immediate:
- Slash turnover rates by up to 90%, saving thousands in turnover costs
- Boost maintenance efficiency by up to 30%
- Unlock potential savings of $20,000+ in operational costs
- Secure over $30 million in Housing Rewards for our partners
- Transform resident retention into a powerful revenue driver
- Enhance property value through improved stability metrics
For residents, we're revolutionizing their housing journey with powerful advantages:
- Make confident, informed housing decisions using our certified property scores
- Gain a stronger voice in their housing experience through our Key to Your City™ survey
- Access insights about management, maintenance, neighborhood quality, and well-being
- Join a community of over 500 residents who've secured stable housing
- Benefit from an incredible 88% housing retention rate
- Experience greater peace of mind and housing security
What excites me most is how this creates a true win-win ecosystem. Our data proves that when housing providers invest in resident success, they're not just improving their properties – they're building their bottom line. When residents have the tools and support they need, they stay longer, take better care of their homes, and contribute to thriving communities.
This ecosystem approach is particularly meaningful to me because it addresses the very issues I witnessed both as a child in foster care and later working with voucher clients. We're not just helping people find housing – we're creating a system where everyone succeeds together. Housing providers see dramatic cost reductions and increased profitability, while residents gain the stability and support they need to thrive. That's not just good business – it's transformative change that benefits everyone involved.
As business owners, we can tend to forget our "Why". What is your "Why"? What drives and motivates you and your team?
My "Why" is deeply personal and transformative, rooted in my journey through the foster care system and the life-changing gift of adoption.
When I was adopted, I finally experienced what stability truly meant. It wasn't just about having a consistent place to sleep – it was about having a family system that provided safety, regular meals, emotional support, and most importantly, a sense of belonging. This stability became my foundation, showing me how transformative it is when you know you have a secure place to call home and people who are committed to your success.
My adoption experience taught me that when you provide people with the right support system, incredible transformations are possible. That's exactly what we're creating at B-Konnected – a support system that helps both housing providers and residents succeed together. Just as my adoptive family gave me the tools and stability I needed to thrive, our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program provides the framework for creating stable, thriving housing communities.
What drives our team every day is knowing we're helping create the kind of stability that changed my own life:
- When a property achieves an 88% housing retention rate, we're helping create stable family systems
- When residents feel secure in their homes and connected to their community, we're fostering that same sense of belonging I found through adoption
- When housing providers see reduced turnover and improved resident health, we're proving that investing in stability benefits everyone
Every improvement in our Resident Success™ scores represents families and individuals gaining the kind of stable foundation that I was fortunate enough to receive through adoption. That's our "Why" – taking the transformative power of stability that I experienced and scaling it across communities, creating environments where both housing providers and residents can achieve better health outcomes together.
In the same way adoption provided me with a family system that believed in my potential, B-Konnected believes in the potential of every resident and housing provider to create successful, stable communities. We're not just measuring success – we're nurturing it, supporting it, and helping it grow, just as my adoptive family did for me.
How has that impacted you or your business?
Let me share how this deeply personal mission has transformed into measurable impact:
Starting B-Konnected from my own experience of finding stability through adoption wasn't just about creating a business – it was about creating solutions that I knew firsthand were desperately needed. That personal understanding has shaped every aspect of our approach, from how we measure success to how we implement solutions.
The impact has been remarkable. Because we understand that stability is about more than just keeping a roof over someone's head, we've developed our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program to address all aspects of housing health. This comprehensive approach has led to:
- Over 500 residents securing stable homes through our program
- An extraordinary 88% housing retention rate
- Up to 90% reduction in turnover for housing providers
- Better health outcomes for residents
- Stronger, more connected communities
But what truly demonstrates the impact of our mission is how it's reshaping the relationship between housing providers and residents. Just as my adoptive family created a support system that helped me thrive, we're creating an ecosystem where everyone succeeds together. Housing providers are seeing that investing in resident health and stability isn't just the right thing to do – it's good business that can save them up to $20,000 in operational costs.
My personal journey from foster care to adoption to founding B-Konnected has proven that when you focus on creating stability and supporting healthy communities, transformation is possible. We're not just helping people find housing – we're helping them keep it, thrive in it, and build better lives through it. This isn't just business impact; it's life impact, and that makes all the difference.
The success we're seeing validates what I learned through my own experience: when you provide people with the right support system and tools, they can achieve incredible stability. That's not just changing our business – it's changing the entire approach to housing stability in America.
Can you share a story of how your customer was impacted by this?
Let me share a recent, powerful example that demonstrates how we're helping owners measure and improve their social impact through data:
When we engaged with Burgwyns, our Resident Success™ certification revealed something crucial that most property owners are missing - quantifiable data about resident health and community impact. While their properties were providing affordable housing, our comprehensive analysis uncovered both strengths and opportunities that traditional metrics would have missed.
Their Well-being score of 82% showed strong fundamentals in resident health through supportive services, but their Neighborhood score of 53% highlighted areas needing attention. This is exactly the kind of nuanced data owners need to advocate for their residents and demonstrate their social impact.
What makes this powerful is how the data tells the full story. Through our analysis, we found that the factors most strongly linked to resident health weren't just about affordable rent – they included feeling secure in their home, having supportive management relationships, and experiencing a positive living environment. This kind of data helps owners understand and improve the real health impacts of their properties.
Here's the game-changing part: By quantifying these impacts, we're giving owners the tools they need to:
- Advocate for additional resources with concrete data
- Demonstrate their social impact to stakeholders
- Identify precise areas where investments will improve resident health
- Show the direct connection between resident health and property performance
Through our data-driven approach, owners can now prove what many have long suspected - that investing in resident health and stability isn't just good for communities, it's good for business. When properties can demonstrate improved resident health outcomes alongside financial metrics like reduced turnover and maintenance costs, they can make stronger cases for funding and support.
This is the missing piece I've been looking for since my days working in housing services - a way to measure and improve the real health impacts of housing while helping owners succeed. When we can quantify success in terms of resident health and stability, we create the foundation for lasting positive change in our communities.
In your line of work, what is the best ways that you have found to engage your customers?
As a social worker at heart, I've found that the most powerful way to engage our customers is through authentic, one-on-one relationship building. My background taught me that real change happens when people feel heard, valued, and supported – whether they're residents or housing providers.
When I worked connecting voucher clients to housing, I learned that success isn't just about transactions – it's about transformations. That's why at B-Konnected, we focus on building genuine relationships through:
Individual Support:
- One-on-one strategy sessions with housing providers to understand their unique challenges
- Personal guidance through our Resident Success™ certification process
- Direct engagement with residents through our Key to Your City™ survey
- Being available to listen and respond to both resident and property concerns
Community Building:
- Creating spaces where housing providers can share best practices
- Facilitating connections between residents and property management
- Celebrating successes when properties improve their health outcomes
- Acknowledging the vital role each person plays in creating stable communities
What makes our approach different is that we're not just collecting data – we're building relationships that make that data meaningful. As a social worker, I understand that every number in our Resident Success™ scores represents real people, real communities, and real opportunities for positive change.
The most rewarding moments come when we can acknowledge and celebrate improvements together. Whether it's a property seeing better health outcomes for their residents or a resident feeling more secure in their home, these wins strengthen the relationships that make our work possible.
I believe our success in engagement comes from never forgetting that behind every metric and score is a human story. Just as my adoption story taught me the power of stable, supportive relationships, we're helping create environments where those kinds of supportive connections can flourish between housing providers and residents.
Do you have a favorite project or client experience you can talk about?
Yes, one of my most meaningful projects has been working with the women of Geneva Village. It perfectly demonstrates why I started B-Konnected and the power of our Resident Success™ approach to create real impact.
Geneva Village housed 12 senior women, with an average age of 77, living on fixed incomes averaging just $18,000 annually. What made this project special wasn't just collecting data – it was how we collected it. We sat with each woman, listened to their stories, and learned from their wisdom. These weren't just survey responses; they were conversations that helped shape our understanding of senior housing stability.
The insights were powerful. While their rent had remained unchanged since 1979 (around $368 monthly), half of these women owned cars out of fear of displacement – showing how deeply housing insecurity affects even long-term residents. Through our Resident Success™ certification, we uncovered that while they faced financial challenges, they had created an incredible community. They contributed to Littleton through volunteering, community engagement, porch sitting, and religious activities.
What makes me most proud is how we turned these insights into action. We:
- Helped secure housing choice vouchers for all the women
- Increased their incomes through benefit optimization
- Preserved their dignity during a challenging transition
- Amplified their voices with city officials
- Created the first Social Determinants of Health study focused on senior women, one of the fastest-growing demographics at risk of homelessness
The women felt empowered because they were truly heard. One resident's daughter called our support "like an angel" and said they would have been "completely lost" without it. Working closely with city officials, we proved that when you combine data with compassionate, one-on-one support, you can create better outcomes for everyone.
This project validated our approach of measuring what matters – not just collecting numbers, but understanding the human story behind them. It's exactly the kind of impact I dreamed of creating when I started B-Konnected.
(source: https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2023/12/21/littletons-geneva-village-residents-plan-next-steps-to-move/)
Everyone loves an inside scoop. Can you share a fact or detail about you or your company that people might not know?
Here's an inside scoop that not many people know: B-Konnected actually started with a focus on improving housing conditions through streamlined inspections. Before we developed our Resident Success™ certification, we created INNOSPEC, a revolutionary inspection platform that transformed how housing quality assessments are done.
Like many innovations, it came from firsthand experience with a problem. We saw how the traditional Housing and Urban Development inspection process was incredibly time-consuming – taking up to 5 hours per inspection. That meant fewer inspections could be completed, which ultimately affected housing quality for residents. We knew there had to be a better way.
Through INNOSPEC, we managed to reduce inspection time from 5 hours down to just 7 minutes, while actually improving the quality and consistency of the assessments. The platform automates data visualization and PDF generation, making it easier for housing providers and government agencies to track and improve housing conditions.
One of our proudest achievements was partnering with the Denver Housing Authority in 2022 for one of the largest building conversions in the area. We completed over 800 inspections in less than 30 days – something that would have taken months under the traditional system. This wasn't just about speed; it was about creating better housing conditions for residents faster.
This early innovation taught us something crucial that shaped our entire approach at B-Konnected: when you combine technology with a deep understanding of housing needs, you can create solutions that benefit everyone. INNOSPEC proved that improving housing conditions doesn't have to be slow or complicated – it just needs the right tools and the right approach.
Today, while we're known for our Resident Success™ certification, INNOSPEC remains a powerful tool in our mission to improve housing stability and quality. It's a reminder that sometimes the biggest impacts start with solving seemingly simple problems in innovative ways.
Final thoughts before we wrap up. What are some insights you could give our readers?
As someone who experienced housing instability firsthand and has spent years working to create solutions, I want to share a powerful insight: housing stability isn't just about having a roof over your head – it's about creating healthy communities where both residents and housing providers can succeed together.
Through our work with projects like Geneva Village, where we helped 12 senior women maintain their dignity and find stable housing solutions, to our partnerships with large housing providers using our Resident Success™ certification, we've proven something crucial: when we measure what matters and focus on resident health, everyone wins.
The traditional housing model often pits property owners against residents, but our data shows a different story. When housing providers invest in resident stability and health:
- Turnover rates can drop by up to 90%
- Properties can save $20,000+ in operational costs
- Resident health outcomes improve significantly
- Communities become stronger and more stable
But here's what I really want readers to understand: this isn't just about metrics and money. Every improvement in our Resident Success™ scores represents real people, real families, finding the kind of stability that I once dreamed of as a child in foster care. When we see an 88% housing retention rate, that means children aren't changing schools, seniors aren't facing displacement, and communities are growing stronger together.
To housing providers reading this: your properties aren't just buildings – they're foundations for community health. By measuring and improving resident success, you're not just protecting your bottom line; you're creating the kind of stable, healthy communities that transform lives.
To residents: your voice matters. Through tools like our Key to Your City™ survey, you're helping create better housing conditions for everyone. Your experiences and insights are crucial to improving housing stability for future generations.
Together, we can transform housing from a source of stress into a foundation for success. That's not just business – that's lasting social impact.
Well, it has been great sitting with you and learning about your latest announcement. How can people follow you and learn more?
Thank you so much for this wonderful conversation! For anyone interested in learning more about how we can help transform housing stability in your community, here's how you can connect with us:
Email me directly: brittany@b-konnected.org
Visit our website to learn more about our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program: https://bkonnected.org/
Want to have a one-on-one conversation about your specific housing needs? Schedule a meeting with me: https://koalendar.com/e/meet-with-brittany-katalenas-b-konnected
Whether you're a housing provider looking to improve your resident health outcomes and reduce turnover, or a community leader interested in creating more stable housing solutions, we're here to help. I believe deeply in the power of collaboration to create better housing outcomes, and I'd love to discuss how we can work together to strengthen your community.
Remember, housing stability isn't just about buildings – it's about creating healthy, thriving communities where everyone can succeed. I look forward to connecting with you and exploring how we can make that vision a reality in your community.
Thank you so much for sitting with us today.
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to share my work with Ignite!
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