Good Shepherd's No Interest Loans

Neighbourhood Houses Victoria is proud to be partnering with Good Shepherd and their No Interest Loan program.

No Interest Loans (NILs) provide individuals and families on low incomes with access to safe, fair, affordable credit with no fees and charges applied.

To be eligible for the No Interest Loans, you must:

✔ hold a Health Care Card / Pension Card or earn less than $45,000 a year after tax ($60,000 for couples of people with dependants)

✔ have lived at your current or previous address for at least 3 months

✔ can show that you are able to afford to repay the loan

Ballarat East Neighbourhood House is raising awareness and helping low income community members in Ballarat access Good Shepherd’s No Interest Loans, so they can purchase the essential goods and services they need to move forward in life.

Australia has one of the highest rates of household debt in the world. Payday lenders and rent-to-buy operators target vulnerable individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. Consequently, many Australians are trapped in a cycle of debt and may be paying interest rates up to 400 per cent per annum. These loans prey on people who are escaping domestic violence, struggling to put food on the table, or struggling to paying the rent. This is completely unacceptable.

The Good Shepherd No Interest Loans program provides individuals and families on low incomes with access to safe, fair, affordable credit with no fees or charges applied. No Interest Loans of up to $1,500 can be used for a range of essential goods and services from household appliances, education supplies, to car repairs and healthcare.

This referral process is being provided by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria.

Community members can call (03) 9606 0117 or visit https://www.nhvic.org.au/nils and complete the enquiry form. From there, a friendly Neighbourhood Houses Victoria representative will step them through the process of making their No Interest Loan application.

We reiterate our commitment to safe, affordable, and responsible financial services for people on low incomes and continue to condemn predatory payday lenders.