Service management systems and associated methods

Abstract

Service management systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a service management system can include a system for delivering various types of services including property management services, residential rental services, social services, low income housing services, and/or the like. One aspect of the disclosure is directed toward a computer implemented service management process (e.g., a property management process) that includes maintaining an inventory of property associated with a rental program, providing information associated with the rental program, processing an application to enter the program from a potential program participant, and administering various program elements of the rental program. In selected embodiments, the method can further include providing products/services and/or providing advertising. In still further embodiments, the method can include terminating the program participant's participation in the rental program/service management process.

1 . A service management system for managing and maintaining an inventory of real property associated with a rental program and matching participants of the rental program with corresponding properties in the inventory, the system comprising:
 one or more data storage components configured to store an inventory of real property associated with the rental program; and   one or more data processing components coupled to the one or more data storage components, the one or more data processing components configured to—
 process requests from applicants for information regarding the rental program; 
 manage and maintain the inventory of property associated with the rental program; 
 process an application of an applicant to become a program participant; and 
 match a program participant with one or more properties in the inventory based, at least in part, on the program participant's demographic information and the program participant's desired geographic location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more data processing components are further configured to—
 notify an applicant of approval or denial of the application to the rental program; and   notify a program participant that the participant's enrollment in one or more aspects of the rental program is being terminated.   
     
     
         3 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more data processing components are further configured to—
 notify a property owner that a selected property has been enrolled in the inventory; and   notify a property owner that a selected property has been rented by a program participant of the rental program.   
     
     
         4 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more data processing components are further configured to process rent payments from program participants and transfer the payments to the corresponding property owner. 
     
     
         5 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the inventory of real property includes an inventory of individual housing units available for rent by a program participant, and wherein the individual housing units include at least one of apartments, single family homes, multifamily homes, mobile homes, and townhomes. 
     
     
         6 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the inventory of real property includes an inventory of individual apartment units available for rent by a program participant, and wherein the number of individual apartment units in an apartment complex that are available for a program participant constitutes a percentage less than 100 percent of the overall number of units in the apartment complex. 
     
     
         7 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the inventory of real property includes an inventory of individual housing units controlled by one or more property owners and available for rent by program participants, and wherein the rental program is configured to function as an intermediary between the property owner and program participants for matters related to the rental and occupancy of a particular housing unit by a particular program participant. 
     
     
         8 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the inventory of real property includes an inventory of apartment units in selected apartment complexes that are available for rent by a program participant, and wherein the one or more data processing components are further configured to:
 calculate a percentage of the unoccupied apartment units in a selected apartment complex that are available for program participants; and   rank the individual apartment units in the inventory based, at least in part, on the percentage of unoccupied apartment units in the particular apartment complex in which the individual apartment unit is located.   
     
     
         9 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more data processing components are further configured to process requests from applicants for (a) general information and guidelines regarding the rental program, (b) vacancy information from the inventory of property associated with the rental program, and (c) application information for the rental program. 
     
     
         10 . The service management system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more data processing components are further configured to—
 process an application of a property owner to make one or more individual housing units available for use by participants of the rental program; and   upon approval of the application of the property owner, enroll the one or more housing units of the property owner into the inventory.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for managing a rental program, the method comprising:
 storing and managing an inventory of real property associated with the rental program;   receiving a request from an applicant to become a participant in the rental program;   in response to receiving the request, processing an application of the applicant to become a participant in the rental program; and   upon approval of the application, matching the program participant with one or more properties in the inventory based, at least in part, on the program participant's demographic information and the program participant's desired geographic location.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11  wherein storing and maintaining an inventory of real property comprises:
 registering in a data table multiple housing units for use with the rental program, wherein the housing units include at least one of apartments, single family homes, multifamily homes, mobile homes, and townhomes; and   storing in the data table one or more attributes of each housing unit, wherein the attributes include at least one of a name of an apartment complex or neighborhood in which the housing unit is located, an address of the housing unit, a rental amount for the housing unit, amenities of the housing unit, and requirements that use of the housing unit in the rental program are predicated on.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising requiring program participants to meet one or more selected program requirements during a selected period of time, and wherein the program requirements include at least one of—
 making periodic rental payments;   maintaining employment;   remaining drug and/or alcohol free;   attending or completing selected training programs;   preparing and using a budget;   agreeing to an immediate dispossession of a housing unit as a result of non-compliance with certain program requirements; and   agreeing to various tracking and/or monitoring processes.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , further comprising terminating participation of a program participant in the rental program if the program participant fails to satisfy one or more program requirements. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising periodically reporting rent payment history of program participants to one or more credit bureaus. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising periodically reporting lending payment history of program participants to one or more credit bureaus, wherein the lending payment history is associated with one or more debts independent to and separate from the rental payments of the program participants. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11  processing an application of the applicant to become a participant in the rental program includes at least one of a background check, a personal interview, a credit check, and confirmation of one or more personal identifiers of the applicant. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing to an applicant advertising regarding products and/or services associated with one or more aspects of the rental program. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11  wherein receiving a request from an applicant to become a participant in the rental program includes receiving an electronic request from a remote computer via a computer network. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11  wherein the inventory of real property includes an inventory of individual housing units in a number of different geographic areas available for rent by a program participant, and wherein:
 matching the program participant with one or more properties in the inventory is further based, at least in part, on a percentage of unoccupied housing units in a particular geographic area.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20  wherein the program participant is a first program participant, and wherein the method further comprises matching multiple other program participants with properties in the inventory based, at least in part, on the percentage of unoccupied housing units in particular geographic areas such that the multiple program participants are dispersed throughout multiple geographic areas in a selected distribution. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11  wherein storing and maintaining an inventory of real property associated with the rental program comprises storing a first set of housing units identified for use by a first group of program participants belonging to a first demographic group, and a second set of housing units identified for use by a second group of program participants belonging to a second demographic group different than the first demographic group. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing at least one of educational services and debt counseling services to program participants. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising an individual or entity associated with the rental program entering into a rental agreement with an owner of the matched property on behalf of the program participant. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving and processing an application of a property owner to make one or more individual housing units available for use by participants of the rental program; and   upon approval of the application of the property owner, enrolling the one or more housing units of the property owner into the inventory.   
     
     
         26 . One or more computer-readable media collectively storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for managing a rental program for low income individuals and families, the method comprising:
 managing an inventory of individual housing units associated with the rental program;   processing an application of an applicant to become a participant in the rental program; and   upon approval of the application, matching the program participant with a housing unit in the inventory based, at least in part, on selected demographic information of the individual program participant, a desired geographic area in which the program participant would like to live, and a desired disbursement of multiple program participants in a selected geographic area.   
     
     
         27 . A system for providing housing services to families and individuals, the system comprising:
 means for storing and managing an inventory of individual housing units available for use with the rental program;   means for receiving a request from an applicant to become a participant in the rental program;   means for processing an application of the applicant to become a rental program participant; and   means for linking individual program participants with a housing unit in the inventory based, at least in part, on a desired distribution of multiple program participants in a selected geographic area, demographic criteria associated with the individual program participant, and a desired geographic area in which the individual program participant would like to live.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for receiving and processing rental payments from individual program participants; and   means for transferring rental payments to property owners of the corresponding housing units on behalf of the respective program participants.   
     
     
         29 . A computer-implemented method for providing housing to low income individuals, the method comprising:
 receiving a request from an individual for rental of a selected housing unit associated with the rental program;   in response to the request, renting the selected housing unit for a selected rental period on behalf of the individual;   monitoring the individual's compliance with multiple rental program requirements during the selected rental period, wherein the rental program requirements include at least two of the following—
 making periodic rental payments for the selected housing unit; 
 maintaining employment; 
 remaining drug and/or alcohol free; 
 attending or completing selected training programs; 
 preparing and using a budget; 
 agreeing to an immediate dispossession of the housing unit as a result of non-compliance with certain program requirements; and 
 agreeing to various tracking and/or monitoring processes; and 
   if the individual fails to satisfy one or more rental program requirements, terminating the individual's rental agreement for the selected housing unit.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , further comprising terminating the individual's participation in the rental program if the individual fails to satisfy one or more rental program requirements.