Cancer Survivor Gets Help on Home Repair with SNAP Grant

NATCHEZ, Miss., July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --  Martha Credit feels blessed that her cancer is in remission, but it's been a tough road getting there.

Mrs. Credit, 78, received her diagnosis in 2012 and had surgery in 2013. Her treatment has included multiple rounds of chemotherapy and 31 days of radiation. Still, prognosis is good, and for that, she is thankful.

But medical care is costly for a couple living on a fixed income, and Mrs. Credit's husband, Henry, 83, also has medical issues, including diabetes.

Mrs. Credit said she learned about the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) through the newspaper and decided to apply because her roof was falling in.

SNAP is offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through its member institutions. The program provides grants to assist income-qualified, special needs homeowners with much-needed home repairs and modifications.

"We needed our house repaired and we are elderly and we don't have the money to do it ourselves," Mrs. Credit said.

Mrs. Credit qualified for a $6,000 SNAP grant, which was funded through FHLB Dallas member institution, Home Bank. The funding provided the Credits with a new roof.

"I tell you. We felt like it was a godsend because we couldn't have done it ourselves. We are old and sick," Mrs. Credit said.

Deanna L. Bowser, Mississippi Market president of Home Bank, said the bank was happy to be in a position to help.

"No one should have to live with a roof falling in over their heads," she said. "SNAP does a great service to the people of Natchez."

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said the city has partnered with two local banks and FHLB Dallas over the past several years to assist 40 homeowners.

"SNAP funding enables our low-income residents to get much needed help on costly home repairs that affect their health and safety," he said.

Since SNAP's inception in 2009, more than $7.3 million in grants have been awarded through FHLB Dallas member institutions to assist 1,464 families throughout FHLB Dallas' five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. To learn more about SNAP and other FHLB Dallas programs, visit fhlb.com.

About Home Bank

Home Bank was originally chartered in 1908 as Home Building and Loan and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Today it is one of the nation's most stable lending and financial institutions, building on the future by doing what's right for their customers today.  Personal banking and being involved in the community have always been their trademark.  With 27 locations across South Louisiana and Mississippi, Home Bank is driving the economy, expanding opportunities and preparing for the future.  Home Bank acquired Natchez-based Britton & Koontz Bank in February of this year.

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.

Contact:

Corporate Communications
Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
www.fhlb.com
(214) 441-8445

SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas