SNAP Grant Awarded to Hattiesburg Senior to Repair Floors

The First and FHLB Dallas Awarded $6,000 to Repair Mississippi Home

A $6K Special Needs Assistance Program grant from The First, A National Banking Association and FHLB Dallas funded the repair of a Hattiesburg senior's home. (Photo: Business Wire)

HATTIESBURG, Miss.--()--For more than 50 years, Rodell Pittman spent his life working for a construction company, a phone company and driving 18-wheelers across Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia. Now a church deacon and a part-time pharmacy clerk, the 78-year-old has found it increasingly difficult to cover the upkeep of his 100-year-old house.

The problems started when Mr. Pittman realized that his kitchen sink was leaking and damaging the floor in his kitchen. The damage went much farther into his house, also affecting his bathroom floor, as well as the floor in the back room of the house. After learning about the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) grant at a city council meeting, Mr. Pittman applied right away.

Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, SNAP grants provide funding for the repair and rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing of eligible, special-needs individuals, who can qualify for the grants based on age, disabilities, income and other eligibility standards.

The $6,000 grant awarded to Mr. Pittman from The First, A National Banking Association and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) replaced his kitchen, bathroom and backroom floors, and provided funding for new kitchen cabinets.

“I would do it myself, but my knees aren’t as good as they used to be,” said Mr. Pittman. “It is such a blessing to me that I received this grant.”

Since SNAP’s inception in 2009, more than $13.1 million has been awarded in grants through FHLB Dallas’ member institutions to assist more than 2,600 families across FHLB Dallas’ five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. The $2 million in 2018 SNAP funding, made available in January on a first-come, first-served basis, has been exhausted.

“When we are able to partner with banks like The First and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas we are able to do more for the people of Hattiesburg,” said Petra Wingo, executive director of Twin Forks Rising Community Development Corporation. “They give us the opportunity to be more involved in our work in the community.”

Ms. Wingo facilitated the grant application process for Mr. Pittman and oversaw the repairs to his home, alongside the contractor.

“SNAP has helped many of our elderly and disabled citizens in Hattiesburg, which is our home market,” said Jerome Brown, senior vice president and director of Community Development. “Without our partnership with FHLB Dallas, many in this community would not have had critical repairs done to their homes.”

Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas, said SNAP is designed to improve the lives of the elderly and those with special needs.

“SNAP allows us to impact the community through our members,” said Mr. Hettrick. “In collaboration with The First, A National Banking Association, we are happy to make a difference in the lives of in-need citizens.”

To learn more about SNAP, visit fhlb.com/snap.

About The First, A National Banking Association

The First, A National Banking Association, headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, began as a dream on a back porch in South Mississippi. A group of local businessmen talked about creating a bank that would take care of business by taking care of people one customer at a time... and The First was born. Now, that dream has grown from a back porch to cities and towns all over South Mississippi, South Alabama, and Louisiana. The First is more than a bank...because it is still a group of friends building relationships and taking care of business one customer at a time! The First currently has 62 locations and assets exceeding $2.5 billion.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $75.9 billion as of June 30, 2018, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community investment by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 825 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

Contacts

Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
Corporate Communications, 214-441-8445
fhlb.com

Release Summary

A $6K Special Needs grant from The First, A National Banking Association and FHLB Dallas funded the repair of a Hattiesburg senior's home.

Contacts

Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
Corporate Communications, 214-441-8445
fhlb.com