Near Northwest Neighborhood prepping for small loan program to revitalize area [Video]

SOUTH BEND, Ind.– Maybe you found the perfect apartment or starter home for your family, but you can’t make the down payment. Maybe you finally found a stable job, but your car breaking down means you can’t get to work.

One local neighborhood association is working to give neighbors that hand up to overcome those financial hurdles, and in turn, redevelop the entire ecosystem.

However, payday loans can have really high interest rates, which leaders in South Bend’s Near Northwest Neighborhood say can be a dangerous path to go down if you’re strapped for cash.

That’s why they’re working with Holy Cross Parish to one day give neighbors a better alternative to level up and uplift the whole community.

“The whole gist of this story is about shared resources,” said Kathy Schuth, executive director of Near Northwest Neighborhood (NNN) Incorporated.

The idea of sharing resources is a model for rebuilding …