For over two decades, Spanish teacher and soccer coach, known as Mr. C, has been a pillar in the community at Tolleson High School, located 14 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona. On a bustling campus filled with 2,500 students, he has been a mentor whose influence spans generations. He often runs into former students around town.

“All the time. You know when I go out shopping or I’m out in a restaurant – adults now – come up to me and say, 'Hey coach' or 'Hey Mr. C,' and strike up a conversation about everything that has gone on with their lives. Asking me, 'Are you still coaching?' and 'Where are you at?'. So yea, definitely I’m in the community and I interact with a lot the kids. In fact, a couple of years ago I was coaching the son of one of my former players.”

Despite being an ever-present figure in the classroom and on the pitch, the housing situation for Mr. C and his family of four was unstable.

“We sold our house about five years ago (in about 2020). Since then we have been renting because the price of housing skyrocketed, and we also had the interest rate ballooning up high as well,” said Mr. C. “And, it’s getting really complicated to purchase. So, we just kept renting every year.”

A turning point came when a real estate professional encouraged the family to contact TruWest Credit Union, a FHLBank San Francisco member financial institution. TruWest—headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, and serving more than 96,000 members through 13 branches, nine of which are in the Phoenix metro area—recommended the Mr. C and his family apply for the Middle‑Income Downpayment Assistance program. This innovative voluntary initiative from FHLBank San Francisco offers matching grants of up to $50,000 to help first‑time homebuyers earning just above 80% up to 140% of the area median income, depending on where the home is located and the size of the household

The goal: expand access to affordable, sustainable homeownership across Arizona, California, and Nevada with grants delivered through participating FHLBank San Francisco member institutions. Since 2023, the Middle-Income Downpayment Assistance program has assisted more than 800 first-time homebuyers with $40 million in funding. In 2026, the program was again expanded with an additional $11 million allocated for matching grants. 

“TruWest had told us about a program about downpayment assistance,” says Mr. C. “And, so we looked at it. We were like, you know what? Let’s give it a shot and see how it works out.”

The family applied and soon received a life-changing call from a loan officer at TruWest.

”All of a sudden we got a phone call,” said Mr. C. “OK, the funds are there, but they go quick.”

“TruWest Credit Union has the privilege of working with members each and every day. To help them find a home, finance a home, and we’re incredibly grateful for partners like the Federal Home Loan Bank (of San Francisco) that help fund grant programs that go into downpayment assistance for those members.”

He notes that rising home prices remain one of the biggest barriers for families.

Kearney adds, "Really it’s the home price that is the challenge. That is the barrier for entry. Any opportunity we have to chip away at that and help make a home affordable for a family, we want to make that happen."

For Mr. C and his family, the Middle-Income Downpayment Assistance grant made the difference—allowing his family to purchase a home closer to where both he and his wife work, stabilizing their living situation and improving their quality of life.

“It feels like home,” says Mr. C. "It feels like somewhere it will be nice to retire here and build up the house. This is the home we want to stay in.”

Learn more about the FHLBank San Francisco’s Middle-Income Downpayment Assistance Program, participating members, and other Community Programs, on the Bank’s website.