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August 31, 2023

Seven nonprofit community organizations across the state received a combined $154,920 to help low-income Kansans achieve stability and access economic opportunities. The awards, provided through federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) discretionary funding, will support initiatives ranging from expanding emergency cold weather shelter services in Southeast Kansas, to providing statewide rental and eviction counseling in underserved communities, and providing additional housing and funding for families seeking to overcome the trauma of homelessness in McPherson.

“The CSBG program aims to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income families and individuals to become fully self-sufficient,” said Marilyn Stanley, CSBG Program Manager at the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). “We’re so pleased to work with our community partners to provide these vital resources to Kansans in need.”

Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CSBG program supports local service partners that provide resources and assistance to low-income community members. KHRC serves as the state’s CSBG program administrator. CSBG grant awards fund a range of community services, including job training, financial management education, childcare services, housing and food assistance programs, and more.

Service partners apply for annual and discretionary funding through competitive application processes. Complete award details are available online.

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Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency (HFA), administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.

August 11, 2023

Twenty Kansas projects will receive a combined total of $4,675,000.00 in MIH funds, $8,946,000.00 in MIH-ARPA funds, and 5,474,000 in Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credits (KHITCs) to develop affordable housing for moderate-income families in rural areas of the state. The awards, made possible through the state of Kansas’ Moderate Income Housing (MIH), MIH-American Rescue Plan Act (MIH-ARPA), and Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit (KHITC) Programs, provide resources to develop housing in rural communities.

Combined with the amount leveraged by each community to support the proposed initiatives, the awards represent a total investment of $90,933,755 and a net gain of 513 affordable, quality housing units.

2023 Round 2 MIH, MIH-ARPA, and KHITC Award List:

This round of awards will help with development of 20 projects:

16 rental duplexes in Norton
5 rental apartment units in Palco
12 rental apartments in Victoria
9 single-family homes in Atwood
8 single-family homes and 4 townhome units in Salina
40 single-family homes in McPherson
14 rental duplexes in Sterling
3 single-family homes in Abilene
11 multi-family rental units in Ottawa
100 multi-family rental units in Bonner Springs
14 multi-family rental units in Pittsburg
12 single-family homes in Pittsburg
12 multi-family rental units in Kingman
20 multi-family rental units in Kingman
108 multi-family rental units in Derby
100 multi-family rental units in Goddard
5 multi-family rental units and 1 single-family home in Greensburg
8 single-family homes in Pratt
3 homeowner single-family homes and 6 single-family rentals in Stafford and St. John
2 single-family homes in Ashland

July 24, 2023

Cynthia Howerton joined the Kansas Department of Housing in 1997 when it was still under the purview of the Kansas Department of Commerce. At that time, Howerton worked with less than 20 employees on the 12^th floor of the Eisenhower building. She began her job as a temporary worker to help process applications for the First Time Homebuyer (FTHB) program. But her job has been far from temporary; she’s been helping Kansans purchase their first homes now for 26 years.

“We housed a lot of people,” said Howerton. “In the early days, we received FTHB funding on the first of September and the first of March, and funds would run out before the next round would start. By 8:00 a.m. on the first of the month, my fax machine would already be full; it was crazy! We did a lot of faxing, made a lot of phone calls. Everything was on paper.” Since then, the volume of First Time Homebuyer applications has fluctuated over the years with changes in economic conditions.

Governor Sebelius separated the state’s housing division from the Department of Commerce in 2003, catalyzing the formation Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), an independent, nonprofit corporation. KHRC relocated to its current location on Kansas avenue in 2004. Howerton also started working with the Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program and eventually became the First Time Homebuyer program manager.

She’ll never forget helping Kansans in times of need or crisis. She pitched in with disaster relief in Southeast Kansas after the Greensburg tornado and assisted with the Kansas Eviction Protection Program (KEPP), which helped Kansans stay housed during the eviction crisis created by COVID. “What blew my mind was the Kansas Appliance Replacement Program (ARA),” she said. KHRC administered the program, which supplied households with free energy-efficient appliances—dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, and dryers—in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crisis and recession. “It was a whirlwind to keep up with,” says Howerton. “I would hang up the phone and pick it back up and another person would be on the line before it even rang. The program lasted months, but it felt like years.”

As she nears her retirement, Howerton recalls highlights of growth and change during her time at KHRC. “Going paperless was a huge change,” Howerton remembers. “Agencies that administer federal programs don’t change that much, but the technology has branched out so much—laptops, cell phones, software tools—things have really improved and they’re still constantly changing!” What’s kept Howerton at KHRC so long? She offers a glimpse: “If you work at a place like KHRC, you truly mean it. I think KHRC values employees; they expect good work but treat us well. That has never changed.”

What hasn’t changed for Howerton is the power of a genuine connection—whether it’s with a client over the phone, or among longtime colleagues. “I’m proud that I could help so many Kansans buy their first homes and cover their rent payments,” said Howerton. “I take pride in my customer service. People will say to me, ‘You called me back! That doesn’t happen this day and age.’ I try to go the extra mile and find them solutions or someone else who can help them, even if I can’t.” Howerton always enjoyed celebrating National Homeownership Month each June with new first-time homebuyers, especially the most recent event this year in Derby.

“I will miss the people the most,” said Howerton. A handful of colleagues have worked alongside her since nearly the beginning. “That’s what’s neat about being in a place so long; you truly get to follow their lives.” She remembers their children—sometimes running through the office in their youth—now grown up and getting married. She relishes memories of Friday afternoons off with her colleagues to enjoy staff at picnics at the lake and driving Go-Karts at the Sports Center. Some of her favorite memories at KHRC include the office Olympics and dressing up for Halloween.

Howerton is an avid reader and after retirement plans to keep her mind sharp by reading, playing games, and downsizing her apartment of 27 years. She’s looking forward to prioritizing her health and self-care by walking more, cooking healthy meals, and spending time with her brother and his family in Lawrence.

Cynthia Howerton will officially retire from her position at KHRC on July 28, 2023. We thank Cynthia from the bottom of our hearts for her many years of service and friendship at KHRC!

June 28, 2023

Event celebrates National Homeownership month, 20th anniversary

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) announced top entries in its statewide youth art contest this week. The initiative, held to commemorate National Homeownership Month and KHRC’s 20th anniversary, invited K-12 Kansas students to share their vision of what home means to them. Honorees and their families were recognized at a special reception at the Kansas State Capitol, and their artwork will remain on display in the rotunda through July 7.

Honorees include:

Sarah S., Kindergarten, Topeka
Harlee B., 1st grade, Salina
Holden N., 1st grade, Wells
Ari C., 2nd grade, Salina
Shania S., 4th grade, Goodland
Isabella B., 5th grade, Derby
Indrayani P., 5th grade, Newton
Olivia G., 5th grade, Hesston
Edith L., 6th grade, Larned
Zaylah W., 7th grade, Hesston
Hailey N., 8th grade, Hesston
Breckyn W., 7th grade, Hesston
Juliunna Shinn, 11th grade, Osage City
Naomi S., 12th grade, Maize

**Best in Show honoree Juliunna S. of Osage City receives congratulations from KHRC’s Executive Director, Ryan Vincent**

A virtual gallery of contest entries is available on KHRC’s 20th anniversary webpage.

Observed each June and officially proclaimed in Kansas by Governor Kelly, National Homeownership Month promotes the benefits of homeownership for families, communities, and local economies. KHRC was established in 2003 and serves as the state’s housing finance agency, administering the state’s First Time Homebuyer and Home Loan Guarantee for Rural Kansas programs, which expand homeownership opportunities for Kansans.

First Time Homebuyer program

Cynthia Howerton, manager of KHRC’s First Time Homebuyer program, explained how eligible participants can benefit from the program’s down payment and closing cost assistance for their first home purchase. Homebuyers partner with participating lenders to navigate the process. The program allows homebuyers to apply for a 0 percent interest loan for 15 or 20 percent of the home’s purchase price. The loan is forgiven if the buyer remains in the home for ten years.

Program guidelines were recently expanded to keep the dream of homeownership alive in Kansas. The program operates in communities across the state, with the exception of Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, Kansas City, and Johnson County.

Misty Brown of Derby became a first-time homebuyer with help from the program’s down payment and closing cost assistance earlier this year. Read more about how putting down roots as a homeowner changed everything for her family.

Home Loan Guarantee for Rural Kansas

The Home Loan Guarantee (HLG) for Rural Kansas helps existing and prospective homeowners in rural counties finance home loans for land and building purchases, renovations, or new construction costs. Program manager Marilyn Stanley explained how the initiative aims to close the appraisal gap in rural areas, where the cost of purchasing, renovating, or constructing a home often exceeds the property’s appraised value.

Rural counties are defined as those with populations of 10,000 or less. The HLG program has $2 million available for non-recourse guaranties through the Kansas Rural Home Loan Guarantee Act.

Questions about the First Time Homebuyer Program or Home Loan Guarantee for Rural Kansas? Contact Marilyn Stanley at mstanley@kshousingcorp.org.

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Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency (HFA), administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.

June 23, 2023

In April, Kansas Housing received 11 applications for the 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), equating to more than $254 million in Private Activity Bonds (PABs) for the second of three application rounds. Of the five applications awarded, the approved LIHTCs and PABs will build 305 new units and rehabilitate 398 existing affordable units.

The Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act was enacted by H.B. 2237 in 2022. All 4% and 9% LIHTC projects awarded in 2023 will receive Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credits in addition to the federal LIHTCs as an equal match. With the additional resources provided by the state credit, Kansas Housing saw an increase in 4% LIHTC applications, particularly in the new construction set-aside.

Kansas Housing will host one more 4% LIHTC and PAB application round for 2023. Each round has approximately $75 million in bond capacity to award. The deadline for round three is July 14, 2023.

Round Three Deadline: July 14, 2023

For more information on how federal and state LIHTCs are allocated, please reference our Qualified Allocation Plan.

The updated 4% LIHTC and PAB project list is available online.

Kansas Housing administers the state’s housing development programs and oversees the competitive application process.

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June 9, 2023

Misty Brown and her two children had been renting their Wichita home for four years when she started planning to buy a permanent home in Derby, where her children attend school and many of her family members live. The move was sparked by her sister, Tiffany, who had recently purchased her own Derby home with the help of down payment and closing cost assistance through the state’s First Time Homebuyer program. Because their finances were similar, Brown thought, “If she got approved, I might get approved; I might as well try.”

Brown reached out to Tiffany’s lender to determine if she may be eligible. “My lender did everything,” Brown said. “She told me what documents to send, and I was pre-approved in August 2022.” She worked with a real estate agent to find a house, and by January 2023, her family moved into their permanent home, just 43 seconds away from her sister’s driveway. She says saving up to buy a home “would have been a much longer process” without the down payment and closing cost assistance provided by the First Time Homebuyer program.

“The whole approval process was very easy, partly because I had been working on improving my credit,” said Brown. At one point, she was working seven days a week with a temporary, second part-time job to save the extra money a new home purchase would require.

“I waited until I was stable and ready buy a home, though I wish I had done it sooner,” said Brown. Prior to that, Brown moved every few years and felt apprehensive about the upkeep and costs of homeownership. “I never wanted to commit,” she said. “I was most scared of a big home improvement catching me off-guard financially.” She now realizes that continuous home improvements can prevent some of the major costs that come with the upkeep of owning a home. This spring, she has begun tearing up her old brick walkway and planting fresh grass seed in preparation for rebuilding the walkway.

From left: Christine Reimler, Director of Community Solutions, KHRC; Misty Brown; Tiffany Schiefelbein; Michelle Post, loan officer; and Cynthia Howerton, First Time Homebuyer program manager, KHRC

Her neighbors donated an extra hose to help water her new grass seed where the old walkway had been torn away, and offered to mow her lawn until she could purchase a lawnmower. Since becoming a homeowner, Brown said, “I’m more invested in my neighborhood and community; I’m very pleased with my neighbors. Everyone around me also owns their home.” Brown’s family feels welcomed and supported in their new neighborhood.

Brown says the best part of being a homeowner is the impact on her kids. “My children have been thriving and blossoming,” she said. Their social lives have flourished now that they live closer to school, and Misty is able to be more present with her children since she has been able to give up her second job. “Now my daughter invites friends over all the time, and my son has really started to come out of his shell. They feel those roots; they feel safety and stability.” Her daughter recently graduated from high school this spring.

Brown has some advice for those interested in purchasing their first home: “Start saving money now. It’s hard to regret buying a house, especially if you have kids. Just put down some roots and invest in your community.”

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Administered by Kansas Housing R esources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s First Time Homebuyer program helps income-eligible households purchase their first home by providing down payment and closing cost assistance. Recent program updates have expanded eligibility. Homes in Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, and Johnson County are not eligible for program assistance. KHRC’s new Home Loan Guarantee for Rural Kansas program helps rural homebuyers secure the gap between the cost of constructing or rehabilitating a home and its appraised value.

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, nonprofit, public corporation committed to helping Kansans access the safe, affordable housing they need and the dignity they deserve. KHRC serves as the state’s housing finance agency, administering essential housing and community programs to serve Kansans.