Resource Human-Centered Design Forms

From Pen to Processor: Training AI to Translate Handwritten Housing Applications: A FormFest 2025 Profile

A profile on FormFest spearker’s Barry Roeder, Barabara Deffenderfer, Glenn Brown, and Izzie Hirschy-Reyes highlighting how the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority and its partners use AI and human-centered design to streamline paper housing applications.

Organizations: Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Digital Service Network

Author: Kate Queram

Published Year: 2025

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This profile features Barry Roeder, Barabara Deffenderfer, Glenn Brown, and Izzie Hirschy-Reyes who are supporting the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA).

The team leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle the most analog problem of them all: deciphering other people’s handwriting. The profile explores each of the team’s motivations and passion for this work.