It may be simple to dismiss Grace Period’s tiny storefront on East Ohio Street. Regarding the same North Side street being a check casher and a rent-to-own socket, you can miss it or mistake it for a storefront church.
But regardless of the unimposing area, Grace Period — a nonprofit that produces tiny loans to its clients and needs them to invest in saving cash — boasts 1,800 people. Final it made $1.5 million in loans, a few hundred dollars at a time year. Having exposed its doorways in October 2007, the organization recently relocated to a more impressive office at 632 E. Ohio St. Its brand new part location has more exposure, that is crucial because the nonprofit functions like a retail store.
Unlike great deal of companies in struggling communities, nonetheless, Grace Period is intended to not benefit from monetaray hardship, but to help individuals from it.
“It is a great place,” says Frank Freeman, 59, a retired steelworker who looked to Grace Period as he “started falling somewhat quick” between his month-to-month retirement checks. “If you may need just a little money, and also you desire a hand, they are able to assist you to out.”
In lots of areas, some body in Freeman’s place will have choice that is little to show to a so-called “payday” loan provider. Continue reading