Oct 19 2015
Garland County Habitat for Humanity (Garland County Habitat) has been awarded a $35,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from Bank of the Ozarks and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas). The grant will reduce project costs of five homes, resulting in lower mortgage payments for low-income homebuyers.
The $35,000 AHP grant from FHLB Dallas and Bank of the Ozarks is part of more than $5 million in grants that have been awarded through Bank of the Ozarks since 1990. From left: FHLB Dallas President and CEO Sanjay Bhasin; Bank of the Ozarks VP and Director of Community Development Eric Gustafson; FHLB Dallas EVP and Group Head of Members and Markets Kalyan Madhavan; FHLB Dallas Director Mike Hutsell; and FHLB Dallas VP and Director of Community Investment Greg Hettrick.
This is Garland County Habitat's fourth AHP grant since 2006, bringing the nonprofit's total award amount to more than $572,000.
"The mission of FHLB Dallas to support affordable housing dovetails nicely with what Habitat for Humanity promotes: empowering homeowners and transforming lives," said Evan Tuchinsky, development director at Garland County Habitat. "September 18 marked our 20th anniversary, and by the end of the year, we'll have built our 119th and 120th homes — both, fortuitously, supported by this FHLB Dallas grant."
FHLB Dallas annually returns 10 percent of its profits in the form of AHP grants to the communities served by its member institutions, such as Bank of the Ozarks. AHP grants fund a variety of projects, including home rehabilitation and modifications for low-income, elderly, and special needs residents; down payment and closing cost assistance for qualified first-time homebuyers; and the construction of low-income, multifamily rental communities and single-family homes.
"We have been able to better support our community through the AHP. FHLB Dallas will bend over backwards to come up with solutions," said Eric Gustafson, vice president and director of Community Development at Bank of the Ozarks. "The Garland County Habitat provides a tremendous service to Hot Springs and Garland County. This type of housing is more needed here than in some other parts of Arkansas."
In 2015, FHLB Dallas and its member financial institutions have awarded more than $7.4 million in AHP grants to 32 projects that will result in 965 new or renovated housing units. The amount includes $1.1 million for 163 new or renovated units in Arkansas.
"We are very pleased at FHLB Dallas to be improving the quality of life for low-income families in communities served by our members," said Greg Hettrick, vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "
July 2015 marked the 25th anniversary of the Affordable Housing Program. Since the program's inception, FHLB Dallas has awarded more than $237 million in AHP grants to help approximately 44,000 families obtain affordable, quality housing.
Source: http://www.fhlb.com/