For U.S. Army veteran Alicia Cannon, buying a home in Mansfield became possible with help from a $25,000 Housing Assistance for Veterans (HAVEN) grant. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas reported in May 2026 that the grant helped Cannon purchase a home for herself and her son through participating lender Gulf Coast Bank & Trust.

Cannon previously served in an Army heating and air-conditioning repair role. Her family’s experience offers a concrete example of an assistance program that some eligible military households may not know to ask about.

A Mansfield Home, With Help on the Down Payment

FHLB Dallas reported that Cannon received the $25,000 grant to help cover her down payment. In its account, she described how much the move meant to her family. The bank’s report is the source for her story; Mansfield Shoutouts has not independently interviewed Cannon.

Her experience has a clear local connection: the purchase took place in Mansfield. It also raises a practical question for other area families: what assistance might be available when a down payment is the obstacle to buying a first home?

What HAVEN Covers and Who May Qualify

HAVEN is a Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas grant program for eligible households that include a service member or veteran with a qualifying service-related disability, or an eligible Gold Star Family. It can support down payment and closing costs, certain home repairs or modifications, and qualifying new construction. The maximum award is $25,000 per household.

Other requirements matter. FHLB Dallas lists a household-income ceiling of 165% of area median income. For down payment or closing-cost assistance, applicants must qualify as first-time homebuyers and complete a homebuyer counseling course. Eligibility and documentation are determined through the official program rules and participating member institutions.

Veterans and families should not assume that military service alone qualifies a household for this particular program. The official HAVEN program page explains the requirements and provides participating-member information.

How to Check Funding and Take the First Step

FHLB Dallas allocated $1 million to HAVEN for 2026 in two $500,000 rounds, beginning January 15 and July 1. The official program page displays “Available Funds as of July 1, 2026: $0.” Its stated availability period ends when funds are exhausted or on December 31, 2026, whichever comes first. That makes current funding confirmation essential before anyone plans around a grant.

Applicants do not apply directly to FHLB Dallas. The program operates through participating FHLB Dallas member financial institutions. Start with the official HAVEN program information and member list, ask a participating lender about any current allocation and eligibility, and confirm all terms before moving ahead with a home purchase.

For the original report on Cannon’s Mansfield purchase, see FHLB Dallas’s account of her experience. Her story is worth celebrating without suggesting that the same grant money is necessarily available to applicants today.