FHLBank Topeka event on Feburary 14, 2025 in Cavea at JSSB. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Professionals in Affordable Housing work in various roles across thousands of different for-profit, non-profit and public organizations. From working with residents at Affordable Housing properties to assist with their daily needs and manage the communities they live in to working in the financing and development of Affordable Housing units, the Affordable Housing industry provides millions of Americans with one of their most essential needs; a safe and attainable home for their families.
But what does that work look like? One of the leading organizations in the financing of Affordable Housing, the FHLBank of Topeka, provides an example.
FHLBank Topeka is a cooperative serving nearly 670 member financial institutions in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. FHLBank offers liquidity to support its members’ lending efforts that build vibrant communities. FHLBank members also have access to an array of grant programs that finance, support and expand affordable housing.
Kylie Mergen, Community Investment Officer and Director of Housing and Community Development, leads FHLBank Topeka’s affordable housing and community development grant programs. Her team designs, runs and monitors multiple programs in partnership with FHLBank members. Currently, they are hiring for a Housing and Community Development (HCD) Coordinator.
“As we fill positions at FHLBank Topeka, we look forward to considering future graduates of the Affordable Housing Institute,” said Kylie. “The knowledge and skills students at MSU Denver are gaining are unique from other university programs. We hope many MSU students will consider bringing their talents to FHLBank Topeka to build communities alongside us.”
Since it began operations in 1974, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) has helped more than 155,000 Coloradans achieve their dreams of homeownership by investing in mortgage loans, down payment assistance, and homebuyer education. CHFA is proud to be Colorado’s trusted partner for affordable, responsible homeownership.
CHFA offers resources to support prospective homebuyers throughout the homebuying process, including an interactive digital tool called the Homebuyer’s Roadmap. The roadmap includes various “stops” on the journey to purchasing a home, with opportunities to dig deeper into topics of interest. These topics include everything from credit and budgeting to choosing a real estate agent to preparing for closing. Visit chfainfo.com/homebuyer-roadmap to get started on the journey!
The FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute at MSU Denver is actively working to connect students in it’s program to dynamic, well paying and fulfilling career paths in Affordable Housing. This includes internships, experiential learning and the opportunity to network with industry professionals. Enroll in classes today!