Many large mortgage lenders and banks are shying away from subprime mortgages, leaving much of the lending to credit unions. These institutions are not funded through securitization and thus can afford to make the loans to qualified individuals. Since many of them are not experiencing the credit crunch (thanks to consistent lending standards), the can afford to maintain the same standards and not suddenly tighten them. As a result, they may be an excellent source of funding for those looking to obtain non-traditional mortgages to stay afloat.

From the Wall Street Journal:
When it looked like Candido Rodrigues would lose his home, he was rescued by an unexpected source: a credit union. Like many homeowners caught in the credit crunch, Mr. Rodrigues, a social worker, faced rising interest rates on his subprime mortgage. Eventually, he couldn't afford the $2,800 monthly payments, not even with a second job. Banks weren't willing to refinance the mortgage. They gave him lots of excuses -- not enough equity, not enough salary. He didn't expect a credit union would either -- he wasn't even a member -- but it refinanced his home on terms that allowed him to stay afloat.