Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP)
- About the Program
- How to Apply
- For Nonmembers
- Resources
![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/0dbd9585-044d-44e2-bd8b-32aa3e835b7d/Help-Jumbotron.jpg?width=1200&height=639&ext=.jpg)
Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership
Empowering Dreams, Building Futures
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Our Impact
The Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership gives first-time homebuyers much-needed funding to purchase a home.![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/9c9cb2e1-d593-45f5-99d2-f097e062d2a1/icon-8.png?width=184&height=184&ext=.png)
$15.5M
Allocated for 2024
![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/90dc4695-d7c5-4b61-b381-3ff3aaac48c3/icon-5.png?width=184&height=184&ext=.png)
$20K
Per Homebuyer
![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/6bb0a066-e858-43be-ba78-6d29003b2b84/icon-11.png?width=184&height=184&ext=.png)
$6.4M
Awarded in 2023
Benefits for Your Financial Institution
Differentiate your institution by offering a valuable homeownership assistance program to qualifying first-time homebuyers.
Strengthen customer relationships and loyalty through personalized support and financial assistance.
Support economic empowerment and community development by helping more individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership.
HELP SUCCESS STORIES
Using HELP, FHLB Dallas members have helped more than 6,700 homebuyers realize their dreams of homeownership. We invite you to read some of their stories.
![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/bd1ffcf6-4883-4773-981a-2c52058a6385/CTA-HELP-7123.jpg?width=800&height=500&ext=.jpg)
Single Mom Able to Purchase First Home
![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/e5cba434-9273-4bc9-8ddf-b2de13e4a930/CTA-HELP-8123.jpg?width=800&height=500&ext=.jpg)
FHLB Dallas Gives Wings to Mississippi Mom
![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/daf552d0-391b-40e1-a2cd-ad36bea2b022/IMG_0991.JPG?width=800&height=533&ext=.jpg)
Mississippi Woman Realizes Dream of Homeownership
2024 HELP Webinar
Learn how to access HELP funds by watching this video.
![](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/d11d8a87-4cbb-4409-8572-39dc0b953101/Send-Story.jpg?width=656&height=500&ext=.jpg)
Stories
Tell Us Your Story
HELP funds are provided only through FHLB Dallas members. FHLB Dallas does not provide funds directly to consumers.
Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until exhausted, or until December 31, 2024, whichever comes first.
Up to half of a member's funding cap may be used outside of FHLB Dallas' District, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
Member Requirements
- Verify homebuyer eligibility
- Distribute the full HELP grant to the eligible recipient
- Document the distribution on a final closing disclosure
- Ensure that the rate of interest, points, fees and any other HELP loan charges do not exceed a reasonable market rate
- Document that the HELP-assisted home is subject to a five-year homeowner retention document that meets the Affordable Housing Program regulations and retention requirements (See Attachment F, AHP Implementation Plan)
How It Works
Enroll: An individual from the FHLB Dallas member financial institution with current Advances Signature Card authorization must submit a one-time HELP Enrollment Application and Subsidy Agreement. Please email ahp@fhlb.com for the AdobeSign application.Engage: We offer resources to help you promote HELP to first-time homebuyers.
Submit: Submit applications on behalf of your homebuyers.
Award: HELP funds are disbursed to your institution once an application is approved and your homebuyer has or is preparing to close.
Interested organizations or prospective homebuyers (applicants) must complete and submit an application in partnership with an FHLB Dallas member institution. Recipients will receive the funds through the FHLB Dallas member institution sponsoring the application as a grant applied directly to the mortgage associated with the home purchase..
HELP funds are provided only through FHLB Dallas members. FHLB Dallas does not provide funds directly to consumers.
Homebuyer Requirements
To qualify for HELP, homebuyers must:
- Be at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) as defined by HUD
- Must complete a homebuyer counseling program
- Must contribute $500 of their own funds toward the required down payment or closing costs
- Must commit to retaining their home for a period of five years
- May not receive any cash back at closing
How It Works:
If you are a homebuyer looking for help with a down payment and closing costs, contact a participating FHLB Dallas member for more information about your eligibility and the application process.Please note that FHLB Dallas members have their own underwriting criteria and lending areas. They are also limited to the amount of HELP funding they can access within a given year and may have reached their FHLB Dallas program cap prior to the end of a program year.
![2024 Median Incomes](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/acf05ce2-2fed-499d-b131-acc05727e309/fhlb_trend_icon.png?width=59&height=57&ext=.png)
2024 Median Incomes
![AHP Implementation Plan](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/9b65c600-5b9d-4717-b9b7-5c13a4fe682a/repeat.jpg?width=80&height=80&ext=.jpg)
AHP Implementation Plan
![HELP Product Sheet](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/bdaf3123-22ff-4bdb-b246-10b646ca2aae/Fact-Sheet.jpg?width=80&height=80&ext=.jpg)
HELP Product Sheet
![HELP Funding Manual](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/eb3c8ee6-959e-4988-b349-fe4555bfdeae/Computer-Text.png?width=62&height=64&ext=.png)
HELP Funding Manual
![HELP Product Sheet (Spanish)](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/bdaf3123-22ff-4bdb-b246-10b646ca2aae/Fact-Sheet.jpg?width=80&height=80&ext=.jpg)
HELP Product Sheet (Spanish)
![Income Calculation Tool](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/9b65c600-5b9d-4717-b9b7-5c13a4fe682a/repeat.jpg?width=80&height=80&ext=.jpg)
Income Calculation Tool
![Targeted Community Lending Plan](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/b4f258e1-ed18-4f9b-b763-2f37a3ec0399/manual.jpg?width=80&height=80&ext=.jpg)
Targeted Community Lending Plan
![Request for Payoff or Release Form](https://www.fhlb.com/getmedia/09e73493-daf3-4491-8de9-1a972be1501c/Request-Form.jpg?width=80&height=80&ext=.jpg)