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56 Multifamily program, which supports millions of subsidized renters. is "bot" is performing an oversight function that is vital during any crisis, a lesson we learned in early 2019 during a government shutdown. Since then, we have built a governance structure and security authorization process with 31 of these "bots," which could potentially save agency 60,000 hours annually. e EDD Module on FHA Catalyst can also now accept Multifamily Housing applications and HUD's Public and Indian Housing Office of Native American Program "Section 184/184A" case binder applications. In the end, HUD stands to realize significant cost savings and reduce time-to- market by leveraging the functionality of FHA Catalyst across its vast program areas, while decommissioning costly legacy systems and third-party licensed software. FHA modernization has been a monumental change in the way the agency portends to do business moving forward. It is, again, a generational shift, perhaps multigenerational if the flexibility of the platform holds for years to come. To be clear, there is still a long way to go in this process. Much of the FHA IT infrastructure still sits on two mainframe computers, which curtails real-time processing and access. e system that insures new FHA loans is 45 years old, while the other two core systems which manage the active insurance portfolio and disburse claims are both 37 years old. Seventeen official sub-systems support these three main components, and countless unofficial "shadow IT" systems support their integration. As all of this is being phased out rapidly, FHA is phasing in the ability to respond effectively, provide efficient access and service to our partners, and analyze data in order to enhance the availability of FHA products while protecting taxpayers exponentially. HUD's newly confirmed Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner, Dana Wade, is committed to the completing this transformation and maintaining the rapid pace of these historic improvements to FHA's business. It is fair to say, were it not for the timely investment that allowed FHA to begin deployment late last year, COVID-19 would have exposed an inadequate system, nearly incapable of responding to the rapid turn in economic events and the urgent need for more digital solutions. Instead, HUD and FHA have made a bold, giant leap forward into the modern world. e investments have made an enormous difference, are paying enormous dividends to American taxpayers, and the future is looking even brighter. e Hon. Brian D. Montgomery is the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and twice-former Federal Housing Commissioner (2005-2009, 2018-2020). Cover Story By: The Hon. Brian D. Montgomery The team at the early stages of FHA Catalyst development. From left: HUD's Chief Digital Services Officer Artie Chin; Senior Advisor to the Chief Digital Services Officer Bridget Carper; Secretary Ben Carson; Deputy Secretary Brian Montgomery; and CIO David Chow.

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