[tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse

  • From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:30:31 -0500

Darla,
 
I'm sorry, but I don't agree adding interest does anything extra for
someone's credit.  
 
if you think it adds dignity, then fine, you're free to add interest to
your payments and help build up the fund; otherwise, those who don't
feel they can afford interest should be allowed to have an interest free
loan.  not everyone is living off of relatively high SSDI payments; many
are getting by on nearly nothing SSI payments, and I'd like to do
something to help.  We could always ask each applicant if they preferred
to pay interest or not, if that would help such a loan fund get going.
 
Chip
 
 




------------------------------

Chip Orange
Database Administrator
Florida Public Service Commission

Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(850) 413-6314

 (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)


 


________________________________

        From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Darla J. Rogers
        Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 10:14 AM
        To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the
Lighthouse
        
        
        Dear Chip,
         
        There is nothing saying we have to do as FAAST does; I don't
know their interest rates, but paying on an installment, with a small
simple interest,  lends dignity to the process and improves a person's
credit, and believe me, I understand about no credit and bad credit and
having my good name and credit worthiness restored.
         
        Darla
         
         

                ----- Original Message ----- 
                From: Chip Orange <mailto:Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  
                To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:14 PM
                Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the
Lighthouse

                Well, then if that's what a person wants, to pay
interest, he/she could apply to FAAST for the loan.
                 
                I don't think paying interest has anything to do with
your credit history however, and I want to keep costs down to the
minimum for the person needing the loan.
                 
                once you get into interest however, I believe lenders
soon get into your credit worthiness (a recent person on here reported
being denied a loan from FAAST because of their credit), and that's just
the type of situation I would like to work around.  I know most blind
people won't have good credit, and unless we're prepared to do something
to help them get their assistive technology, they will likely never get
it.
                 
                Chip
                 
                 




                ------------------------------
                
                Chip Orange
                Database Administrator
                Florida Public Service Commission
                
                Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                (850) 413-6314
                
                 (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service
Commission.)
                

                 


________________________________

                        From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Darla J. Rogers
                        Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 2:04 PM
                        To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
                        Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB,
and the Lighthouse
                        
                        
                        Dear Chip,
                         
                        I am **not** in favor of no-interest loans; I
have taken a couple of loans from a foundation in California when I
lived there, and they did charge a small interest fee--remember there is
a bit of overhead--and if set up properly, might bolster the credit of
blind folks who don't get a lot of opportunity to develop credit
histories, especially if he/she is unemployed.
                         
                        Darla
                         
                         

                                ----- Original Message ----- 
                                From: Chip Orange
<mailto:Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  
                                To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                                Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 2:24 PM
                                Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for
TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse

                                Thanks Elizabeth; however, this program
does charge interest on their loans, and they do evaluate you on the
ability to pay back the loan.
                                 
                                their evaluations may be generous, I
don't know, but I was specifically thinking of a no interest program.
                                 
                                anyway, anyone who'd like to pursue a
loan for assistive technology from FAAST can go to the web page below
for some information:
                                 
                                http://www.faast.org/New-Horizon-Fund/
                                 
                                 
                                 




                                ------------------------------
                                
                                Chip Orange
                                Database Administrator
                                Florida Public Service Commission
                                
                                Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                                (850) 413-6314
                                
                                 (Any opinions expressed are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida
Public Service Commission.)
                                

                                 


________________________________

                                From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Elizabeth S. Bowden
                                Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:41 AM
                                To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
                                Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for
TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse
                                
                                
                                The FAAST program also has a loan
program in place.  
                                 

                                ----- Original Message ----- 
                                From: Lynn Evans
<mailto:evans-lynn@xxxxxxxxxxx>  
                                To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                                Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 5:54
PM
                                Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for
TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse

                                Chip do you think the folks over at
FAAST would what to kick around the idea. 
                                 
                                I was just talking with them at the
senior center this past monday. They had a table at the technonogy fair.


                                ----- Original Message ----- 
                                From: Chip Orange
<mailto:Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  
                                To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                                Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 2:57
PM
                                Subject: [tabi] I have an idea for TCB,
NFB, and the Lighthouse

                                hi all,
                                 
                                I had an idea I hoped the leaders of our
3 big non-profits here in town would take up; I think it's worth doing,
and it would give us something else to focus on besides the bus system,
which is more than a little divisive.
                                 
                                What I've noticed is that when I'm
speaking with many blind people, and I mention a possible technical
solution to a problem they're having, their response is often something
like "that would be great, but I can't afford it."
                                 
                                understandable of course; we all know
assistive technology is expensive, and we need a lot of it.
                                 
                                so, what if for this area of Florida
served by the Lighthouse, we began a fund to which we all contributed,
which was then used to provide no interest loans for the purchase of
assistive technology?
                                 
                                I was hoping one group would take on the
administration of the fund, and all 3 groups would contribute to it, or
fund raise for it, as a joint project.  I'll offer to start it off with
$100 if someone will take it on.
                                 
                                I also hoped the fund could be run in
such a way that a person's need for the technology, or their ability to
pay, would not be a factor in receiving the loan.    I'd like this to be
as free from value judgments as possible.  Perhaps just as the person
what payment schedule they thought that they could afford.
                                 
                                a lot of microbanks in very poor areas
of the world are quite successful, with nearly 100% payback rates, when
being run like this, by simply requiring a family member or friend to
cosign the loan application, guaranteeing payback if the primary
applicant fails to do so.  this seems to serve as a screening tool (if
you can't produce one person who will vouch that you will pay back a
loan, then it's likely that you won't), and also as a real incentive for
the applicant to pay-back the loan (not wanting their friend or family
to have to do so).
                                 
                                I'd also suggest, to help those taking
on the administration of the fund, that they do nothing if payments are
missed.  we'll make up losses through fund raising.  when you're freed
of the effort of collections, then the administration should be a very
minor task.
                                 
                                so, what do people think?  will the
leaders of these groups be willing to discuss it amongst themselves?
                                 
                                Chip
                                 
                                 




                                ------------------------------
                                
                                Chip Orange
                                Database Administrator
                                Florida Public Service Commission
                                
                                Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                                (850) 413-6314
                                
                                 (Any opinions expressed are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida
Public Service Commission.)

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