RIO RANCHO, N.M., July 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the springtime, wind brought dust and dirt through the windows of Sean Shultz's home.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=26548
"They were really drafty, and my wife had to constantly clean up dirt and dust on the window sills, and then in the wintertime my kids' rooms were absolutely freezing," said Mr. Shultz, a retired military veteran.
The Shultz family had all the windows upstairs and one window downstairs replaced with the help of the Housing Assistance for Veterans (HAVEN) program.
This unique grant program from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) is offered through FHLB Dallas member institutions to assist veterans and active duty service members who have been disabled in the line of duty since September 11, 2001. It provides grants up to $7,500 to support necessary home modifications.
Mr. Shultz, a member of the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Project, said his Wounded Warrior Project advocate told him about the grant, and he decided to apply after learning he met the criteria.
"My wife and I were already talking about spending our tax return on new windows," he said. "But I don't think we would have been able to get it done. I'm unable to work on doctor's orders and we are living on my military disability pay."
Mr. Shultz qualified for a $7,500 HAVEN grant and FHLB Dallas member institution, Kirtland Federal Credit Union, added $350 for a total grant award of $7,850.
"We are so thankful the HAVEN program is able to help our veterans," said Chuck Crisler, assistant vice president of public relations at Kirtland FCU. "The new windows will provide a comfortable living environment for the Shultz family, and it's an honor to play a small part in thanking them for the sacrifices they have made for our country."
Mr. Schultz and his wife, Tanya, have three boys and one girl, ranging in age from an infant to 6-years-old, so replacing the windows was critical to keeping his family comfortable in their home.
"It was a godsend to get those windows replaced and not have to worry about the drafts and the cold in the winter, or the dirt and extreme heat in the summer. The lower utility bills help us out a great deal as well," he said. "We appreciate the grant."
Mr. Shultz served in the Army from 2004-2013. The first six years he was stationed at Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne during which time he did two tours in Iraq. Mr. Shultz received initial injuries during his first tour when he was hit several times with explosive devices and roadside bombs while serving on his battalion's quick response force.
He suffered a back injury and after about two weeks of rest he was back on duty. He would later be diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In his last tour in Afghanistan, he was also injured by multiple roadside bombs. Two weeks before coming home, a rocket-launched grenade barely missed him, Mr. Shultz said.
It was a stateside injury during combat training right after his Afghanistan tour that ultimately resulted in his retirement from the military after breaking a leg and ankle that didn't heal well enough for him to run again. Mr. Shultz also served with an infantry regiment known as The Old Guard, which conducts ceremonies and special events to represent the Army, after his tours were over.
His injuries, he said, have impacted his everyday life.
The traumatic brain injury affects his short-term memory and the PTSD limits his ability to attend functions that involve crowds of people.
"I'm constantly on alert, constantly on guard," he said. "I can't deal with large crowds." A fun day at the zoo with his children or attending school functions are no longer options for him because it will bring on an anxiety attack, Mr. Shultz said.
Mr. Shultz, 28, hopes he will eventually get back into the workforce and is applying for a vocational rehabilitation program to get a college education and become a wildlife biologist.
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 $30.6 billion as of March 31, 2014, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 900 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information, visit the FHLB Dallas website at fhlb.com.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
