Loans of up to $2,000 can be soiurced through St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) on the Central Coast to cover services such as car repairs, household items and medical bills
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch MP said these safe, affordable loans can make all the difference during challenging financial circumstances.
“When a large household appliance breaks down and needs replacing, or you’re hit with a sky-high repair bill for your car, it can really rattle your world. It’s fantastic that members of our community experiencing financial stress can get some peace of mind, with access to credit safely and affordably.”
“The last thing you want when you’re under financial pressure is to be caught in the jaws of payday lenders or buy-now-pay-later schemes that can come with severe penalties.”
Vinnies’ No Interest Loans have benefited 60 Coasties during the past year. The number of loan applicants has doubled over the past two years.
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW’s Gosford Regional President Annette Johnstone says Vinnies’ no-interest loans are worth considering before seeking alternative – and often more expensive - options.
“There are no account fees. There are no interest fees. You can generally repay them over two years. With Vinnies’ No Interest Loans, you repay exactly what you’ve borrowed.
“We’ve found that these loans often get people out of a spiral of debt. Because they’re not repaying any more than they’ve borrowed it gives people a financial skill they may not have had before – greater control of their finances.”
Vinnies makes no-interest loans available as a form of community service.
“We are not looking to make any profit from it. As a non-profit organisation serving the community, our primary focus and our motivation is to help people to get the access to safe finance.”
Vinnies’ No Interest Loans Scheme can be used for goods and services such as white-goods, household furniture, educational needs (such as laptops, uniforms and school excursions), car repairs and registration costs, medical bills (like co-payments for specialists).
Eligible applicants must have a Health Care Card or Pension Card, or earn less than $57,000 per year after tax ($75,000 for couples or people with dependents). Other qualifying criteria include living at your current or previous address for more than three months.
Some exceptional circumstances include applicants in transitional housing, people experiencing domestic violence, those in state/community housing transfer, and applicants who have not had an address for an extended period and those struggling to obtain proof of residency.
The loan holder must be able and willing to repay the loan.
Applications can be made by contacting 1800 484 664 (Monday to Friday 9am-3pm) or emailing nils@vinnies.org.au. A member of the Vinnies NSW team will talk interested applicants through the process and request some documents to show they are eligible for a loan.
People who prefer to speak with someone in person, and receive practical assistance with their paperwork from Vinnies can visit the office at 273-275 Mann St, Gosford.
Further information on Vinnies’ No-Interest Loans is available at https://www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/find-help/no-interest-loan-scheme-nils
