NAHMA USDA Update: Multifamily Housing Programs Begin Integration(Wave 1 Go-Live Announcement)

July 7, 2020

Dear NAHMA Members,

Please find below, an announcement from USDA Rural Development’s Deputy Administrator for Multifamily Housing, Nancie-Ann Bodell, that provides an overview of the recent reorganization of Multifamily Housing programs into a more integrated model. In the new model, all Multifamily Housing staff will be aligned to 1 of 3 integrated divisions: Field Operations Division, Production & Preservation Division, and Asset Management Division. The new model will be used to streamline Multifamily Housing business processes, provide consistent and predictable work for staff, and improve customer service.

For more information on the integration plan and future state divisions, please see the announcement below:

Multifamily Housing

July 7, 2020

To continue to meet the increasing demand for safe and affordable multifamily rental housing in rural America, Multifamily Housing (MFH) Leadership has reorganized MFH programs into an integrated model with specialized teams.

This integration will allow MFH to establish streamlined business processes, provide consistent and predictable work for staff, and improve customer service to you. I am sending this note to provide an overview of the MFH Integration.

The transition to the integrated model will occur in two waves. Yesterday, July 6, 2020, the first wave launched in the National Office and the Northeast region (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia). The second wave will include the remaining states in the South, Midwest, and West regions and is scheduled to launch in early October 2020.

In the new model, all MFH staff will be aligned to 1 of 3 integrated divisions: Field Operations Division, Production & Preservation Division, and Asset Management Division. The table below outlines a brief description of each of these integrated divisions:

Overview of Future State Divisions
Field Operations Division	The Field Operations division is organized regionally with teams delivering routine servicing and troubled asset servicing remaining in their current duty station in the field to maintain a local presence. This team will report through a regional structure up to divisional leaders.
Production & Preservation Division	The Production & Preservation division will process, underwrite, and close all multifamily direct, preservation, and guaranteed loan transactions. Each branch will support all the MFH programs, including 515, 538, Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR), prepayments, and preservation efforts. This division will also oversee Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) drafting and administration efforts for Farm Labor Housing, Housing Preservation Grants, MPR, technical assistance, and 515.
Asset Management Division	The Asset Management division will oversee portfolio risk and overall portfolio health, with regionally aligned servicing teams to support field operations and the use of the new risk-ranking effort.

In the National Office, we are pleased to announce the future state leadership team:

Adam Hauptman – Assistant Deputy Administrator
Lauryn Enrico – Director, Production & Preservation Division
Jen Larson – Director, Asset Management Division

In the Northeast Region, Laurie Warzinski is our Acting Field Operations Division Director. In this role, Laurie will provide leadership for all Field Operations staff in the Northeast Region. Each servicing team in the NE Field Operations Division will be supervised by a team lead reporting to Laurie.

Thank you in advance for your support as we transition into our new integrated model. We are confident that the new organizational structure will better meet your needs and, in turn, the needs of rural America.

Nancie-Ann Bodell
Deputy Administrator
Multifamily Housing

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