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Across Illinois and Wisconsin, the need for affordable housing continues to outpace supply, and for many Habitat for Humanity affiliates, building more homes has become increasingly difficult. In this episode of Banking on Connections, FHLBank Chicago introduces its new Mortgage Partnership Finance® (MPF®) Habitat for Humanity Program and the collaboration behind it.
Moderated by Jamie Lutton, Manager of Community Outreach and Engagement at FHLBank Chicago, the conversation features Patrick Sullivan, Executive Vice President and Group Head of Mortgage Partnership Finance® Program at FHLBank Chicago; Sarah Brachle Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity; and Peter Lewandowski, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity of Wisconsin.
Together, they walk through the realities shaping Habitat’s work today, from rising construction and land costs to the challenges of funding homes under a traditional model where capital is tied up over time. The discussion also explores how third-party lending and new approaches to financing are helping affiliates access capital more quickly.
The MPF Habitat for Humanity Program builds on that shift by combining interest rate subsidies, flexible underwriting, and access to the secondary market to create a more consistent, standardized solution. The goal is straightforward: help Habitat affiliates reinvest capital faster, build more homes, and serve more families.