Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 6, 1 June 2012 — Emergencies drive demand for OHA consumer loans [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Emergencies drive demand for OHA consumer loans

From behind her desk at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Tracy Mattos has bailed many families out of emergencies. She has been OHA's friendly consumer loan officer. OHA's Consumer Micro-Loan Program makes up to $7,500 available to eligible Native Hawaiians who are experiencing an unforeseen emergency. Examples include funeral expenses as well as emergency home and auto repairs. Last year, the program approved 42 loans for $235,000, whieh is up 3 percent from the previous year. Through the first four months of this year, the program has already approved 54 loans valued

at $248,000. Here's a statewide breakdown of the demand through April: » O'ahu - 25 loans valued at $144,945 approved mainly for auto repairs. » Hawai'i Island - 19 loans valued at $79,224 mainly for auto and home repairs. » Maui - 4 loans valued at $18,825 primarily for home repairs. » Moloka'i - 4 loans valued at $25,500 largely for funeral expenses. » Kaua'i - 2 loans valued at $4,400 for medical expenses. "I can't help everybody, but I do my best to help everyone," said Mattos, who has reduced the program's delinquency rate to 17 percent from 35 percent over the

past year. "It gives me satisfaction knowing that I played a role in helping some Native Hawaiian consumers get through difficult times." ■

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OHA Consumer Micro-Loan The ConsumerMicro-Loan Program (CMLP) is designed to provide low-cost loans to Native Hawaiians who are experiencing temporary financial hardship due to unforeseen events, or who wishto enhanee their careers. For more information, contact Tracy Mattos at (808) 594-1972 or email tracym@oha.org.

OHA consumer loan officer Tracy Mattos reviews an application from a potential Native Hawaiian borrower. - Photo: Aliee Silbanuz