TUPELO, Miss., May 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geraldine Payne was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and has lived in the city her entire life.
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Now 80, and living in a 42-year-old house, she was very nervous when the weather was bad, as every time it rained the electrical fuses blew and the power shut off.
"I was afraid that a fire would start," said Ms. Payne. "The electrical system was not safe. Also my back door was loose and it was not holding in the heat or the air conditioning."
Ms. Payne heard about the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) from her neighbor. 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 necessary home repairs and modifications.
Ms. Payne called the city of Tupelo and spoke with Lynda Ford, community development specialist for the city.
"Ms. Payne is a long-time resident of Tupelo, and has contributed a lot to this city during those years," said Ms. Ford. "The electrical system in her house was extremely dangerous. We put in a new panel box and added new outlets. We also replaced the back door, the flashing on the chimney, and the boots and vents on the roof. The city is so grateful for the SNAP grant program, as we are able to make critical home repairs for many of our low-income residents, who do not have the financial resources to make them on their own."
Ms. Payne qualified for a $5,000 SNAP grant, which was funded through FHLB Dallas member institution, BancorpSouth Bank.
"BancorpSouth Bank has been using SNAP since it was first available in 2009," said Chip Ashford, vice president at BancorpSouth Bank. "The city of Tupelo has been a valuable partner in disbursing the funds in our community. We are proud to be a part of their efforts, and are always happy to go above our banking duties and give back to those in need."
Ms. Payne is no longer nervous about the condition of her home.
"The contractors were very thorough, and they came back after it was all done to make sure I was happy with the work," said Ms. Payne. "Now I feel much safer in my home, and I don't worry when I hear the sound of rain and thunder."
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 BancorpSouth Bank
BancorpSouth Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BancorpSouth, Inc., operates 292 commercial banking, mortgage, and insurance locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, including an insurance location in Illinois.
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.
