$28K PGP Grant Awarded to Northshore Housing Initiative
Four Banks Partnered to Provide Partnership Grant Program Funds
COVINGTON, La.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Northshore Housing Initiative (NHI) makes homeownership a reality for
low- to moderate-income families seeking affordable workforce housing.
The organization received a $28,000 Partnership Grant Program (PGP)
award during a check presentation yesterday at the Northshore Community
Foundation office in Covington, Louisiana.
Since its founding in 2001, NHI, a community land trust, has made buying
a house an affordable reality for 17 families. A $1.2 million grant in
2014 from St. Tammany Parish provided the initial funding to help
families buy homes, and the organization is still using those initial
funds to help homebuyers.
Executive Director Jennifer Dexter said NHI will use the PGP grant for
operational sustainability, a paid marketing intern and other expenses.
“We want to provide the opportunity for individuals and families to
actually live and work in the same community,” Ms. Dexter said. “So many
people commute to St. Tammany Parish because they cannot afford to live
here. Others are housing-cost burdened and paying very high rent. With
the help of NHI, many could actually own their home and build equity for
significantly lower monthly costs, typically between $650 and $850 per
month.”
NHI’s housing program is available to individuals earning less than 80
percent area median income (AMI) adjusted for family size. Using a
shared equity model, the initiative invests in the land where the home
is located and leases the land to the homebuyer via a 99-year lease that
includes a resale formula to ensure affordability is preserved for the
next buyer.
Homes purchased through NHI typically cost $30,000 to $40,000 less than
the market rate value.
“We fully support NHI’s mission to provide affordable workforce housing
in the St. Tammany community; it’s a mission that is more critical than
ever in today’s environment of rising home prices,” said Home Bank’s
Community Reinvestment Act Director Brandon Kelly.
Hancock Whitney Bank Assistant Vice President of Community Affairs and
CRA Manager Ashley Harrison said the bank believes NHI has a proven
model to keep homeownership affordable.
“NHI’s shared equity model means these homes will continue to be
affordable for future generations, making homeownership possible for so
many,” Ms. Harrison said.
Kenneth Crenshaw, senior vice president and CRA lending manager at
IBERIABANK, said the bank has been a long-time supporter of community
reinvestment initiatives.
“IBERIABANK is committed to the communities in which we serve. We
continue to invest in low-moderate income service areas, and we are
proud to work with Northshore Housing Initiative to increase the
accessibility and affordability in St. Tammany Parish,” said Mr.
Crenshaw.
Duane Abadie, president of First Bank & Trust, said the bank believes
homeownership builds stable communities.
“We think helping more families achieve the American Dream is good for
our communities, and we are pleased to support NHI’s mission to make
that happen,” Mr. Abadie said.
FHLB Dallas has awarded $300,000 in PGP funds this year through 31
member institutions to assist 32 community-based organizations. Combined
with the $114,010 contributed by FHLB Dallas members, a total of
$414,010 has been awarded to the organizations.
“Many thanks to our member institutions First Bank & Trust, Hancock
Whitney Bank, Home Bank and IBERIABANK,” said Greg Hettrick, first vice
president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. “They’ve
taken the lead and made it possible for FHLB Dallas to partner with them
to improve affordable housing options for Northshore residents.”
To learn more about the Partnership Grant Program or other Community
Investment programs from FHLB Dallas, visit fhlb.com/community.
About First Bank and Trust
With approximately $931 million in assets, First Bank and Trust is a
state chartered bank based in New Orleans, Louisiana, with banking and
mortgage locations throughout South Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
About Hancock Whitney Bank
Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor
& Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal
Responsibility. Part of Hancock Whitney Corporation’s Gulf South
financial services family, bank offices and financial centers in
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive
financial products and services, including traditional and online
banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust
and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services;
and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production
office in Nashville, Tennessee. BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s
leading independent bank rating and analysis firm, consistently
recommends Hancock Whitney as one of America’s most financially sound
banks. More information is available at hancockwhitney.com.
About Home Bank
With 39 locations across South Louisiana and Western Mississippi, Home
Bank is committed to serving the needs of its communities. Personal
banking has always been Home Bank’s trademark, and that tradition
continues as the company grows, invests and serves its clients and
community. For more information about Home Bank, visit home24bank.com.
About IBERIABANK
IBERIABANK Corp. is a financial holding company with 335 combined
offices, including 228 bank branch offices and one loan production
office in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Florida,
Georgia, and South Carolina.
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