BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss., May 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For years, Dorothy and Morris Treadway, both in their mid-70s, struggled to do routine chores around their multi-level home. Their kitchen and laundry room are located on the second floor of their house, and neither of them were comfortable maneuvering up and down the stairs carrying grocery items or a laundry basket.
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Their limited income presented little hope of affording home renovations to improve their mobility around the home. The couple's disabled adult son also lives with them and helps as much as possible; but with the loss of a leg, he is unable to help with many of the routine chores.
The family approached Hancock Resource Center (HRC) in hope of assistance. HRC has worked diligently to help qualified, low-income families get back on their feet and make critical home repairs and modifications since the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. HRC is a local, nonprofit and HUD-approved organization that provides free services to improve or replace damaged housing and promote new affordable housing.
Along with other funding sources, HRC leverages grants through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas's Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) to assist with the costs associated with rehabilitating many of the homes. SNAP grants are made available through FHLB Dallas member financial institutions, such as The First, A National Banking Association (The First), to assist income-qualified, special needs homeowners with necessary home repairs and modifications.
"The Hancock Resource Center is excited to help clients like the Treadways live independently in their homes," said Rhonda Dean Rhodes, president and executive director at HRC. "The SNAP program is a great fit for us because it is accessible and very easy to use. It helped provide the funding needed to help this delightful couple."
With assistance from Jerome Brown, vice president and director of community development at The First, the Treadways qualified for a $5,000 SNAP grant. The SNAP grant, along with additional funding provided by the United Way of South Mississippi, enabled the Treadways to construct a lift and easily transport items, such as laundry and groceries, from the ground floor to the second floor. The lift has greatly improved the safety of the home for the entire family.
The First has been an active advocate of FHLB Dallas's grant programs, and has already reached the maximum amount of $60,000 in SNAP funds that a single FHLB Dallas member can apply for annually.
"The First is extremely happy to partner with community organizations such as HRC," said Mr. Brown. "HRC provides a service that aids the quality of life for Hancock County residents that continue to be impacted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."
In 2011, FHLB Dallas made $2.1 million in SNAP funding available to its members, and another $1.35 million was made available in 2012. For more information, visit the FHLB Dallas website at fhlb.com.
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 $34.2 billion as of March 31, 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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