Stories from recent HFLS borrowers…
Health Care Loan
“I immigrated to the United States with my family in 1994 from the Republic of Belarus. I settled in Brooklyn and studied Educational Leadership and Psychology at Brooklyn College. I built a stable and fulfilling career as an educational professional working for the City of New York, where I also volunteered to teach in my free time. Recently, I faced a series of financial and emotional hardships. In 2021, my mother contracted COVID and tragically passed away. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer, which prevented me from working and compelled me to focus on my recovery. During this challenging period, my financial situation became precarious due to the high cost of healthcare treatments and the stress of accumulating debt. Fortunately, I discovered the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS), which provides interest-free loans. I applied for their interest-free Health Care Loan to navigate through this uncertain time.
The HFLS loan officer offered unwavering support, guiding me through the application process and assuring me that they would do everything possible to support me. When I received the loan, it alleviated a significant burden, providing not only financial support but also emotional relief and renewed hope to continue my treatments.
I cannot express enough gratitude to the Hebrew Free Loan Society for their invaluable assistance to New Yorkers like myself. Now, I am on track to regain financial solvency, back to work, and relieved to learn from my recent doctor’s visit that the cancer has not metastasized. The support of this community has given me profound hope.”
–Yevgeniy
Housing Loan
“As my family and I arrived in New York, fleeing war-torn Ukraine, we knew the road ahead would be long. Our goal was to start afresh and pursue our careers in this new city. However, finding housing and setting up a stable home for ourselves and our three children proved to be a challenge.
We had to wait for our work visas to be processed before we could begin working in the United States, leaving us without a steady income during this uncertain period. To cover our basic living expenses, we sought financial assistance. Thankfully, we discovered the Hebrew Free Loan Society, which offered interest-free loans specifically for Ukrainian newcomers like us. We wasted no time and applied for their interest-free Housing Loan, which was approved. Thanks to the financial support from the interest-free loan, our worries about covering our basic living expenses vanished, and we could provide for our children’s needs. This allowed us to rent an apartment in Staten Island and afford a car, which would eventually help me pursue my career as a freelance photographer.
The Hebrew Free Loan Society’s Housing Loan was a true lifeline for our family. It not only helped us overcome the challenges of starting anew in a different country but also provided the stability and confidence to pursue our careers in this new city. We will forever be grateful for the support as we strive for a brighter future for our family.”
-Olesia
Housing Loan
“As a Ukrainian fleeing my home country because of the war, I didn’t prepare to have the funds needed to start a new life in a different country. Everything happened so fast, and unexpectedly.
When I arrived in New York City, I needed to find a place to live, and renting an apartment would require me to pay the 1st and last month’s rent plus security deposit up front. With no salary coming in, I didn’t know where to turn. I had applied for U.S. work authorization, but had not yet received it. All of this created a big obstacle in finding a stable living environment.
Luckily, I heard about the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free Housing loan to help Ukrainians struggling with the New York City housing market. The offer of a $10,000 interest-free loan from HFLS gave me the funds I needed to rent my apartment, and the hope I needed to keep pushing forward with my new life in America. I am truly grateful that a program like this exists. I do not know what I would have done without it. I am so grateful to the supporters of HFLS for making this possible.”
Alex
Vocational Training Loan
“I was pursuing my studies at New York University’s Cyber Security Program when I quickly realized that my full-time job as an Uber driver was negatively affecting my ability to stay up on my coursework. I was trying to follow my passion and change my career, but I couldn’t find the time required to fully devote myself to the program, and I couldn’t afford to do that while staying enrolled at NYU, and covering my basic living expenses.
That’s when a friend referred me to the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free Vocational Loan Program. As an immigrant originally from Algeria, my family always taught me to be motivated and follow my dreams. Borrowing from my family was an option, but would have been a struggle to piece together all of the funds I needed to cover my basic living expenses and the program. I quickly applied for the 0%-interest loan and received the funds I needed to put my job on hold, and focus on my studies.
Thanks to the Hebrew Free Loan Society and its network of generous supporters, I am on track to graduate with my certificate from NYU in less than a year. This opportunity has been life changing for me, and for that I am grateful.”
Bouchra
Undergraduate Loan
“I first heard about the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) during my first year as a Touro University student to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Drawn to the profession’s unique dual-mandate of both healing and empowering patients, I hoped to one day be able to truly change the lives of those suffering from debilitating pain.
The joint-degree program I enrolled in was the perfect program to help me achieve my goal of restoring patients to the best versions of themselves, except for one thing: the cost.
I knew that without significant financial support, I could not afford the high tuition payments. Though there were some scholarships available, they didn’t cover the full cost of attendance, and the other loans available to me had extremely high interest rates that were impossible to ever pay back.
So, when an advisor at Touro told me about HFLS’s 0%-interest Undergraduate Loan Program, it sounded like a much-needed salve for my financial stresses. To be honest, the HFLS loan seemed almost too good to be true, but, after speaking with a loan officer I felt confident enough to submit an application. When I was approved, all of my stresses melted away, allowing me to focus solely on my schooling.
Now, with a year and a half left before graduation, I can be excited about what the future holds, and worry less about paying back high-interest debt to a private lender. I am so grateful to HFLS and its supporters for providing me with this opportunity. I look forward to paying it forward to my community through care and kindness in my career path as a physical therapist.”
Rachel
General Needs Loan
“Five years ago I experienced several traumatic events in quick succession that initiated chronic pain, depression and PTSD, leaving me unable to work for the foreseeable future. After years of seeking effective medical attention from various health professionals, I finally assembled a healthcare team that included, for the first time ever, a psychiatrist who has been proving to be very therapeutic for me. Without this entire team, I would have been unable to manage my symptoms, let alone heal and return to living a full life. Unfortunately, by the time I assembled this wonderful team of healthcare professionals, I found myself for the first time in my life, in need of charity, tzedakah, true Chesed, as I had suddenly and quickly compiled thousands of dollars in high-interest credit card debt from of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses alone. With nowhere else to go, I recalled the Hebrew Free Loan Society. I applied for the HFLS interest-free General Needs Loan of up to $7,500 and received it, allowing me to pay-off my high-interest credit card balance in full. If not for this loan, I don’t know what I would have done. I am grateful to HFLS and its donors for helping me stay afloat during this difficult, yet hopefully temporary time. Because of this support from my community, I am able to continue on my path to a full and speedy recovery. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope to repay your kindness and generosity one day, G-d willing.
Aviva
SMALL BUSINESS LOAN
“When I began experimenting with the creation of French croissants and sourdough breads in the kitchen of my small apartment in 2019, I did not expect to find myself leaving my full-time job to work as the owner and operator of a wildly popular Brooklyn bakery. But, when my wife Ashley tried one of my croissants and was amazed at how delicious they were, she motivated me to try selling them online. What happened next surprised us all!
We decided to put a menu online during the start of the pandemic under the name “L’Appartement 4F,” and we quickly began making online sales, delivering warm pastries all around Brooklyn and beyond. Within a year, we’d surprisingly become so popular that we decided that the next logical step would be to open up an actual brick-and-mortar shop.
The cost of starting our own business and leasing a bakery space however was extremely expensive. In the beginning, we took on some high-interest debt trying to get the business off the ground ourselves, and as the business grew, and our interest compounded, we knew that we needed to find a way to lessen the financial burden so that we could use profits to reinvest in the bakery, not pay off never-ending debt.
That’s when we stumbled upon the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s Small Business Loan Program.
When we did our internet search, we couldn’t believe that there was a 0%-interest business loan that would allow us the flexibility to pay off our debt while simultaneously growing our brand. We quickly applied and were approved!
Now, without the stressful distraction of unreasonably high-interest monthly debt payments, L’Appartement 4F is able to focus on growing its brand and supporting its community. We now employ more than a dozen New Yorkers and are servicing the community that helped to build us.”
GAUTIER & ASHLEY, CO-OWNERS, L’APPARTEMENT 4F
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“Eight years ago, my husband and I were exiled from Ukraine and we moved to America to begin a new life. Finding new career opportunities was very hard because our English was limited. We were grateful at that time to learn about the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free loans to help us through the initial months of getting settled. I am proud we repaid the loan.
Almost a decade later, we found ourselves taking out a new loan – this time to help my husband’s parents relocate from war-torn Ukraine to Brooklyn. The cost of moving my in-laws to America was very expensive. Relocation for refugees often requires several modes of transportation: trains, buses, and airplanes. Then when arriving here, we had to cover the cost of rent, security deposit, and additional fees. Not to mention other basic living expenses like food, new clothes, electricity, and medical bills.
If not for the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s support for New Yorkers with families in Ukraine, I don’t know what we would have done. We would have had to take a high-interest loan from a bank or borrow from friends, potentially straining relationships. We were determined to rescue my husband’s parents no matter the cost. We are grateful to HFLS for allowing us to do so while retaining financial stability and dignity.
GANNA, UKRAINIAN NEW YORKER
HFLS UNDERGRADUATE LOAN BORROWER
“As a Brooklyn native, attending Columbia University had always been a dream of mine. When I was accepted into their Political Science program with a focus on Public Policy I knew it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Fortunately, I received federal loans and scholarships to cover the majority of my tuition, but I still had a remaining balance that I couldn’t afford. Not knowing where to turn, I remembered that my girlfriend took out a higher education loan from the Hebrew Free Loan Society in the past. I did my research and quickly applied for their 0%-interest Undergraduate Loan. Within a short span of time, I had the funds that I needed to help make my dream a reality! I am so grateful to HFLS and its donors for providing me with this opportunity of a lifetime. Now I am on track to pursue my career working as a Public Policy change agent in the very city that I know and love.”
ELIAS, STUDENT
HOUSING LOAN
“I’d been living with my family for quite a while and knew it was time to find a home of my own. Though my job as a phone operator for a medical practice brings me a great amount of joy, the salary is not sufficient to cover the cost of housing in New York City; so I applied for a subsidized Mitchell-Lama apartment in January 2018. Applicants can remain on a Mitchell-Lama waitlist for years before they receive an apartment offer, so I was thrilled when I heard back in the spring of 2021.
I needed to quickly come up with the funds to purchase the apartment and I wasn’t sure where to turn for help — until one of my friends recommended the Hebrew Free Loan Society. Their Mitchell-Lama Housing Loan seemed like the perfect solution to my problem: It would provide me with enough capital to purchase the apartment and offered reasonable monthly payments without the added burden of interest.
I received the loan and was finally able to purchase an affordable apartment that I plan to call home for many years to come. I am incredibly grateful to the HFLS community for the independence they’ve allowed me to experience. It feels wonderful to know that once I have paid back my loan, someone else will be able to benefit from the same incredible opportunity that I was given. “
SMALL BUSINESS LOAN
“As immigrants and entrepreneurs, my wife Natasha and I knew we were onto something when she began fusing her delicious combination of traditional Eastern European food like perogies and blintz wraps with American fare like Philly cheese steaks and french fries. Wanting to share this cuisine with the world, we developed a menu for the New Yorker on the go and began selling it at street fairs and markets throughout the city. Slowly but surely we were able to perfect our recipes and grow our client base. The next logical step was to open our own restaurant, but we couldn’t do this without a serious capital investment. We had a little bit in our savings, but not enough to lease a space or buy the equipment to launch our business. Fortunately, I knew about the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free loan program for small business owners like me, because they helped my Mom with her business decades ago, when she founded her pre-school. I quickly applied for the HFLS loan, and within a month we received the funds to open our first restaurant, Blintz Box, located in the Turnstyle Underground Market at Columbus Circle. Thanks to HFLS, we have our own restaurant at the 59th street station – where we plan to provide happiness to thousands of New Yorkers. Stop by and try our signature Philly cheese steak blintz wrap today. https://www.blintzbox.com/
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN (UKRAINE SUPPORT)
“My father, mother, sister, and my two nieces are all in Ukraine and have found themselves in an impossible situation. Because no one is able to work, they are now lacking the means to afford basic necessities such as food and water. My husband and I, who have newborn twins, have tried to do everything in our power to help, but money is stretched thin and we can’t afford to send the funds that they need.
Fortunately, we heard about the General Needs Loan of up to $7,500 from the Hebrew Free Loan Society which can be used to support families affected by this devastating situation in Ukraine. I applied for the support and within a short period of time, I acquired the funds needed to help my family, without placing added stress on our own finances. Now we can breathe more easily, knowing that our loved ones have access to the resources they need.
We are incredibly grateful for the help HFLS has provided in both of our times of need, and want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the organization that made these life-changing loans possible.”
ADOPTION LOAN
“When Aliza and I began considering adoption more than 4 years ago, we made a plan to build up our savings and do everything we could to avoid taking on high-interest debt. In addition to our full-time jobs, we picked up extra freelance art and writing gigs. We wanted more than anything to adopt a child, and we were determined to do whatever it took to make that dream a reality.
Then one day in 2019 we were matched for an adoption, but unfortunately, it fell through and our savings were depleted. To make matters worse, COVID’s impact on the wedding industry brought Aliza’s work as a ketubah artist to a standstill. The pandemic upended everything, leaving us not only without extra work but with a diminished family income. We began researching funding opportunities for adoption on the internet, and that’s when we came across the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s 0% interest Adoption Loan.
Discovering HFLS was the light at the end of the tunnel. We applied for a loan of up to $25,000, and within a matter of weeks, we had the funds we needed to bridge our finances and prepare for our imminent adoption. Soon after, we got the call that we were matched to adopt a baby girl. Everything happened at just the right time, and thanks to HFLS we already had the funds available to make our dreams come true. Now our family is looking forward to a bright future with our daughter Noa filled with joy, love, and its greatest supporters.”
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT LOAN
“At the beginning of the pandemic, I was working full-time while attending an accelerated program at Mount Sinai Beth Israel to become a licensed RN. As it raged on, I had to move to a part-time schedule. It was difficult to make ends meet, let alone find the money for tuition fees. The interest-free Undergraduate Student Loan allowed me to take care of bills and helped me to pay for books and my education. Without these funds, I would have had to delay my graduation by a semester or more, damaging my career and preventing me from giving back to the community in a way that is so essential, particularly now. Thanks to this relief from HFLS, I will become an accredited nurse this December, ready and able to help people in need.”
UNDERGRADUATE LOAN
“Ever since I was 14 years old working with children with special needs, I knew I wanted a career in health care. Everything was going according to plan and I was on track to be a registered nurse, but then my family hit a financial roadblock, and I didn’t receive the federal student loan amount I needed to go to school and cover my basic living expenses. To make the situation even more unstable, my wife had just graduated and was unemployed for the unforeseeable future. My only other option was taking out private loans with high interest, and that would destabilize my family’s finances for years to come. With nowhere else to turn, I was debating pulling out of school, when a friend informed me about the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s 0% interest student loans. The interest-free Undergraduate Student Loan from HFLS gave me the financial security to continue on with my degree. Now I am on track to graduate this May and am looking forward to a career in Nursing.”
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“Although my aunt grew up in Flatbush, to a middle-class working family, where dinner often came from a can, she taught herself the art of cooking gourmet cuisine. For more than 30 years my aunt had been a caterer. Just before the pandemic, I asked my aunt which dish her clients desired the most, and she responded, “My chicken pot pies, of course!” I wasn’t surprised–her chicken pot pie recipe was delicious! It didn’t take us long before we were making plans to start a company, Aunt Ethel’s, serving up Pot Pies to the masses. Unfortunately, our dreams were coming to fruition just as COVID-19 shut down most of the city. We applied for government grants, but because our business was too new, we were not eligible. Through word of mouth, we found out about Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free loan programs and applied. We weren’t established enough for the Small Business Loan, but we qualified for the $7,500 General Needs Loan. Our financing was down to zero before this loan was approved. Thanks to HFLS, we had the financial cushion we needed to pay the remaining balance on our bills, and purchase more products to keep our business alive and moving forward.”
SMALL BUSINESS LOAN
“After nearly 10 years of running my own business, Bak2Basics Nail Salon & Spa, I was forced to shut my doors for four months during the pandemic. Closing my business was not only detrimental to me, but to the half dozen staff I employ. I needed help immediately, but I didn’t know where to turn. I didn’t qualify for government assistance, and the loan I took out before the pandemic was already racking up more interest than I borrowed. I was so fortunate when a client of mine told me about the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free loan program. I applied for an HFLS Small Business loan and was approved for $25,000. This loan came at just the right time, it helped me pay my rent, employees, and make small changes to improve my salon space. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if not for this loan. It’s scary to even imagine. I am just grateful that I had the professional guidance of Shlomo Haft, HFLS’s Microenterprise Director, and the financial backing to keep my business alive. Now I can focus on my clients and provide them with the quality care they deserve.”
GINA
CORONAVIRUS FINANCIAL IMPACT LOAN
“As a freelancer in the film and TV industry, my job security has been hit extremely hard by COVID-19. I was able to qualify for unemployment, but that was only 30% of my current income, and wasn’t available immediately when I needed it. I was aware of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, so I decided to check the website and see if there were any loans available for people in my situation. I was impressed that the Coronavirus Loan program was designed purposefully to help New Yorkers like me. I applied for and received the loan quicker than I had imagined. This interest-free loan provided my family the financial security we needed to get through this very uncertain time.
A loan from HFLS didn’t feel like a burden, it felt like a resource. Because of their three-month grace period before starting repayments on new loans, I will even able to wait months until my first repayment is due. The organization was so responsive to the New York community, and I’m grateful for their incredibly fast action to help unemployed and freelancing New Yorkers like me.”
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“I live in the United States, but most of my family lives in Israel. I do not have a close network of family around me if I fall on difficult financial times. My wife and I married last year, and we just had a baby girl. Our finances have been tight, and we didn’t know where to turn. Since, I am the main financial provider for my family, and I also have a few debts to pay back, I needed to find a way to balance out our finances. When I found out about the Hebrew Free Loan Society, I thought what big break for my family, and what a release of stress! I applied for the General Needs Loan. Because this loan was interest-free, I was able to pay off some of my debt, and take care of my family, all without worrying about piling up high-interest.”
MOSHE
SMALL BUSINESS LOAN
“I’ve been in love with martial arts since I was a child. I grew up inspired by my father who was a wrestling champion and brothers who practiced Judo. In 2013, I even opened up my own Dojo, Ultimate Martial Arts, and Fitness in Lynbrook, New York. The business was doing well and we were even growing, but then Covid hit. The situation was made even more complicated because at the same time the city shut down, we were finishing construction on an expensive expansion plan. Now more than ever, we needed our doors open. For months we didn’t have revenue coming in. Our typical clients were on Zoom overload from work and online learning, that they just weren’t interested in taking virtual classes. Fortunately, I heard about the interest-free Small Business Loans being offered at the Hebrew Free Loan Society and applied. This interest-free loan was exactly what I needed. Now, I have financial relief, but without the fear of accumulating high-interest debt in the future. I’m happy to say that Ultimate is now safely opening back up for in-person classes. Me and my team remain optimistic about the future of the Dojo.”
MAMDOUH
General Needs Loan
“When I first moved to New York many years ago, I had just received my master’s degree with the intention to launch my professional life but I got sick and everything changed. All of a sudden, I was thrust into the world of chronic illness. I developed painful and sometimes debilitating conditions, which kept me from working full time. When it felt like my world had turned upside down, I found help in the Hebrew Free Loan Society, whose interest-free General Needs Loan helped me shift course and start my career as a full-time freelance writer.
In the last year, however, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases put me back in the hospital with fevers. On top of that, the pandemic had canceled much of the work I had lined up. In this moment of personal and financial stress, I remembered the incredibly helpful loan I had received from HFLS all those years ago. I applied for and received a Health Care loan. In the midst of a global pandemic, this interest-free loan enabled me to take a pause and catch my breath. I am incredibly grateful to have been given a moment to regroup, focus on my health, and shift course — just as I had done when I first moved the city.”
JILL
Housing Loan Borrower
“As an immigrant from Azerbaijan, I had been trying to forge a new career path as a Network Administrator. I was working from home in a tiny one-bedroom apartment that I shared with my brother and his wife. I knew something needed to change, and so I applied for a NYC Mitchell-Lama subsidized three-bedroom apartment. Everything was beginning to fall into place, except that I needed $16,000, to secure the purchases of my new home. I applied for the Hebrew Free Loan Society Housing Loan and within a short period of time, I had the equity payment to purchase my new apartment. I’m now living and working in a space that keeps my stress levels low — and provides me and my family with a safe and comfortable living environment. I am grateful for the kindness of the Hebrew Free Loan Society and its supporters.”
AYDYN
Undergraduate Student Loan Borrower
“The Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free Undergraduate Loan helped me transition back into life in the United States after serving several years in the Israeli Military. I was born in Israel but immigrated to the United States when I was 12. After completing my duty on behalf of my home country, I needed to focus on my career path in Finance. The loan from HFLS not only helped me focus on school but prevented me from worrying about money and other expenses. Now I am set to graduate in May, have valuable internship experience on my resume, and am on track to become a Financial Advisor upon graduation.”
HANNAN
General Needs Loan Borrower
“I immigrated to America at age 17 from my war-torn home country of Albania. I left at a time when our freedoms were being taken away, and people were scared to go outside. I now have a stable job in New York and am forging my career path, but my family back home in Albania relies on me for financial support. Managing my household here in New York as well as supporting my family in Albania is very stressful. Any bump in the road can cause me lasting financial harm. When Coronavirus hit, and I didn’t know where to turn for financial help, the Hebrew Free Loan Society graciously offered me a four-month loan repayment suspension to get through this difficult time.HFLS’s paused repayment period, provided me with the ability to continue helping my family abroad while supporting myself and building my future here in the states.“
EKREM
RITA’S STORY
In January, I received an interest-free General Needs Loan that helped keep me and my family financially afloat. But when COVID-19 hit New York City, the school I teach in stopped paying me on time and my husband’s hours were cut. I worried I would sink back into the same debt I had just escaped from. When the Hebrew Free Loan Society reached out to let me know that they’d be postponing my repayments, I was so relieved. Without this postponement, it would have been extremely difficult to keep up with my expenses. In a world experiencing so much uncertainty, I feel comforted knowing that there is an organization like HFLS that responds to challenging moments with empathy and compassion.
KAREN’S STORY
My chronic health conditions put me at high-risk for contracting COVID-19. Having to not only stay inside for upwards of three months, but to also forego certain kinds of medical care has made this period extremely challenging. Additionally, the economic fallout of the pandemic has made it harder for my clients to pay me. In stressful moments of financial vulnerability, asking for help can feel incredibly difficult. To have the Hebrew Free Loan Society postpone my loan repayments without even having to ask made me feel so grateful. The relief I experienced was monumental.
HANNAH’S STORY
As a training psychotherapist and social worker, the interest-free loan I received from HFLS provided an immensely helpful safety net. Throughout the pandemic, I’ve continued to work a full-time job, combining formerly two roles, with little room for any unforeseen expenses. Especially since I’m still paying back my student loans, the suspension of loan repayments took a huge burden off my shoulders. By postponing payments for four months, the Hebrew Free Loan Society helped me keep cash on hand during this critical time.
CORONAVIRUS FINANCIAL IMPACT LOAN
“Since the Coronavirus outbreak, I’ve had my hours reduced, my two college-age children living with me, and I’ve been a caretaker for my aunt with Alzheimer’s. In the blink of an eye, my finances took a hard hit. The bills quickly began to pile up and my mortgage payments fell behind.
At a time like this, no one can help you, your family’s resources are tight, and the banks don’t want to give borrowers breaks. The Hebrew Free Loan Society on the other hand was ready to provide me with $5,000 through their Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan Program. Within 48 hours I had a response about my application, and within two days after that my loan was approved. Without HFLS, I don’t know where we’d be right now, and it’s hard to even think about it.
– Anne, Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan Borrower
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“I immigrated to America at 17, from my war-torn home, Albania. I left at a time when there was no food or freedom, and people were scared to go outside. I still have family and friends back home that don’t have warm clothes, food or money for basic necessities. I have a stable job here in America, but I don’t have the savings to help those that rely on me and support myself at the same time.
The interest-free General Needs Loan from the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) helped me to pay my own bills, while also taking care of those that rely on me to survive. Not only did the Hebrew Free Loan Society help me put more time and effort into my career by worrying less about my finances, but they also helped me keep my family and friends in Albania safe. I hope one day, I’ll also be able to give back to the Hebrew Free Loan Society, in the way they have given me and my family so much.
-Ekrem, General Needs Loan Borrower
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“I was born in Israel, but gained U.S. citizenship as a child. Over the past decades, I’ve lived in both countries going back and forth between my homeland and NYC. In my formative years, I was working in Israel at a community center that supported Holocaust survivors. It was at this time that I developed a passion for helping others, specifically individuals in the Jewish Community.
I wanted to apply to graduate school to study Social Work, but as an undergraduate, I had already accrued thousands in student debt. I didn’t want to keep piling on the high-interest loans, and that’s when I found out about the Hebrew Free Loan Society. I applied for and received the General Needs Loan to help cover tuition and basic living expenses.
HFLS gave me the peace of mind, so that I could focus on my studies and my career, and not worry about financial burdens. For people like me, that don’t have savings, this type of loan can go a long way. In May of 2020, I will finish my studies, and I plan to live and work in NYC as a Social Worker. HFLS gave me the opportunity to follow my dreams and minimize the stress that financial hardship can pose.“
Sara
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“I had come across a difficult time financially and needed to take out a home equity line of credit from my bank. When the time came for repayment, they demanded that I pay the whole sum of $10,000 upfront, and would not allow me to make installments. The bank threatened to foreclose on my home if I did not pay. I was terrified of becoming homeless, and losing everything that I worked so hard for. There was a family of 4 that rented the upstairs that would have been evicted. The stakes were high, and I was running out of options. I didn’t have the savings or network of friends and family to help me pay this high expense. That’s when I heard about the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free General Needs Loans. When I applied to HFLS and received my loan, I was so grateful, because I was able to pay off my home equity line of credit, and more importantly, keep my home. I was so fortunate that HFLS was there to help me find a stable ground in an uncertain time in my life.”
Alba
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION LOAN
“Ever since I was 14 years old working with special needs children, I knew I wanted a career in either health care or mental wellness. I was interested in psychology, but then realized that I was most passionate about nursing. When I enrolled for my bachelor’s degree, I hit a financial roadblock. My wife had just finished school herself and was unemployed. At the same time, my federal school loans were cut short. My only other option was taking out private loans with high interest. With nowhere else to turn, I was debating pulling out of school, when a friend informed me about the Hebrew Free Loan Society. The interest-free undergraduate loan from HFLS gave me the financial security to continue on with my degree. Now I am on track to graduate this May and am looking forward to a career in direct service.”
Shlomo
SMALL BUSINESS LOAN
“At age 16, I developed a passion for cutting hair, and I obtained my barbering license at 21. I worked in two different barber shops and performed over 500 house calls before realizing it wasn’t enough to sustain a living or advance my skills. It was a dream of mine to open my own barber shop, so I began researching small business development. My biggest stress was the cost: I knew I couldn’t borrow from friends or family, and I couldn’t afford a bank loan.
A representative from Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs referred me to the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) for an interest-free Small Business Loan. HFLS took the fear out of everything. Opening my own business was a huge step, but once I knew I could handle the finances, it wasn’t as scary as I thought.
In 2019 I opened The Railroad Barber in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. There was a real need for a quality barber shop in the area, so not only was I achieving my dream, I was providing a much-needed service in my community. HFLS helped make it all possible.”Levi, Borrower
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“I live in Brooklyn and work in New Rochelle, NY and was in need of purchasing a new car. As an immigrant from Georgia and main financial provider for a family of four, I didn’t have enough in my savings to cover the cost. A friend of mine referred me to the Hebrew Free Loan Society for an interest-free General Needs Loan. Because of this loan, I was able to remain out of debt, avoid high-interest car payments and maintain a state of financial stability. I now have a new car which supports my family, my career and doesn’t put my family’s finances at risk.”
Mikheil, Borrower
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“As a single mother, with a child diagnosed as special needs, it has been an incredible relief to find the Hebrew Free Loan Society. Two times in my life, they have been there for me and my family. When I was navigating the costs of private school for my son, and awaiting reimbursements from the Department of Education, the Hebrew Free Loan Society was there for me to make sure he received the academic support he deserved.
Again this year, as a freelance designer and head of household, I found yet again, that I was struggling to make ends meet. The Hebrew Free Loan Society was able to help provide me with a General Needs Loan to cover general living expenses such as food and rent. Because of HFLS’ unwavering support, my son is now receiving the education he needs to succeed academically, and I’m able to take care of my basic living expenses without worrying about going into debt.”
Anonymous, Borrower
HEALTH CARE LOAN
“One afternoon I was writing in my notebook, I looked down at my handwriting and I couldn’t recognize a thing I had wrote. I knew something was wrong. I went to the doctor and after several neurological tests, they diagnosed me with meningioma, a benign tumor that had been growing inside of my cranium for close to 10 years. Not only was I fearing for my life, but the added stress of worrying about the out-of-pocket hospital expenses were beginning to overwhelm me. I knew I needed financial assistance but didn’t want to accumulate high-interest debt. I applied for and received an interest-free Health Care loan from the Hebrew Free Loan Society to assist with hospital bills, regression therapy and correlating dental work due to my treatments.
I am happy to say that the tumor has now been removed. I am slowly gaining back my hand-mind coordination, and am even taking cello lessons to help aid in the recovery process. HFLS helped make hope possible and lessened the financial stress of an already dire situation. My loan officer was my champion, and the team was so compassionate.”
Tabitha, HFLS Borrower
GENERAL NEEDS LOAN
“For decades I had been working as a freelancer, when all of a sudden, a major client halted my employment. I was entering my 60’s, had a pre-existing health condition, and found myself in a predicament where I couldn’t afford daily living expenses, housing, food, or transportation. Just to get by, I put everything on credit cards and acquired a tremendous amount of debt.
I went months with no income and couldn’t get hired, most likely due to my age being considered “at risk.” I began serving tables, took in a roommate, was going to career seminars and counselors, and doing everything possible to remain in my home. I knew I had to find a permanent solution. I couldn’t accrue any more debt and so when I was referred to the Hebrew Free Loan Society for an interest-free loan, I knew I had to apply. Within two weeks I received the General Needs Loan to help pay bills, buy food, and go to the doctor without taking on any more debt.
Since receiving my loan, I am happy to say that I found a new full-time position related to my field and have been able to consolidate and reduce my credit card debt. Because of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, I was able to worry less about my next pay check and focus on solutions. I am grateful that they are there for people like me who find themselves in unexpected financial situations. “
Anonymous
SPECIAL EDUCATION BRIDGE LOAN
“My daughter was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of 2. She requires one-on-one classroom support, and the cost of her special education tuition has become extremely expensive.
I found a terrific school that meets her needs but realized I couldn’t keep up with the costly tuition payments. If not for the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s interest-free Special Education Bridge Loan, I would have gone deep into debt taking out several high-interest bank loans.
Because of the HFLS, my daughter continues to receive the education she needs based on her abilities. She can follow instructions, walk up stairs, dance and carry a tune! The school is working with her strengths, maximizing her potential and broadening her horizons.”
Alex, HFLS Borrower
SPECIAL EDUCATION BRIDGE LOAN
“Our son was diagnosed with severe autism when he was two. After three schools, in three years, the teaching staff routinely recommended one-to-one instruction. Despite the cost of his special education school, we wanted our son to have the best opportunity to reach his full potential. We devoted all of our resources to his education.
Our financial strain became very high, and even though the Department of Education reimburses tuition for special needs schools, we went almost a whole year without the DOE even responding to our claim.
Anna H., Special Education Bridge Loan, Borrower
That’s when we heard about the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS), and applied for and received an interest-free Special Education Bridge Loan. I cannot describe the relief we felt at not having to depend on the vagaries of the DOE.
Because of HFLS, our son is making tremendous progress in a school that gives him the one-to-one attention he needs: he can now make eye contact, use words to express his needs and what he loves. Because of this special care he now understands the difference between “dangerous” or “safe,” he can dress himself and is starting to write his name. It is a choice (and cost) we could not have sustained without the support of the Hebrew Free Loan Society.
The idea that there is an organization like HFLS to help families like ours, is an incredible source of hope. Now that our son is in the right school the whole family is catching a breath, I can go back to work, knowing that our son is getting the care he needs to succeed.”
GENERAL NEEDS
“When I immigrated from St. Petersburg, Russia to New York I dreamed of going back to school to become a psychologist. At the time, I worked at the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) as a multi-lingual translator. I discovered that Yeshiva University, in conjunction with the Hebrew Free Loan Society and UJA-Federation of New York, was encouraging employees of NYANA to earn degrees in Clinical Social Work and Psychotherapy to help provide mental health services to refugees in their native languages. This was an amazing opportunity, and so I applied for this program and was accepted.
Through an interest-free loan from the Hebrew Free Loan Society, I was able to pay the cost of tuition for this invaluable program. I am proud to say that after earning my master’s, and years of practicing psychotherapy, I was eventually able to open my own private practice. But my HFLS journey didn’t end there.
Decades later I was in the midst of a very difficult and costly divorce, when I was diagnosed with cancer. Deprived of my financial savings, with my youngest child still living with me, I found myself in dire straits. When I had nowhere else to turn, HFLS was there for me, and helped cover the costs of my medical and living expenses. HFLS has always been there for me, even at my most challenging times, they helped me stay on track financially. Truly, HFLS is an organization that turns things upside down — helping people go from the most dire of needs to a life of success. Thank you, HFLS!”
Helen S., General Needs Loan, Borrower
GENERAL NEEDS
“My daughter was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and our medical bills were piling up. I had to try and find an apartment with an elevator for my daughter and the cost of moving was so expensive. I didn’t know where to turn. I couldn’t even afford to purchase the medication that my daughter needed.
I heard about the Hebrew Free Loan Society, and I applied for a General Needs Loan and received it. It was a great blessing! No one gave me a hard time, they treated me equally and were very professional.
Before HFLS’ loan I was at my worst point, and was so depressed. I am now in a new home, my daughter is getting the medical help she needs and I have almost paid off my loan.”
Marcia G., General Needs Loan, Borrower
“My son Milo was diagnosed as twice exceptional, a child with learning needs in some areas and extreme gifts in others. By the time he was in fourth grade he was ready to give up, as his public school could not effectively address his talents and needs as an autistic child with ADHD. We heard about Quad Prep, a highly regarded school for twice-exceptional children. We knew it was our only hope, but the cost of tuition was out of our league. That is when we learned about the Hebrew Free Loan Society and their Special Education Bridge Loan Program. We applied for and received an interest-free bridge loan that fronted the cost of tuition, more than $25,000, while we awaited reimbursement from the Department of Education. Now my son is not just a kid with special needs, but one with strengths and skills. Milo has gone from quitting his music lessons at his former public school to performing piano solos in concert and excelling at school. HFLS gave Milo a chance, and helped him receive the education he needs to feel like a real kid, have friends, and make plans to eventually attend college.” — Special Education Borrower, Nora
“For the first time in my life, I recently found myself unemployed. I was not able to pay my rent, bills, food, let alone other daily needs. After years of having a stable job, I never thought this would happen to me. I debated asking friends and family to help, or possibly moving to help cut my costs. That is when I heard about the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s General Needs loan program. I applied for an interest-free loan to help get me through this difficult period, and my application was approved. I have been grateful beyond belief to get this help until I find some work. I think HFLS is a magical gift that people only dream about. I am so thankful they were there for me and my son.” — General Needs Borrower, Anonymous
“My wife and I were attempting to have a baby and did 3 or 4 rounds of IUD, we burned through most of our savings, and got to the point where IVF was the last remaining option. Our pregnancy story was complicated with several additional health concerns looming, the costs were adding up. We didn’t have friends or family available to ask for financial help, but we were determined to start a family. When we found out about the Hebrew Free Loan Society we applied for a loan, and received it. With the new funds, my wife and I were able to go through extensive rounds of embryo testing and began IVF. We are proud to say, that after going through this difficult process, we now have an 8-month old baby girl, and we will never forget the feeling of HFLS helping us.” — Fertility Borrower, Anonymous