Another Black institution on the ropes.

Dwelling House Savings and Loan is in danger of being shut down by the federal agency that regulates S&Ls.

The savings and loan needs $1 million in new money by June 30 to meet the Office of Thrift Supervision's requirements. If that doesn't happen, it could be shut down or sold.

More than one observer has compared Robert R. Lavelle to the character of George Bailey in the Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." Like George Bailey, Mr. Lavelle has led a financial institution that has, for decades, made mortgage loans to borrowers whom other lenders would deny, thereby helping those borrowers to become homeowners. That has been Dwelling House's mission, to increase homeownership among those who would otherwise be denied.

Now, also like George Bailey and the Bailey Savings and Loan, Mr. Lavelle and Dwelling House have been victimized by theft on a scale that threatens the institution's survival.

But the closure or sale of Dwelling House is by no means a foregone conclusion. In the movie, the savings and loan was saved by friends and neighbors who chipped in to help when they learned about the trouble.

And here let us make some important distinctions. Every one who chipped in did so freely, from his or her own pocket or purse. The money that saved Bailey Savings and Loan was not taxpayer money. Furthermore, the giving of that money was a matter, not simply of helping, but of repaying. The people who blessed George Bailey with that basket of cash were people who had been blessed by him over the decades.

Those of us who have been blessed by Robert R. Lavelle and Dwelling House can save Dwelling House, just as those who had been blessed by George Bailey saved the Bailey Savings and Loan (I say "us" because I have worked at both Dwelling House and Lavelle Real Estate, Inc. and have considered Mr. Lavelle a good friend for upwards of 20 years).

How can we save Dwelling House? Depends on who we are. If we have a mortgage with Dwelling House and we're delinquent, we can come current, or make a payment to reduce our delinquency. If we have a mortgage with Dwelling House and we're current, we can pay ahead according to our ability. If we have an savings account with Dwelling House (I'm in this group), we can make a deposit. If we don't have an account, we can open one.

Please note that I am talking about deposits, not about gifts. The way for us to save Dwelling House is by doing business with Dwelling House.

Why should we bother? Because if we don't, somebody we know may find it a lot harder to buy a house next year, or five years from now, or ten years from now. The U.S. Census Bureau says that in 2000, the homeownership rate for white Americans was 71 percent, while for blacks it was 46 percent. We need more Dwelling Houses; we cannot afford to lose the one we have.

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