MADISONVILLE, La., Aug. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Martin and Darlene Desmond have battled a lot of storms during the course of their more than 50-year marriage, but one literal storm took a toll the couple didn't know if they could recover from.
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As newlyweds the Desmonds bought a home on 2 acres of land in Madisonville, Louisiana, and started their family. The modest home needed a bit of work, but the couple continued to make repairs and improvements over the years. Mr. Desmond worked as a welder for 25 years and also as a property manager for 21 of those years, overcoming the physical limitations of having polio as a child. Mrs. Desmond worked in hospital admissions.
But a tragic series of events over the past 10 years set the couple on a path they didn't foresee. In 2002, Mr. Desmond underwent knee surgery that left him wheelchair bound. "I was hoping to at least use a cane, but that wasn't possible after the surgery," Mr. Desmond said.
Their home continued to deteriorate and they were unable to keep up with the repairs. "Eventually we were told we needed to start from scratch but we were financially unable to do so," Mrs. Desmond said. Then in 2005, their home was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Trees fell on the home and and damaged the foundation causing the house to shift just enough that water started seeping into the home.
"It was uninsured because the insurance had been cancelled due to the condition of the house, and because it was already in substandard condition," Mrs. Desmond said.
When Mrs. Desmond's mother passed away in 2007, the Desmonds moved into her manufactured home. But the home was only 12 feet wide and not designed for Mr. Desmond's wheelchair, which was also causing damage to the walls because of tight corridors. In addition, Mr. Desmond had a lot of difficulty getting in and out of the shower, and suffered from a lung condition because of the poor air quality in the home. "We were like sardines," Mrs. Desmond said.
One of the couple's church members had a contact at Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West (HFHSTW) and told the Desmonds about the organization's program.
"I'm thinking, 'We're old. Who's going to finance a house at our age,' but I couldn't tell her we didn't want any help," Mrs. Desmond said. A Habitat volunteer came out to evaluate the home, and "amazingly, they accepted us," Mrs. Desmond said.
In April, the Desmonds moved into their brand new home. Their purchase price was further lowered by an Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant that was awarded to HFHSTW by Whitney Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas). The $120,000 AHP grant was awarded in 2011 to assist 12 very low- and low-income homebuyers with their down payment and closing costs.
AHP grants are awarded through FHLB Dallas member financial institutions, such as Whitney Bank, to assist in the development of affordable, owner-occupied and rental housing for very low- to moderate-income households. FHLB Dallas awarded $7.6 million in AHP grants in 2013, including more than $1.1 million to support Louisiana projects.
The Desmonds are overjoyed to be in their new home.
"We have four grandchildren who spend a lot of time with us. Now we have a room for our grandchildren, which they love. They have their toys in there, and when they need to spend the night they have a place to stay." Mrs. Desmond said. "I've got a beautiful home; it's like a mini mansion. Our children are so proud and happy for us. And they are happy that we're finally settled."
About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 12 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $34.7 billion as of June 30, 2012, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to more than 900 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas.
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The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
