Gateway Grant Tackles Stillwater's Critical Affordable Housing Shortage

STILLWATER, OK – March 23, 2026 – A significant partnership between Gateway First Bank, FHLBank Topeka, and Stillwater Habitat for Humanity is set to address a critical housing shortage in this growing Oklahoma city. A $300,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant has been awarded to kickstart the first phase of the Pioneer Way neighborhood, a project designed to provide much-needed affordable homes for local families.

The grant will fund the construction of the first five single-family homes in the new development, a direct response to a market where affordable options have become virtually nonexistent. This collaboration highlights a powerful model for community development, uniting financial institutions and non-profit organizations to create tangible solutions for one of the most pressing issues facing residents.

A Crisis of Availability and Affordability

The need for a project like Pioneer Way is starkly illustrated by Stillwater's housing market data. As recently as April 2025, there was not a single two- to four-bedroom home under 1,500 square feet available for sale in the entire city, effectively shutting out many families from the dream of homeownership. This scarcity exists within a market where prices are steadily climbing. The median home sale price has reached $309,500, and the average Stillwater home value has increased by 3.3% over the past year to $258,914.

Renters face a similar, if not more difficult, landscape. The median rent in Stillwater stands at $1,500 per month, a figure driven up by the city's large university population and a growing number of short-term rental properties. According to Stillwater Habitat for Humanity, more than half of the city's renters live in housing that is not considered affordable, with a significantly higher percentage of households paying over 35% of their gross income on housing compared to state averages. A 2025 community survey conducted by the Stillwater Community Foundation confirmed these observations, with over 400 residents identifying affordable housing as a top community priority.

Pioneer Way: A New Model for Community Building

In response to this crisis, Stillwater Habitat for Humanity is launching the Pioneer Way neighborhood. Located on Fern Street, this project marks a strategic shift for the organization, moving from its traditional model of building scattered single homes to developing an entire, thoughtfully planned community. The full vision includes 14 single-family homes, with construction slated to begin in 2026 and completion projected by 2030.

The $300,000 AHP grant directly enables the construction of the first five homes. These residences, ranging from 1,100 to 1,400 square feet, will offer two-, three-, and four-bedroom layouts to accommodate families of various sizes. The neighborhood's design intentionally fosters a strong sense of community. Instead of sprawling lots, the plan incorporates smaller footprints with homes oriented toward common green spaces, sidewalks connecting front porches, and shared amenities like mail centers, community gardens, and a playground.

“This development will provide financial stability and stronger neighborhoods for generations to come,” said Jerry Root, Executive Director of Stillwater Habitat, in a statement. By selling homes at cost with low or no-interest financing, Habitat ensures that monthly mortgage payments are substantially lower than conventional options, allowing families to build equity and break the cycle of housing insecurity.

The Power of a Three-Way Partnership

The Pioneer Way project is a testament to the effectiveness of collaborative public-private partnerships. Each organization plays a distinct and vital role in bringing the development to fruition. Stillwater Habitat for Humanity provides the on-the-ground expertise, managing construction and implementing its proven "sweat equity" model where future homeowners invest hundreds of hours of labor into building their own and their neighbors' homes.

Gateway First Bank, a Jenks, Oklahoma-based institution, served as the crucial link to the funding. The bank supported Stillwater Habitat's grant application and will continue its involvement by offering mortgage loan financing to the qualified buyers of the Pioneer Way homes. “The Affordable Housing Program makes a transformational difference in projects like these. We are proud to support Stillwater Habitat’s efforts,” said Bruce Schultz, SVP of Community Development & Public Banking at Gateway First Bank.

The funding itself flows from FHLBank Topeka, one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks in the nation. Its Affordable Housing Program, established in 1990, is one of the largest privately funded housing grant programs in the U.S. The program competitively awards grants to projects through its member financial institutions, like Gateway. “At FHLBank Topeka, our mission is to build communities together in partnership with our member financial institutions," stated Jeff Kuzbel, President and CEO of FHLBank Topeka. "Housing is at the heart of every thriving community.”

A Regional Ripple Effect

The grant for Pioneer Way is part of a much larger regional effort by FHLBank Topeka to bolster affordable housing. In its most recent funding round, the bank awarded a total of $33.9 million to 31 different projects, which will collectively create or rehabilitate 1,764 housing units across Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. In this cycle, Oklahoma-based projects received $4.3 million to support 208 units.

Since its inception, the AHP has channeled over $400 million into local communities. The program's flexibility allows it to fund a wide array of housing solutions tailored to specific local needs. Past recipients include a community in Tulsa supporting individuals transitioning out of homelessness with on-site gardens, an affordable development in Colorado for early childhood educators, and the rehabilitation of 30 homes in Emporia, Kansas. This broad impact demonstrates a sustained commitment to addressing housing challenges at their source, one community at a time.

The successful funding of the Pioneer Way neighborhood represents a significant victory for Stillwater. It not only promises five new homes in its initial phase but also establishes a scalable model for future development. By combining innovative community design with a powerful financial partnership, the project offers more than just bricks and mortar; it provides a pathway to financial stability and a foundation for a stronger, more inclusive community. With infrastructure preparations already underway and construction set to begin, the vision for Pioneer Way is quickly becoming a reality for families in need.