• January 04, 2023
• Bulletin No: 2023-01

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (Bank) is pleased to announce its 2023 Community Investment offerings. 

Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund 
The Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund is the Bank’s competitive housing subsidy program. AHP subsidies are available up to $850,000 and may be used to purchase, build or rehabilitate owner-occupied and rental housing that serves income-qualified households. AHP subsidies are awarded once a year through the Bank’s member institutions. The Bank will accept AHP subsidy applications from April 4, 2023 through May 11, 2023. The funding level for 2023 will be announced in the first quarter. All applications for AHP subsidies must be submitted through the Bank’s GrantConnect system, which will be available during the application period. Please check fhlb.com/ahp for additional details and program announcements. Detailed information about the AHP General Fund is available in the Bank’s Affordable Housing Program 2023 Implementation Plan, which can be found under Helpful Resources in the Community Investment section of fhlb.com. Register here for upcoming AHP workshops. 
  
Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) 
The Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) program provides subsidies up to $15,000 for down payment and/or closing cost assistance for eligible first-time homebuyers. Members interested in participating in HELP must submit a one-time enrollment application and agreement; thereafter, they will be eligible to request HELP funds during each annual offering. Members that have previously enrolled in the program do not need to enroll again. For 2023, the Bank has set aside $6.5 million of its annual AHP funds for HELP subsidies. The Bank will begin accepting member requests for HELP funds on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Members may use up to $162,500 (half of the member cap, which has increased to $325,000) to support homebuyers residing outside the Bank’s five-state District. 
  
Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) 
The Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) provides subsidies up to $10,000 for housing rehabilitation to meet the needs of households containing a resident with special needs. New this year, the Bank has provided a defined list of eligible repairs for SNAP, which can be found in the 2023 Funding Manual. Members interested in participating in SNAP must submit a one-time enrollment application and agreement; thereafter, they will be eligible to request SNAP funds during each offering. Members that have previously enrolled in the program do not need to enroll again. Please refer to the Bank’s Implementation Plan for more detailed information about SNAP. For 2023 SNAP subsidies, the Bank has set aside $2 million from its AHP funds. SNAP-assisted properties must be located within the Bank’s District. Applications will be available and accepted beginning at 8:00 a.m. CT on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 through 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, January 27, 2023.   
  
Disaster Rebuilding Assistance (DRA) 
Disaster Rebuilding Assistance (DRA) is designed to support households in the Bank’s member communities that have been declared disaster areas eligible for individual assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program provides homeowners who are at or below 80 percent of the area median income with up to $12,000 for repair and construction costs that are not covered by insurance or federal or state emergency assistance. For 2023, the Bank has set aside $1.5 million of its AHP funds for DRA subsidies.  

Small Business Boost Program (SBB) 
Small Business Boost (SBB) provides recoverable assistance to finance the start up or expansion of qualified small businesses. SBB funds are intended to help participating members provide financing for qualified small businesses by filling the gap between what the member can finance and the loan request made by an eligible small business. SBB is provided to members as a secondary, unsecured loan in conjunction with a loan made by the member to the small business. For example, SBB can fill the financing gap due to lack of equity, a shortfall in collateral or initial cash flow challenges. No payments are due on the SBB loan during the first year. Principal amortization begins in year two at which time the member may charge up to 3 percent interest on the SBB loan. The Bank charges 3 percent interest beginning in the third year of the loan. 
  
For 2023, the maximum SBB loan amount has increased to the lesser of $125,000 or 50 percent of the member’s loan amount. As a result, the jobs requirement has been adjusted to one job for every $62,500 in SBB funds. SBB funds will be made available in two funding rounds on a first-come, first-served basis. Beginning Tuesday, January 3, 2023, $2 million will be available in SBB funds. Any funds that remain at the end of the first funding round on Friday, June 23, 2023 will roll into the next funding round which will begin on Monday, July 10, 2023 with the inclusion of an additional $2 million until the funds are exhausted or Friday, December 1, 2023, whichever comes first.  

Housing Assistance for Veterans (HAVEN) 
Housing Assistance for Veterans (HAVEN) is a housing program designed to provide grants to households of veterans or active service members who were disabled as a result of an injury during their active military service since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The program supports necessary home modifications or offsets new construction costs. 
 
Grant recipients must have a household member who qualifies as disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs, a branch of the U.S. military, the federal government or another acceptable source. Alternatively, the funds can be awarded to Gold Star Families impacted during this time frame. Under HAVEN, the Bank grants recipients up to $15,000 toward the modification/rehabilitation/new construction of a qualifying property located anywhere in the United States. Additionally, HAVEN funds may be used to assist with down payment or closing costs for eligible veterans and Gold Star Families who are also qualified first-time homebuyers. The Bank will make available $300,000 in HAVEN funds beginning Tuesday, January 3, 2023.   
 
Partnership Grant Program (PGP) 
The Partnership Grant Program (PGP) provides funding for the operational needs of community-based organizations (CBOs), which are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations involved in affordable housing, local community development and small business technical assistance within the District. Annual revenue for the CBO must be less than $600,000 to qualify. The Bank partners with its members by matching member contributions to eligible CBOs at a 3:1 ratio up to $12,000. The aggregate lifetime PGP award limit per eligible CBO is $60,000 excluding grants received during the 2020 Special PGP offering. The Bank will make available $400,000 in PGP funds for 2023. PGP applications will be accepted beginning Monday, May 15, 2023 through Thursday, June 22, 2023. 

Community Investment Program (CIP) 
The Community Investment Program (CIP) provides advances to assist members in financing owner-occupied and rental housing by providing a favorably priced, match-funding source. Funds are noncompetitive and available year-round and can be used for a variety of purposes including: (1) the purchase or rehabilitation of owner-occupied and rental housing for income-qualified families; (2) the purchase of mortgage-backed securities representing a pool of loans that could be funded directly with CIP advances; and/or (3) investment in low-income housing tax credits. All member institutions eligible to obtain standard advances from the Bank may apply for CIP advances. 
  
Economic Development Program (EDP) 
The Economic Development Program (EDP) provides members with favorably priced advances to support qualified economic and commercial development projects that benefit their surrounding communities. EDP advances may be used for new construction, renovation, small business financing, public works projects and historic preservation. Hospitals, nursing homes, locally owned restaurants and retail shops are just a few examples of the types of community-centric businesses that have benefited from EDP advances. The EDP is noncompetitive, and funds are available year-round. All member institutions eligible to obtain standard advances from the Bank may apply for EDP advances. 
  
Disaster Relief Program (DRP) 
The Disaster Relief Program (DRP) helps finance any project that assists in recovery efforts in communities within the Bank’s five-state District that have been declared disaster areas by FEMA. Individuals and business owners located within federally declared disaster areas may apply for funds through the Bank’s member financial institutions. For more information, visit fhlb.com/disaster.   
  
How to Apply 
Detailed information on each of these programs, including applications and enrollment forms, guidelines and other information may be found at fhlb.com/community. 
  
Please check fhlb.com periodically for program announcements. For questions regarding AHP, HELP, SNAP, DRA, SBB, HAVEN or PGP, please contact Community Investment at 800.362.2944. For questions regarding CIP, EDP or DRP, please contact Member Services at 844.FHL.BANK (844.345.2265). 
  
I hope you will use our affordable housing and economic development programs in 2023. 
  
Sincerely, 
 
Sanjay K. Bhasin 
President and Chief Executive Officer