TUPELO, Miss., May 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Luvenia Payton taught high school in Mississippi for more than 32 years. Now 75, and retired for many years, she couldn't afford the critical repairs to her 50-year-old home in Tupelo, Mississippi.
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"I am so grateful for my new roof," said Ms. Payton. "I had two dark circles on my ceiling from where the rain had leaked through the roof and I watched them get bigger and bigger. I heard about the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) from my brother, who had repairs done on his home through the SNAP grant program. I talked to Lynda Ford at the city of Tupelo, filled out the paperwork, and got on the waiting list. It took a while, but thankfully I made it to the top of the list."
The city worked with BNA Bank, an FHLB Dallas member institution, to access SNAP funding. Ms. Payton qualified for a $5,000 SNAP grant to replace her roof and make additional repairs.
"Ms. Payton needed an entire new roof on her house, plus some other repairs which on her teacher's pension she could not afford," said Lynda Ford, community development specialist for the city of Tupelo. "In addition to the new roof, we installed a new front door, some fascia board, and new soffit on her house. The city could not make these essential repairs for our low-income residents without the SNAP grants provided by FHLB Dallas."
FHLB Dallas has awarded $57,656 in SNAP grants in 2014 to BNA Bank to assist 12 individuals.
"BNA Bank is proud to be able to be a part of the SNAP grant program and to assist people in our community in difficult situations," said Bob Spencer, senior vice president and chief financial officer at BNA Bank. "This is a quick and efficient way to get funds to these people, so that they can make the needed repairs to their homes and get back on their feet."
Since the program's inception in 2009, more than $7.3 million in SNAP grants have been awarded 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.
"The house looks just beautiful and I am so happy with the work that was done. Everyone involved in the construction did a great job. They even painted the new siding to match the rest of the house. I will sing the praises of this program to anyone who will listen," said Ms. Payton.
In addition, Ms. Payton is grateful that now, she can look through the peephole in her new front door to see who is there before she opens the door.
About BNA Bank
BNA Bank, established in 1896, is a state-chartered bank with approximately $430 million in assets. BNA's main office and two branch offices are located in New Albany, Mississippi, with two other branches located in Myrtle and Belden, Mississippi.
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.
