Announcing the Deacon Mike Gouge Financial Empowerment Program and Volunteer Opportunities for Financial Coaches and Board Members

The Knoxville District Council of Saint Vincent de Paul has developed the Deacon Mike Gouge Financial Empowerment Program to assist neighbors in need who are struggling with a predatory loan or an excessive debt burden. Predatory lending fees in Tennessee are some of the highest in the nation and can reach over 430% per year for borrowers who have no access to traditional loans.

We are now actively seeking volunteers who will be trained to become Vincentian Financial Coaches or Microloan Board Members.

Responsibilities of the Local Microloan Boards include:

• Maintaining good relationship with the Local Financial Institution

• Recruiting and training Financial Coaches

• Receiving referrals and approving loan applications

• Submitting quarterly reports to the Microloan administrator

Responsibilities of the Financial Coaches include:

• Attend training

• Attend a home visit to gather information

• Help microloan candidates complete all forms and loan application

• Recommend candidates to the Local Microloan Board

• Meet with the borrower at least once a month to lend support

No experience required for these positions.

A Handbook has been compiled which contains details of how the Financial Empowerment Program will work and which will be a basis for some of the training for our volunteers.

Our SVDP local conferences will identify possible candidates for microloans through Vincentian contact and home visits with neighbors or through referrals by our Pastors, our Sisters, or other charitable organizations.

We will help borrowers to obtain low interest loans from local financial institutions by guaranteeing those loans.

Coaches will support borrowers in building a positive future based on realistic goals and expectations. Borrowers will be encouraged at the end of their journey out of debt to participate in helping others as an experienced successful borrower.

Please contact Gary Shurina, Microloan Program Administrator, to express your interest in volunteering: knoxshu@ix.netcom.com