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BAPTISTCARE Warilla North Community Centre marked a million-dollar milestone last week in its efforts to break the cycle of poverty and debt in Australia.
Through the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS), BaptistCare has provided more than 1110 low-income households from Windang to Gerringong with access to money since first established in 2008.
NILS offer people suffering financial hardship or exclusion with restrictive loans for everyday and unexpected expenses, avoiding the use of pay-day lenders and pawnbrokers.
Senior NILS co-ordinator at Warilla North BaptistCare Lynne Payne said single parents, pensioners and those on a disability pension were the primary users of the program.
"It's responsible lending, with no fees and no interest," she said.
"We also look at people's budget and we refer those who are financially struggling to services such as Centrelink or Legal Aid."
NILS is an initiative of Good Sheppard microfinance and loans are provided for up to $1200 to low-income earners and people on centrelink benefits.
More: baptistcare.org.au.
