SANTA FE, N.M., May 1, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nubia Calderon, and her two daughters, 8 and 10, were living in a small, two-bedroom manufactured home with her mother, the full-time caregiver for her 8-year-old disabled daughter. Ms. Calderon, a single mother, and her daughters shared a bedroom, and her 8-year-old woke up often during the night, which prevented everyone in the house from getting enough sleep.
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Thanks to Habitat for Humanity of New Mexico (HFHNM), First National Bank of Santa Fe, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), Ms. Calderon and her family are sleeping soundly in their new, two-story duplex in Santa Fe constructed by HFHNM. The home has plenty of room for her entire family.
"I don't have the words to express my gratitude," said Ms. Calderon. "I heard about the Habitat for Humanity program from a friend at work but I didn't think I would qualify. I never dreamed I would own a home, and the process was very easy, with a payment I can afford. My family is so happy now as we have a lot more space and privacy. Everyone in the house sleeps better now."
FHLB Dallas and First National Bank of Santa Fe awarded a $210,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant to HFHNM. The AHP grant will provide 30 first-time homebuyers, down payment and closing cost assistance, as well as principal reduction on newly constructed Habitat homes across New Mexico through the 16 Habitat for Humanity affiliates. All 30 homes will be sold to qualified families below 50 percent of the area median income.
"The AHP grants help first-time homebuyers tremendously by making their mortgage payments more affordable," said Becky Roybal, program administrator at HFHNM.
Ms. Roybal learned of FHLB Dallas' AHP grants during a chance meeting at one of FHLB Dallas' Community Development Workshops in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"Candace Chavez, the CRA officer at First National Bank of Santa Fe was seated next to me and we started to discuss Habitat's need for funds for our first-time homebuyer projects," Ms. Roybal said. "After the workshop, we worked together on the application for the AHP grant."
Since 2007, FHLB Dallas has awarded $410,000 in AHP grants through First National Bank of Santa Fe, a FHLB Dallas member institution.
"As the newly appointed CRA officer at First National Bank of Santa Fe, I attended the FHLB Dallas workshop in Albuquerque to familiarize myself with the community investment products offered," said Ms. Chavez. "I quickly understood the significance of our financial institution membership and how to utilize FHLB Dallas' programs to support the housing and economic development needs in New Mexico. I was fortunate to meet Becky. She was knowledgeable and experienced with FHLB Dallas. I knew our partnership would prove to be successful. We went to work immediately on the application and $210,000 was awarded as the result. Our continued membership with FHLB Dallas and partnership with Habitat for Humanity is vital in supporting affordable housing in our communities."
As a result of that first meeting at the FHLB Dallas Community Development Workshop, HFHNM and First National Bank of Santa Fe have developed a great working relationship. First National Bank of Santa Fe has assisted several of the Habitat for Humanity affiliates in other areas of New Mexico with obtaining Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) grants from FHLB Dallas. HELP is another FHLB Dallas grant program that assists income-qualified, first-time homebuyers with down payments and closing costs.
FHLB Dallas Community Development Workshops are held once a year in all five states in the FHLB Dallas district and are open to developers, sponsors and FHLB Dallas member financial institutions. The workshops provide education and training on all of FHLB Dallas' community investment products. For more information on community investment products, visit the FHLB Dallas website at fhlb.com/community.
AHP grants are awarded through FHLB Dallas member financial institutions, such as First National Bank of Santa Fe, to assist in the development of affordable owner-occupied and rental housing for very low- to moderate-income households. In 2013, FHLB Dallas awarded $11.3 million in AHP funding to 36 projects across its five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. The funding will result in the creation or rehabilitation of 1,654 housing units across the District.
About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 12 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $30.6 billion as of March 31, 2014, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 900 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information, visit the FHLB Dallas website at fhlb.com.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
