When Amanda Edwards saw a Facebook post shared by Linda Weatherford — a trusted friend, representative of the Dumas Housing Taskforce, and key partner and advocate of Communities Unlimited (CU) — she didn’t expect it would lead to a life-changing home repair and a milestone for CU.

What was the post?

It linked to a press release from CU announcing a new Home Improvement Loan Program in Arkansas. Amanda, a lifelong resident of Dumas in Desha County — one of 31 counties in Eastern and Southern Arkansas selected for the program — became the first person in the state to receive a CU Home Improvement Loan. Her loan marked the launch of a much-needed initiative aimed at helping homeowners across the region.

“I was in need of help, so I decided to try it out,” said Amanda, a 35-year-old Clinical IT Technician at Delta Memorial Hospital in Dumas. “It worked out in my favor.”

In February 2025, CU launched its Home Improvement Loan Program in Arkansas, building on a successful small-dollar repair lending model developed in South Texas. Backed by the King Foundation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, the program aims to fill a critical lending gap for rural Arkansas homeowners who need essential repairs but lack access to affordable financing.

CU originally introduced the initiative in 2022 to serve residents in the Colonias of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties in South Texas. By the end of FY24, the program had provided 159 loans totaling over $500,000 — helping families complete urgent repairs that would have otherwise been out of reach. The program’s success prompted its expansion into Arkansas.

Designed for homeowners like Amanda the program supports vital repairs such as plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and flooring. Loans start at $3,500, with the option for additional funding after 12 months of on-time payments. By strategically blending CU’s Lending and Housing Teams, borrowers receive not just financing but also personalized support to ensure long-term housing stability.

Since the program’s launch in Arkansas, CU has received 18 applications from homeowners seeking help with critical repairs.

“I had a bathroom floor with water damage,” Amanda said. “The joists and subfloor had rotted, so I had all of that replaced. I also had to redo the plumbing from the main drain to the cleanout because the cast iron was rusted out. They even found and fixed other plumbing issues that were just really poorly done before I bought the house.”

She said the application process with CU was seamless. Amanda worked with CU Consumer Loan Officer Jesse Saldaña, who manages all Home Improvement Loans.

“It was simple,” she said. “Jesse was friendly. He let me know what he needed and kept me updated the whole time, which I appreciated. It helped keep my anxiety down. I had no issues — it was a breeze.”

CU’s new program arrives at a critical time. Many homes in rural Arkansas suffer from aging infrastructure. Limited income or credit history often makes it hard for homeowners to qualify for traditional financing, even for modest repairs.

“I’d been dealing with the plumbing issue off and on for about a year,” she said. “I didn’t know how bad it was until about six weeks ago, but it’s been a long process. The bathroom had needed work for a long time. Now I have my master bathroom back. I no longer have to worry about backups, clogs, or calling a plumber all the time. That’s a big relief.”

Living alone and managing a mortgage, Amanda said a program like this made a real difference.

“This is a low-income area, and even though I make decent money for the region, it’s not enough to keep a lot in savings for emergencies,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard to find help. So having this program — being able to reach out and actually get support — that means everything. Without it, I probably would have just had to live with those issues for a while.”

Now, she encourages others to take advantage of the opportunity.

“Everyone was kind and helpful, and the process was just so easy,” Amanda continued. “Everything I was told would happen, did happen. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who needs a little help.”

As the first Arkansas loan recipient, Amanda is paving the way for other homeowners — and showing what’s possible with a little support.

“I’m thankful I found out about the program when I did,” she said. “The big takeaway for me is how easy the process was and how grateful I am for the help this program provided.”

CU’s Home Improvement Loan Program is still available to eligible residents in the 31 participating Arkansas counties. To learn more or apply, visit the Home Improvement Loan Application or call 479-443-2700. Help is available — and Amanda’s story proves just how far it can go.