The Welcome Home Program will open April 6, 2026

November 25, 2025

FHLB's Welcome Home Program (WHP) will open at 8:00 a.m. ET on April 6. The WHP provides grants to assist with down payment and closing costs for low- and moderate-income homebuyers purchasing or constructing a primary residence. Grant funds will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds have been allocated.

New for 2026:

  • Each Member is eligible to receive up to $300,000 of WHP funds.
  • The WHP process is being streamlined for greater efficiency. System enhancements are underway and expected to be completed by the end of March. Additional details, including information on in-person workshops and live webinars, will be shared in future communications.

Below is an abbreviated list of the program guidelines:

  • The total income for all occupants must be at or below 80 percent of the Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) limit for the county and state where the property is located.
  • Homebuyers must contribute at least $500 of their own funds towards down payment and/or closing costs.
  • All first-time homebuyers are required to complete a homeownership counseling program.
  • Grant funds are intended only for homebuyers who qualify for the first mortgage based on their own merit. Co-signors and non-occupant co-borrowers are not permitted.
  • All eligible property assisted with WHP funds is subject to a five-year retention mechanism, which may require the household to repay all or a portion of the subsidy, if the home is sold or refinanced within five years from the closing of the transaction.

All 2026 program documents and forms will be available in March at www.fhlbcin.com.

This is our most widely used program, ideally suited to the needs of community lenders and their customers. Since its inception in 1998, the WHP has disbursed $239 million on behalf of more than 41,000 households.

Please contact the Housing and Community Investment Department at 888-345-2246 with any questions.