HELP Grant Supports Down Payment and Closing Costs

For years, Kiffany Gordon of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, wanted to transition from renting to owning a home of her own. With rising rental costs, she knew homeownership would offer more stability. With the support of a $20,000 Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through Gulf Coast Bank & Trust (Gulf Bank), she achieved her goal this year.

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Kiffany Gordon of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, received down payment assistance from FHLB Dallas through Gulf Bank to become a first-time homeowner.

Ms. Gordon learned of the grant through Gulf Bank. HELP provides up to $20,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance for income‑qualified homebuyers in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi and up to $25,000 for homebuyers in New Mexico and Texas. The grant is available through participating FHLB Dallas members.

“When they told me it could help me stay within my budget, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m about to do this.’ I cried,” she said.

The process required patience. After paying off debts to repair her credit, Ms. Gordon viewed roughly 60 homes and placed offers on three. She was outbid on the first and the second went to an all-cash buyer, but the third home was the charm. It met nearly all her wants: an open floor plan, stainless steel appliances, a carport, a manageable yard and a newer roof.

“Helping buyers like Ms. Gordon is why we participate in the HELP program,” Gulf Bank Community Development Officer Rosalind Jones said. “She worked hard, stayed focused and just needed the last bit of support to make homeownership possible.”

At age 45, Ms. Gordon said she’s proud to build something lasting for her family, which includes three grown children and three grandchildren. One daughter, inspired by her mother’s success, has started the homebuying process herself. “She told me, ‘If my momma can do it, I can do it,’” Ms. Gordon said.

She said she doesn’t know what she would have done without the grant.

“I was praying for a miracle, and it came,” she said. “Without it, it probably would have been a deal breaker.”

HELP grants can open doors, said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.

“Housing is expensive, but it’s worth it for the many benefits, including creating generational wealth and stability,” he said. “Ms. Gordon’s story shows how perseverance and the right support can change a life.”

About Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company was founded in 1883, offering several personal and business banking services to the communities in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, the surrounding Southeast Louisiana areas and Florida. Banking services include checking and savings accounts with online and mobile banking options as well as personal loans, home loans, business loans and trust and brokerage services. Its mission is to strengthen its relationship with customers by combining the values of old-fashioned community banking that focus on individualized customer service with innovative, competitive banking products and trust and brokerage services.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $97.1 billion as of March 31, 2026, is a member‑owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 780 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

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“I was praying for a miracle, and it came. Without it, it probably would have been a deal breaker.” Kiffany Gordon