Family Rebuilds after Hurricane Ida with $15K Grant from FHLB Dallas and Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Funds Used to Install Roof Resilient to Severe Weather

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans nearly four years ago, Arnold and Judy Dunn’s roof sustained significant damage, leaving their home in a vulnerable state. Mr. Dunn received a $15,000 Disaster Rebuilding Assistance (DRA) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through FHLB Dallas member Gulf Coast Bank & Trust to install a new FORTIFIED roof, which is designed to withstand damage from hurricanes, high winds, hail and severe thunderstorms.

Administered through FHLB Dallas member institutions, DRA provides grants for the repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of owner-occupied housing affected by disaster events in federally declared disaster areas within FHLB Dallas’s five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.

“This grant saved me and my family’s life,” Mr. Dunn said. “I went through issues with insurance, and I was stuck with nothing. The grant brought my spirits up and lifted me out of a difficult situation.

Mr. Dunn, now retired, worked in various roles at a Louisiana shipyard for 30 years and has lived in his New Orleans, Louisiana, home for nearly 50 years. He and his wife raised their four children there, and the home remains a gathering place for their family, including their 10 grandchildren.

“We’ve seen firsthand the difference that FHLB Dallas DRA grants can make in people’s lives,” said Jason Shields, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust vice president. “These funds help families rebuild their homes while restoring a sense of stability and peace of mind.”

Since 2024, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust has awarded nearly $347,000 in FHLB Dallas DRA grants.

“Members like Gulf Coast Bank & Trust play a critical role in helping residents recover and prepare for future storms,” said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and Director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. “Together, we’re making a lasting impact by supporting people during some of their most challenging times.”

For 2025, FHLB Dallas set aside $4 million for the DRA program, with the next $2 million round available beginning September 2.

“Thank goodness for this grant,” said Mr. Dunn. “I love my new roof.”

Learn more about DRA.

About Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company was founded in 1883, offering several personal & business banking services to the communities in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, surrounding the Southeast Louisiana areas and Florida. Banking services include checking and savings accounts with online and mobile banking options as well as personal loans, home loans, business loans, and trust and brokerage services. Our mission is to strengthen our relationship with our customers by combining the values of old-fashioned community banking that focus on individualized customer service with innovative, competitive banking products and trust and brokerage services. Simply put, we are The Bank That Cares About You!

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 $116.1 billion as of June 30, 2025, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.