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FHLBank Topeka’s Affordable Housing Program sets aside funds each year for member institutions to use in financing affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households in their communities in partnership with public and private local housing development organizations. When the program began in 1989, an Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC) was created to meet with representatives of FHLBank Topeka’s board of directors and advise FHLBank on low- and moderate-income housing needs and programs in FHLBank’s district (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma).
 

FHLBank Topeka’s AHAC is comprised of 12 individuals. AHAC members must reside in FHLBank Topeka’s district and must be from community and nonprofit organizations that are actively involved in providing or promoting low- and moderate-income housing or community lending in FHLBank Topeka’s district. Employees of FHLBank Topeka’s members are not eligible to serve on the AHAC. Consistent with the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) regulation on Minority and Women Inclusion, and FHLBank Topeka’s long-term strategic objective to advance diversity and inclusion in all business activities, FHLBank Topeka strongly encourages the consideration of diversity in nominating individuals for positions on its AHAC.
 

It is expected that three people from each state in the district will serve on FHLBank Topeka’s AHAC, generally for three-year terms. Members are appointed to terms on a staggered basis. Current members are eligible for reappointment, but may not serve more than three consecutive three-year terms.
 

There are five open seats for which we are now accepting nominations, one each in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and two in Oklahoma. Four of the individuals selected will serve a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2018, and ending Dec. 31, 2020. The four AHAC members whose terms expire this year are:

• Jane Harrington |  Colorado Community Land Trust, Denver, Colo.
  Eligible for reappointment
• Sophronia (Sophie) George | Topeka Housing Authority, Topeka, Kan.
  Eligible for reappointment 
• John Wiechmann |  Midwest Housing Equity Group, Omaha, Neb.
  Eligible for reappointment
• Valerie Powell | Housing Authority of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Hugo, Okla.
  Eligible for reappointment

Ms. Bell’s replacement will complete the remainder of the term that ends December 31, 2018 and be eligible for reappointment in 2019.

• Kathy Bell  |  Elk City Housing Authority, Elk City, OK
  resigned

The other seven members of the AHAC are:
 

• Lynn Fleming |  Great Bend Housing Authority, Great Bend, KS
• Michael Renken  |  NeighborWorks, Lincoln, NE
• Matthew Brady  |  Housing Authority of The City of Dodge City, Dodge City, KS
• Claudia Brierre  |  INCOG, Tulsa, OK
• Chad Asarch  |  Community Housing Concepts, Inc., Denver CO
• Brent Williams  |  Excel Development Group, Lincoln, NE
• Lisa Bloomquist  |  HomesFund, Durango, CO

AHAC members are reimbursed for all travel and associated expenses incurred for attending AHAC meetings and receive a $250 stipend for each meeting attended. Nominees must be willing to travel to any of the four states in FHLBank Topeka’s district at least once each quarter during the year to attend meetings of the AHAC. Nominators should verify that nominees are willing and able to travel to these one-day meetings generally held during the second or third week of March, June, September and December.
 

Please complete the nomination form and submit it for individuals you believe meet the qualifications to represent your state on FHLBank Topeka’s AHAC. A copy of the individual’s resume must be attached to your submission. Please feel free to nominate more than one qualified individual. Nominations must be returned to FHLBank Topeka via email to tom.thull@fhlbtopeka.com, fax 785.234.1765 or mail to Federal Home Loan Bank Topeka, One Security Benefit Pl., Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66606, Attn: Tom Thull by Friday, December 1, 2017. It is expected that FHLBank Topeka’s board of directors will consider these nominations at its December 2017 meeting.
 

Thank you for your assistance in nominating qualified individuals to FHLBank Topeka’s AHAC. Please contact Tom Thull, director of Housing and Community Development, at 785.438.6029, if you have questions.