Arsenal Credit Union backs Veterans Community Project with $20,000 grant

Arsenal Credit Union and FHLB Des Moines are sending a $20,000 Member Impact Fund grant to Veterans Community Project of St. Louis to support housing and services for veterans. The funding is meant to expand tiny-home shelter and help veterans move toward stability and independence.

Why it matters: - The $20,000 grant supports efforts to reduce veteran homelessness in St. Louis. - The funding will help Veterans Community Project expand safe housing and connect veterans with job help, benefits guidance and other services. - Arsenal Credit Union is using the grant to direct more resources to a local nonprofit focused on housing stability.

What happened: - Arsenal Credit Union, in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, announced that Veterans Community Project will receive a $20,000 grant through the Member Impact Fund. - The announcement was made Aug. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. - The grant reflects Arsenal Credit Union’s effort to support local organizations that strengthen the communities it serves.

The details: - The Member Impact Fund provides matching funds to FHLB Des Moines member institutions. - The program is designed to help members increase community impact and support local needs. - Veterans Community Project of St. Louis provides transitional tiny-home housing for veterans. - The organization also offers support services aimed at long-term stability and independence. - The grant will help expand housing and connect veterans with employment assistance, benefits navigation and other critical support. - Deshauna Barber-Echols, executive director of Veterans Community Project, said the partnership is an investment in veterans and thanked Arsenal Credit Union for supporting the mission.

Between the lines: - The grant shows how community banking partnerships can turn matching-fund programs into direct support for local nonprofits. - The focus on housing plus wraparound services suggests the effort is aimed at more than temporary shelter. - Arsenal Credit Union is aligning the grant with a broader community-service message, while Veterans Community Project is framing the money as mission-critical support.

What's next: - Veterans Community Project is expected to use the grant to broaden housing access and strengthen support services for veterans in St. Louis. - Arsenal Credit Union and FHLB Des Moines can continue using the Member Impact Fund to channel future grants to member communities. - The nonprofit’s next step is likely to be expanded service delivery as additional resources come in.