In Celebration of Valentine's Day...

"People are willing to take any kind of job.
But they don't want to work where
their friends might see them."

- Rachel Yoskowltz, JFS

LOANS
are most important:' she said. "You
Hebrew Free Loan
don't have to go through a lot to get
(248) 723-8184
a loan."
"We are one of the first agencies in
Each applicant needs two co-sign-
the community that hears what's
ers to obtain a loan. The average
going on economically:' said Mary
loan today is about $4,000.
Keane, executive director for the last
The agency has approximately
eight years of Hebrew Free Loan in
$1.6 million in loans out to 1,100
Bloomfield Township.
clients. While 43 percent of the bor-
"Three years ago, we saw the first
rowers are currently behind in their
real estate agents coming to us for
payment schedules, only 23 percent
personal loans because their sales
of the dollars loaned are at risk and
were dropping. Then it was the engi- the agency has written off 1.5 per-
neers, the doctors and the dentists."
cent.
More than 50 percent of the clients
"They are making smaller pay-
now are single women of various
ments, but that is fine with us:' said
ages and situations.
Keane. "Whatever we get
To use her favorite
in is recycled right back
description: "They are all
out."
trying to cross the [eco-
While Federation's
nomic] bridge, but they
Annual Campaign con-
need more than us to get
tributes about 30 percent
across."
of HFL's $300,000 operat-
She described one cli-
ing budget, the agency
ent who was selling his
must raise its own loan
furniture to buy food. He
dollars. During the last
walked to the HFL office
four years, it raised $2.1
Mary Kea ne
in the Jewish Federation
million toward a $2.5
building at Telegraph
million goal.
and Maple roads from Orchard Lake
Agency cooperation goes beyond
Road because he also had lost his
the fact that Keane is CEO at Hebrew
car.
Free Loan and her husband is CEO
"The individuals we see now,"
at Jewish Family Service. To expe-
Keane said, "have downsized what
dite service to clients, JFS hosts
they can." They look to HFL to help
representatives of JFS, HFL and
while they learn new skills. A num-
other agencies at its West Bloomfield
ber of professionals seek loans to
headquarters.
earn bartender and truck driver cer-
"There is strength and great hope
tification, she said.
in what we do;' Mary Keane said. Li
HFL board members inter-
view applicants at the HFL office.
"Dignity, respect and confidentiality

We are working with good people
who are in a tough spot,
who never dreamed they'd be in
this situation."

- Rachel Yoskowltz, JFS

Friends, Hearts
Flowers Party!

Please come and join us as we
celebrate Valentine's Day at our
Friends, Hearts and Flowers party
at Regent Street of West Bloomfield.
Enjoy exquisite desserts, music
from singer Jack Bailey, and meet
new friends to share in the joy of
love and friendship this special time
of year. And on your way out, you'll
receive a floral surprise! Call to let us
know you're coming or just come by
and enjoy!

c4rwary

3:30 - 5:00 pm

REGENT !STREET

C'OF WEST BLOOMFIELD(%)

ASSISTED LIVING

206g3-1010

4460 Orchard Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48323

rd

1462360

February 5 • 2009

A17