SNAP Grant Provides Roof Repairs for Natchez Historic Home

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Apr 09, 2015, 12:18 ET

NATCHEZ, Miss., April 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For more than two decades, Angela Singleton worked at the oldest hotel in Natchez, Mississippi, as a desk clerk, in the restaurant, and then as the director of sales. Now Ms. Singleton, 56, is partially blind and unable to work after three strokes and a heart attack.

Natchez homeowner Angela Singleton, 56, is partially blind and unable to work after three strokes and a heart attack. Living on limited income, she could not afford critical roof and fireplace repairs to her historic 1890 home. Ms. Singleton applied for and was awarded a $4,362 Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) grant from Home Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.

Living on limited income, she could not afford needed repairs to her historic 1890 home in Natchez. It had fallen into disrepair, especially the roof, which had holes wide enough to create real problems. "When it started to rain, I would move things around in the house to keep them dry," Ms. Singleton said.

She looked for agencies to help her. Then she learned about the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) grant, offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through its member institutions, including Home Bank in Natchez. The program provides grants to assist income-qualified, special-needs homeowners with necessary home repairs and modifications.

Home Bank Senior Vice President and Mississippi Market President Deanna Bowser said she appreciates the opportunity to partner with FHLB Dallas in the allocation of SNAP grant funds. "We are thankful that Ms. Singleton received the roof repairs she needed, and we were able to be part of the solution via SNAP," she said. "The program reaches out to in-need residents of Natchez, and we are pleased to be a part of it."

To obtain help with her SNAP application, Ms. Singleton went to city hall and met with James Johnston, City of Natchez community development director. A grant of $4,362 from Home Bank and FHLB Dallas paid for the repair of Ms. Singleton's slate roof and the installation of flashing around her fireplace.

Mr. Johnston said the city is happy to assist a family that needs assistance. "Ms. Singleton's home is located in one of the historic districts in Natchez," he said. "The SNAP program has provided a venue to help our homeowners living on fixed incomes, as well as to preserve history by preventing the city's historic homes from deteriorating."

Ms. Singleton said the SNAP grant helped her tremendously.

"I have a limited income and never would have been able to save up to have the repairs done," she said. "I am so grateful for Home Bank and the City of Natchez."

Home Bank Vice President and Business Development Officer Patricia Bonds works with Mr. Johnston to facilitate the grant program. She said SNAP is a benefit to many families in Natchez. "Home Bank is a community bank, and we are pleased to partner with FHLB Dallas for the disbursement of SNAP funds to help individuals and families in need."

Since SNAP's inception in 2009, nearly $9.2 million has been awarded in grants through FHLB Dallas member institutions to assist 1,846 families across FHLB Dallas' five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas.

"A cornerstone of FHLB Dallas is to support affordable housing in our members' communities," said Greg Hettrick, vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "SNAP was developed to provide income-qualified, special-needs homeowners to maintain and care for their homes. We are honored to support the program."

About Home Bancorp

Home Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Home Bank, National Association, a nationally chartered bank headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana. Home Bank, N.A. offers a full range of deposit and loan products through 27 banking centers in growing regions of Louisiana and Mississippi: Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, the Northshore (of Lake Pontchartrain), Natchez, and Vicksburg. Home Bancorp, Inc. trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "HBCP".

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 $38 billion as of December 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 fhlb.com.

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

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SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas