Julisa Jones achieved a milestone this year. She purchased her first home, thanks in part to $15,000 in down payment assistance from Trustmark National Bank (Trustmark) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas).

Ms. Jones, a 29-year-old single mom of three from Jackson, Mississippi, was ready to stop renting and purchase her first home. But she worried how she would come up with the money.

“The lease on our rental home was ending and I didn’t think I would be able to save up enough money in time,” she said.

She learned about the Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) program when she applied for a mortgage loan through Trustmark. FHLB Dallas provided a $15,000 HELP subsidy through Trustmark, its member financial institution, to assist Ms. Jones with downpayment and closing costs.

Without this subsidy, Ms. Jones said that she and her family would still be renting. “I didn’t want to rent anymore. I wanted a home we could call our own. HELP changed my life and gave us the opportunity to do that.”

In 2023, FHLB Dallas set aside $6.5 million of its Affordable Housing Program funds for HELP. Through member institutions like Trustmark, HELP assists income-qualified, first-time homebuyers with down payment assistance and closing costs. For 2024, FHLB Dallas has allocated $15.5 million for the program.

Trustmark has leveraged the FHLB Dallas HELP program for 16 years to help people become homeowners. 

“Trustmark has always had a commitment to serving our community, and we are delighted that through our partnership with HELP, individuals in our communities have an opportunity to achieve the American dream and own their own home,” said Jaime Sisson, senior compliance risk manager and vice president of Trustmark.

Since HELP’s inception in 2002 through December 31, 2022, more than 6,000 homebuyers have received assistance through the program to become first-time homeowners.

“Trustmark’s consistent use of HELP throughout the years has made a difference in the lives of more than 100 residents who are homeowners as a result,” said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.

Learn more about HELP at fhlb.com/help.

Do you have a success story using FHLB Dallas programs? We would love to hear from you! Submit your story here.