JEANERETTE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inheriting a home comes with its share of pros and cons, as 74-year-old retired tractor driver Joseph Barabin and his wife, Pearly, 70, quickly realized. But, thanks to a recently awarded Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) grant of $5,500 from the First National Bank of Jeanerette and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, the couple has been able to fund the much-needed repairs to help them enjoy their home.
Mr. Barabin acquired his childhood home after his parents passed away more than a decade ago. He suffered a stroke soon after that left him partially paralyzed, with an inability to speak or walk. His recovery and rehabilitation took priority over home repairs. It was not long until the couple found themselves unable to afford the accumulation of repairs needed for the home.
“Our house was in bad shape before being awarded the grant,” Mrs. Barabin said. “You couldn’t step foot on our floors in the rooms without the wood panels lifting up. I even stopped cooking because the kitchen cabinets could not hold anything. We are thankful for the renovations made to our house through this grant program.”
The grant repaired falling cabinet doors in the kitchen, repaired detaching walls and an unhinged door in the den. One of the key updates made to the Barabins’ home was the installation of a wheelchair ramp at their front door to improve Mr. Barabin’s accessibility to the home.
SNAP grants are awarded through members like First National Bank of Jeanerette to provide grant funds for repair and rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing of eligible, special-needs individuals. Since SNAP’s inception in 2009, more than $15.1 million has been awarded in grants through FHLB Dallas member institutions to assist more than 3,000 families across FHLB Dallas’ five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
“We maintain our partnership with FHLB Dallas because it is a sure way to make a difference in communities every chance we get,” said Lionel Metz, security and banking officer at First National Bank of Jeanerette. “SNAP is a great fit with our mission. We are able to magnify the impact we have on communities because of our partnership with FHLB Dallas and subsequent access to its community investment programs.”
In 2018, FHLB Dallas awarded $2 million in SNAP grants that assisted 355 families. FHLB Dallas has set aside $2.25 million of its 2019 Affordable Housing Program funds for SNAP. The funds were exhausted in January.
“It is gratifying to be able to work with member institutions, like First National Bank of Jeanerette, that show a continuous commitment to making a positive impact on the community at a local level,” said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.
“This program is beneficial to the community because it helps people who cannot do for themselves,” Mrs. Barabin said.
To learn more about SNAP, visit fhlb.com/snap.
About First Bank of Jeanerette
First National Bank of Jeanerette (First National Bank) has been defining true community banking for the past 114 years, with continuing service to the communities it serves. When the founders of First National Bank opened the doors of the business in 1905, they did so with a commitment to the principles of independent banking, exceptional service, responsive bankers and value in the accounts and financial services offered. Since 2009, the bank has been honored to offer customers and non-customers the opportunity to receive funding that enabled them to have much needed repairs to their home. Although serving as an independent community bank, First National Bank may be viewed as a small bank to some, but it will always match favorably with many large regional banks with respect to products, services, technologies and loan expertise.
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 $72.8 billion as of December 31, 2018, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 825 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information.
