Houston woman gets $4,300 SNAP grant for necessary home repairs

Wanda Richardson has been living on disability income since first being diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis 15 years ago. The high cost of covering her health care has made it difficult for her to finance needed home repairs.

Living in an old home that belonged to her parents, Ms. Richardson said the structure was falling apart from age and disrepair. Several years ago, she applied for a loan to make repairs but didn't qualify. In the meantime, the home continued to deteriorate.

Then she learned about the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and its member institution, Green Bank. A $4,300 SNAP grant helped Ms. Richardson get her home's foundation repaired.

"The house had gotten to the point where it was leaning on one side and sitting on the ground in the back," Ms. Richardson said. "It caused problems with the doors, and they wouldn't close right. The house was basically falling apart."

With the SNAP grant, a contractor was able to stabilize the home's foundation, add termite shields, repair the subflooring in the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and hall, and install new flooring in those rooms.

Ms. Richardson said she is thankful for the help. "It makes the house a whole lot more livable," she said. "I moved out of it temporarily until they did the work because it had gotten so bad."

Rebuilding Together Houston assisted Ms. Richardson with the SNAP application process. The organization has partnered with Green Bank for several years to facilitate the awarding of SNAP grants to eligible residents.

James Soller, executive director of Rebuilding Together Houston, said the program helps people who need repairs affecting their health and safety.

"Our senior citizens are living on fixed incomes and often can't afford costly repairs like the stabilization of a foundation, which Ms. Richardson's home needed," he said. "SNAP helps people whose incomes simply can't stretch far enough to finance these crucial but often expensive repairs."

Dave Matthews, executive vice president and CRA officer for Green Bank, said the bank believes strongly in community outreach.

"We have great partners in FHLB Dallas and Rebuilding Together Houston, and we are thankful for the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the quality of life for residents in Houston and surrounding communities."

Since SNAP's inception in 2009, nearly $9.2 million in grants has been awarded through FHLB Dallas member institutions to assist 1,846 families across FHLB Dallas' five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas.

"FHLB Dallas is pleased to offer the SNAP program to our members," said Greg Hettrick, vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "It allows them to provide grants for necessary home repairs and modifications to income-qualified, special-needs homeowners in their communities."