JACKSON, Miss., April 30, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gateway Rescue Mission will celebrate the grand opening of its New Life Center in Mendenhall, Mississippi, today, April 30, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss) will be the keynote speaker at the event, and representatives from FHLB Dallas, BankPlus, and Gateway Rescue Mission will attend.
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Gateway Rescue Mission's New Life Program was established in the early 1990s in a former hotel building in Magee, Mississippi. The original facility offered accommodations for approximately 30 homeless men. The new facility, the New Life Center, has the capacity to accept up to 52 men.
"Gateway's mission, which is built on a foundation of faith, gives hope to homeless people living in the Jackson area by providing them a helping hand that can have life-changing results," said Congressman Gregg Harper.
In 2008, Gateway Rescue Mission was awarded a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from BankPlus and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas). The grant funds were originally planned to assist with renovations to the old hotel building, but due to the costs and the extent of the necessary work, Gateway Rescue Mission decided to build rather than renovate the existing property. The grant funds were then applied toward construction costs.
Gateway Rescue Mission Executive Director Rex Baker said the New Life Center will serve as a sort of halfway house for homeless men seeking a new life.
"This new and modern facility will meet our housing needs for years to come," said Mr. Baker.
Mark Ouellette, vice president and director of affordable housing at BankPlus in Jackson, worked directly with Gateway Rescue Mission to obtain the grant.
"Gateway Rescue Mission is a well-known and well-respected organization in our community," said Mr. Ouellette. "When we learned about the condition of their existing facility, we immediately began exploring options to help them. Because the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas has been such an important community partner in the past, we submitted a grant request to assist Gateway's needs. The realization of this new facility validates the importance of working together for the benefit of all."
The total cost of the New Life Center is approximately $650,000. Gateway Rescue Mission was able to cover the remaining costs thanks to the dedication of its staff and local supporters.
Each year, FHLB Dallas returns 10 percent of its profits in the form of AHP grants issued through its member financial institutions. In 2009, FHLB Dallas awarded $10.5 million in AHP grants to 48 affordable housing projects in its five-state District, including more than $3.5 million in Mississippi, which will result in the creation or renovation of 425 affordable housing units in the state.
About Gateway Rescue Mission
Gateway Rescue Mission strives to meet the physical and spiritual needs of homeless men in Jackson and surrounding areas. Gateway's services include an overnight shelter, three meals per day, daily chapel services, the New Life Program, and a thrift store. Through its New Life Program, Gateway Rescue Mission offers a peaceful setting for homeless men to start a new life through Christianity. Gateway also partners with a local college to help its residents earn a GED high school equivalence diploma. Other programs include financial instruction, detoxification services, and life skills training.
About BankPlus
BankPlus, with total assets of more than $2 billion, has over 60 banking offices in 33 Mississippi communities. In addition to its Belzoni Main Office, other BankPlus offices are located in Bentonia, Brandon, Byram, Canton, Clinton, D'Iberville, Durant, Flora, Flowood, Gluckstadt, Hernando, Holly Bluff, Horn Lake, Isola, Jackson, Lexington, Madison, Meridian, Newton, Olive Branch, Pearl, Picayune, Pickens, Poplarville, Quitman, Ridgeland, Shubuta, Southaven, Stonewall, Tchula, Waynesboro and Yazoo City. For additional information on BankPlus, please visit www.BankPlus.net.
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 $58.7 billion as of March 31, 2010, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to more than 900 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information, visit the FHLB Dallas web site at fhlb.com.
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