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80-Year-Old House Receives Plumbing Repairs, Thanks to Grant
[July 28, 2017]

80-Year-Old House Receives Plumbing Repairs, Thanks to Grant


Until recently, Mary Simmons, a 62-year-old retired cook, lived in an 80-year-old house with no plumbing in one of her bathrooms. After not using her bathroom for three years, she knew she needed help but didn't know how to pay for the repairs on her fixed income.

Ms. Simmons, who has lived in her home for 15 years, found out about the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) through a friend, who encouraged her to apply for a grant to assist with her home repairs.

"I prayed, then I got up and went to apply for the grant," said Ms. Simmons. "I am so glad that I did that."

Ms. Simmons was awarded a $5,000 SNAP grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and BNA Bank, which repaired the plumbing of her bathroom and added a light to her back door. SNAP grants assist income-qualified, special-needs homeowners with necessary home repairs and modifications. The grants are awarded by FHLB Dallas through participating member institutions, such as BNA Bank.

"Being a community bank gives us the ability to serve those in our community like Ms. Simmons," said Bob Spencer, executive vice president and CFO at BNA Bank. "We're thankful for our partnership with FHLB Dallas and programs such as SNAP."

Since SNAP's inception in 2009, more than $11.6 million has been awarded in grants through FHLB Dallas member instituions to assist more than 2,300 families across FHLB Dallas' five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. In 2016, FHLB Dallas awarded nearly $1 million in SNAP grants that assisted 205 families. The $1.5 million in 2017 SNAP funding, made available in January on a first-come, first-served basis, has been exhausted.



"SNAP was created to help our members provide assistance to special-needs individuals in the community," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "FHLB Dallas is proud to partner with BNA Bank to invest in our community."

Ms. Simmons said her life is better now after receiving the repairs.


"This experience has changed my life tremendously," said Ms. Simmons. "My half bathroom has been closed for three years and now I can finally use it!"

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

About BNA Bank

BNA Bank, established in 1896, is a state-chartered bank with approximately $480 million in assets. BNA's main office and two branch offices are located in New Albany with another branch located in Myrtle, Mississippi and two in Tupelo and Lee County, Mississippi.

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 $62.9 billion as of June 30, 2017, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community investment by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 850 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.


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