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HOPE International is today’s Around Atlanta guest on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Chris Chancey, Southeast Representative for HOPE International discusses the micro-finance organization, as well as how metro Atlanta’s real estate community can get involved during this season of giving.
HOPE International, founded by Jeff Rutt, who also founded Keystone Custom Homes in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, helps people in third-world countries start their own business by giving them a small loan. While on a mission trip, Rutt realized that they were only changing a life for a day instead of permanently. Once the missionaries left, who would be there with food, water and supplies? This thought process led to Rutt experimenting with a variety of ways to help people long-term, which resulted in the creation of HOPE International and micro-financing. As Chancey points out in his interview, this process allows HOPE to not give a hand out, but instead give a hand up.
HOPE International currently serves third-world countries all over the world, and the organization has a team of local staff members in each community they work in. Local loan officers go out into the community and meet with clients who have received a loan, and they assist them through the process of starting a business and repaying their loan. This allows local citizens to improve their lives while also making an impact for their family and community at large.
Many of HOPE’s clients start staple businesses, such as crop growers, bakers, restaurant owners, barbers and more. For these people, just a few dollars can make a huge, life-changing difference. While it may take tens of thousands of dollars to start a business in the United States, many of the businesses created with loans from HOPE International can be started with less than $100! In fact, the average loan made by Hope is just $250.
For those living in the United States, the most impact can be made by making a financial investment to HOPE International. As a non-profit organization, HOPE likes to say it is involved in uncharity, as the money from every loan that is paid back is recycled back into the program. The money invested into HOPE International goes directly to the loan program, which currently serves almost 1 million people around the world. To date, Hope International has a 97 percent loan repayment rate!
Builders and other trade partners and contractors in the building industry can also have a huge impact on HOPE International. As a builder himself, Rutt decided to appeal to the building industry to help continue and spread HOPE’s work. Homes for Hope partners with builders, subcontractors and trade partners all over the country, and these groups donate their services when they build a particular home. Then, the funds from the sale of the home support clients trying to start their own business all over the world through HOPE International. To date, 90 homes have been built through Homes for Hope with the contributions from builder partners and more than 6,000 contractors and trade partners. For more information on Homes for Hope or to find out how to become involved, visit www.Homes4Hope.org.
To learn more about HOPE International, including how to become involved, visit www.HOPEInternational.org.
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