Building Blocks is a technical, quarterly publication of the Federal Housing Finance Board for practitioners in the affordable housing and community development fields. The publication provides case studies, technical details, and other information regarding the activities of the Federal Home Loan Bank System's affordable housing and community development programs. To obtain copies of newsletters indexed below, or to get on the mailing list, contact Dennis McGee, Office of Public Affairs, Federal Housing Finance Board, 1777 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 408-2810, FAX (202) 408-2947.

Vol. 6 No. 2: December 1997

• Finance Board Okays Fourth Pilot Program: Seattle's "Rent-to-Own" Program (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 1)
• Finance Board Approves Policy for Pilot Programs: Formalized Procedures (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 2)
• Pilot Proposal Guidelines (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 2)
• Morrison to Lenders: "Knock on the Door" For Community Investment Projects: Chairman Offers Perspective (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 3)
• Board Approves Financial Policy Changes: May Help Small Banks (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 4)
• FHLBank Legislation Debate Postponed Until 1998 (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 5)
• Daycare Facilities Get Public/Private Sector Boost (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 5)
• Policy Director Appointed (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 5)
• FHLBanks Gained Greater Flexibility as New AHP Regs Took Effect January 1 (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 6)
• Minneapolis, Des Moines FHLBank Create Jobs, Housing Opportunities (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 6)
• 103 Local Institutions Receive $53 Million: CDFI, BEA Programs (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 7)
• Record Homeownership Rate Celebrated (Vol. 6 No. 2., page 7)

• Eased membership, Advances Rules Designed to Help Small, Rural Banks (Vol 6, No. 1, page 1)
• Board Approves New Rules for QTLs and Membership for Pacific Island Banks (Vol 6, No. 1, page 2)
• Update of Existing Pilot Programs and Details of FHLBank of Seattle Proposal (Vol 6, No. 1, page 3)
• Seven AHP Projects Garner National Awards for Excellence (Vol 6, No. 1, page 5)
• Finance Board, SBA Host Symposium on SBIC Investments (Vol 6, No. 1, page 6)

• 57 FHLBank System Members, Nonprofits Honored for Affordable Housing, Community Development Initiatives: Community Partnership Awards (Vol. 5, No. 4, page 1) [Includes list of 1996 CPA winners plus data on each project.]

• FHLBank of Chicago Gets Finance Board Approval for New Home Mortgage Pilot: Limited to $750 Million (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 1)
• Finance Board's Managing Director Retires; New duties Await at FHLBank of Atlanta (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 2)
• Seattle FHLBank Begins Homeownership Program for Public Housing, Section 8 Residents: First in FHLBank System (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 3)
• San Francisco, Seattle FHLBanks' AHP Projects Win National Awards (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 4)
• FHLBank System Awards Program Set (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 4)
• FHLBank Board Chairs Appointed for 1997: No Changes at Top Level (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 5)
• FHLBanks to Approve Nonmember Mortgagees: Pricing Issue Resolved (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 6)
• FHLBank of Dallas Cruises Into Cyberspace (Vol. 5, No. 3, page 7)

• Proposed AHP Changes Emphasize Flexibility, Community Involvement: Reduces Regulatory Burden (Vol. 5, No. 2, page 1)
• FHLBank of Atlanta Approved for Multifamily Participation Purchases: $50 Million Pilot Effort (Vol. 5, No. 2, page 2)
• Finance Board Proposes Streamlining Community Support Program Rules (Vol. 5, No. 2, page 3)
• 38 Banks and Thrifts Receive $13.1 Million in Grants: Bank Enterprise Act Program (Vol. 5, No. 2, page 4)
• BEA Program Awardees (Vol. 5, No. 2, page 4)
• Commercial Bank Double Representation In Elections For FHLBank Directors' Seats: Terms Begin January 1 (Vol. 5, No. 2, page 6)
• FHLBank of Topeka, Local HFA, HUD/FHA Create $24 Million Multifamily Housing Deal: 468 Affordable Units in Colorado Assisted (vol. 5, No. 2, page 7)

• Finance Board Approves Proposal for Cooperative Mission-Related Investments: Pilot Program Okayed for FHLBank of New York (Vol. 5, No. 1, page 1)
• New Rural Home Loan Partnership Links FHLBank System, Rural LISC, RHS: CIP Advances Available Up To 33 Years (Vol. 5, No. 1, page 3)
• Index of Building Blocks Articles (Vol. 5, No. 1, page 4)
• CDFI Fund Award Recipients Announced: Includes 4 FHLBank System Members (Vol. 5, No. 1, page 6)
• FHLBank of Atlanta President/CEO Retires (Vol. 5, No. 1, page 6)
• Rural Development Data Bases Available On-Line (Vol. 5, No. 1, page 7)
• Homeownership Rate Continues Climb (Vol. 5, No. 1, page 7)

Vol. 4, No. 4: July 1996

• FHLBank System Honors Members, Nonprofits for Housing, Community Development Partnerships (Vol. 4, No. 4, page 1) [Includes chart: List of 1995 CPA winners, page 3)
• RHS Oversees New Rental Housing Program (Vol. 4, No. 4, page 2)
• Finance Board Approves Advances for Minneapolis Jobs, Housing Program: Special Exemption in Bank Act (Vol. 4, No. 4, page 5)
• FHLBank System Continues Efforts to Meet National Partners for Homeownership Goals: $200 Million in CIP for Rural LISC (Vol. 4, No. 4, page 6)

Vol. 4, No. 3: March 1996

• Houston Community Fights Back to Reclaim Neighborhood for Residents: AHP Adds $270,000 in Assistance (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 1)
• Nonprofit Announces $10,000 Grants for Model Partnerships (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 2)
• FHLBank of New York receives Approval for Bond Purchase (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 3)
• Rural Housing, AHP Set-Asides Top Strategies for Homeownership Push: Update on NPH Efforts (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 4)
• Small Business Investment Companies Offer FHLBanks Development Opportunities (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 5)
• FHLBank Members Improve in Community Support Reviews: 1995 CSP Annual Report (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 6)
• Homeownership Set-Aside Programs Up and Running: Regulatory Changes Allow Flexibility (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 7)
• CDFI Fund Proves Popular with CDCs: $31 Million Available (Vol. 4, No. 3, page 8)

Vol. 4, No. 2: December 1995

• Homeowners' Savings Matched With AHP Funds Under Voluntary Rule Approved for FHLBanks: Up to $5,000 for Closing Costs, Downpayment (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 1) [Includes: How a Matched-Savings Program Works, page 2]
• FHLBank Commit to $200 Million for Rural Development: Rural LISC Inaugurated (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 3)
• Report From the Chairman (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 4)
• Proposed Rule Would Allow FHLBanks to Establish Subsidy Limits for AHP: Board Reviewing Comments (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 5)
• Federal Housing Finance Board Welcomes New Board Members: Bruce A. Morrison: New Chairman Brings Extensive Banking, Housing, Community Development Experience to Post: J. Timothy O'Neill: international Law, Lobbying Background Help Former Staffer Return as New Board Member (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 6)
• Chippewa Housing Council Becomes Latest Nonmember Mortgagee:Minnesota Tribe Approved for Advances (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 7) [Includes: FHLBank System Nonmember Mortgagees, page 7]
• AHP, CIP: Substantial Financing for Rural Projects (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 8)
• 'Special-Needs' Populations Account for 35% of AHP Funding: 33,000 Households Assisted: $127 Million in 5 Years (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 9) [Includes, chart: Special-Needs Housing Units, page 10]
• FHLBank System Scores Early Successes In National Partners for Homeownership Plans: Report Card on NPH Efforts (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 12)
• Public/Private/Sectors Join Navajo Nation to Improve Credit, Housing on Tribal Lands (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 13)
• CDFIs Receive $31 Million in Funding (Vol. 4, No. 2, page 15)

• Community Development Financial Institutions Improve Local Economies by Increasing Jobs, Housing, Businesses: Appalbanc, Self-Help, and South Shore (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 1)
• Newest CDFI Tackles Old Problem: Appalbanc (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 2)
• Homeownership Crucial to CDFI's Growth Efforts: Self-Help (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 3)
• Keeping Deposits in Neighborhood Fuels Development: South Shore (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 3)
• Small Loans Provide Large Boost to New, Expanding Businesses: 'Imported' Concept Gains Popularity (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 5) [Includes: Microenterprises Resources Guide, page 6]
• Surveys Highlight Importance of Training for CDCs; AHP's History, Simplicity Lessen Training Needs: LISC Queries Rural/Nonrural CDCs (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 8)
• Barriers to Rural Credit Studied; Solutions Offered (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 9)
• Public and Private Resources for Rural Lending (Vol. 4, No. 1, page 10)

Vol. 3, No. 4: April 1995

• Special Edition: 12 features stories, representing each FHLBank district, highlighting versatility of AHP (Vol. 3, No. 4, page 1)

Vol. 3, No. 3: March 1995

• Seasonal Workers, Elderly, Homeless Benefit from AHP Rural Rental Projects: Nearly 6,000 Units Nationwide (Vol. 3, No. 3, page 1) [chart: AHP Rural Rental Projects as of March 22, 1995, page 2]
• Letters of Credit Gain Popularity Within Bank System (Vol. 3, No. 3 , page 3) [Includes: Bank System-Approved Guidelines for Letters-of-Credit Use, page 45]
• Retraining, Daycare Centers Typify Rural CIP Efforts: MF and SF Housing Also Possible (Vol. 3, No. 3, Page 5)
• FHLBanks Asked to Increase Funding to Local CDCs: Rural LISC Created (Vol. 3, No. 3, page 7)

Vol. 3, No. 2: September 1994

• $471,000 Used in Landmark Financing to Aid Housing for Blackfeet Tribe: First AHP-Assisted Mortgage on Tribal Lands (Vol. 3, No. 2, page 1) [Includes: Advantages to Building on Trust Lands, page 2; Includes: Federal, State Program Aid Housing on Native Lands, page 5]
• Community Land Trust Offer Alternative for Low-Cost Housing: 100 Land Trusts in 20 States (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 6)
• Local Governments Fill Affordable Housing Funding Gaps: Housing Trust Funds (Vol. 3, No. 2, page 8) [Includes: HTFs: How they Work and How to Use Them, page 9; Includes: Sources of Revenue Committed to Existing Housing Trust Funds, page 1 0]
• Mutual Housing Offers Rental Convenience With Flexibility, Rights of Ownership (Vol. 3, No. 2 page 11)

Vol. 3, No. 1, June 1994

• HUD Releases Study on FHLBank System: Last of Five Mandated Reports (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 1)
• Community Support Action Plans Used to Boost Banks' Performance (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 1)
• Mobile Home Parks Use CIP; Limited-Equity Co-ops Created (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 1)
• Bank System Aids Earthquake Relief Efforts: Mortgage, Rehabilitation, Refinancing Loans (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 5)
• CIP Activity Tops $5.1 Billion (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 5)
• San Francisco, Chicago Banks Make First 'Direct Placements': California, Illinois Buy Bonds (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 6)
• Major Disasters Spur Bank System Members to Action: Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Riots, Floods (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 8)
• 14 HFAs approved to Borrow From Bank System: Nonmember Mortgagees (Vol. 3, No. 1, page 10) [Includes: Program Parameters for Nonmember Mortgagees, page 11]

Vol. 2, No. 3: March 1994

• Agencies Issue Nondiscrimination Policy: Interagency Task Force on Fair Lending (Vol. 2, No. 3, page 1)
• 18 New Directors Named to FHLBanks' Boards (Vol. 2, No. 3, page 1)
• New AHP Regulation Proposed for FHLBank System (Vol. 2, No. 3, page 3)
• FHFB Reviews Empowerment Issues: Key Player in Administration Initiative (Vol. 2, No. 3, page 5)
• Community Support Program Notice Receives 28 Responses (Vol. 2, No. 3, page 6)
• Habitat for Humanity (plus) AHP (equals) Success (Vol. 2, No. 3, page 8) [Includes chart: Habitat Projects by FHLBank as of December 15, 1993]

Vol. 2, No. 2: December 1993

• Special Edition: Highlights 38 Community Investment Program projects from the 12 FHLBanks (Vol. 2, No. 2, page 1)

Vol. 2, No. 1: May 1993

• FHLBank System Developing Strategic Plan (Vol. 2, No. 1, page 1)
• CIP Funds Encouraged for Community Economic Development (Vol. 2, No. 1, page 1)
• Dallas FHLBank Provides Grants to Programs Benefiting the Homeless (Vol. 2, No. 1, page 3)
• Advisory Council Representatives Name Chairperson (Vol. 2, No. 1, page 3)
• Community Investment Highlights: Dorsey R. Moore Cooperative (Washington, D.C., FHLBank of Atlanta); New Community Corporation (Jersey City, NJ, FHLBank of New York) (Vol. 2, No. 1, page 5)

Vol. 1, No. 1: December 1992

• Marketing Efforts Prove Successful for CIP in 1991 (Vol. 1, No. 1, page 1)
• Banks Use CIP for Bridge Loans Financing (Vol. 1, No. 1, page 10)
• Loan Consortium and AHP Work Together to Provide Housing (Vol. 1, No. 1, page 2) [Includes: Bullet recap of Enterprise Foundation survey on affordable housing lending consortia, page 3]

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August 1, 1997