borrowers live in New South Wales, 55 in Western Australia and one in the Australian Capital Territory. Table 11: Breakdown of Many Rivers’ clients Client characteristics N % Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander 107 75.3 Income under 50k 104 73.2 Clients who speak a language other than English at home 1 0.7 Person with a disability 1 Male 85 59 Female 58 40.8 Wages main source of income 22 15.5 Government payments or no income 122 86 Total clients 144 How many people met their loan obligations? Of the 122 loans Many Rivers made during the period (March 2011–June 2012), 76 people (62 per cent) were up-to-date with their loan repayments at the end of this period. Thirty-two people were in arrears (26 per cent), and 14 loans had been fully repaid (12 per cent). Clients that have not made a due payment are followed up by their Field Officer as soon as a repayment is missed. Many Rivers encourages clients to advise if there are business or personal issues impacting on repayments and the organisation will negotiate reductions in payment levels or deferral if warranted and approved by Senior Management. A defined escalation process is in place for clients that do not communicate with Field Officers, ultimately resulting in legal debt recovery action if required, there are no clients currently in this position. Loan Purpose Examples of businesses supported include: pet supply business florist homewares shop lawn mowing employment mentoring beautician semi-trailer driver café concrete contractor kerbing and paving mobile food/coffee van pub bistro honey producer cleaning/laundry artist taxi service health and fitness heritage surveyor Case studies Liz and Ruth* Indigenous sisters in a Goldfields community have started a cleaning, laundry and ironing business. only six months of operating Liz and Ruth have secured contracts with a number of local government agencies. These contracts were formalised with pro bono legal support from Squire Sanders, a Many Rivers partner. They are now trialling gardening, home maintenance and handymen services and employ local people on a casual basis as they expand their business.
borrowers live in New South Wales, 55 in Western Australia and one in the Australian Capital Territory. Table 11: Breakdown of Many Rivers’ clients Client characteristics N % Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander 107 75.3 Income under 50k 104 73.2 Clients who speak a language other than English at home 1 0.7 Person with a disability 1 Male 85 59 Female 58 40.8 Wages main source of income 22 15.5 Government payments or no income 122 86 Total clients 144 How many people met their loan obligations? Of the 122 loans Many Rivers made during the period (March 2011–June 2012), 76 people (62 per cent) were up-to-date with their loan repayments at the end of this period. Thirty-two people were in arrears (26 per cent), and 14 loans had been fully repaid (12 per cent). Clients that have not made a due payment are followed up by their Field Officer as soon as a repayment is missed. Many Rivers encourages clients to advise if there are business or personal issues impacting on repayments and the organisation will negotiate reductions in payment levels or deferral if warranted and approved by Senior Management. A defined escalation process is in place for clients that do not communicate with Field Officers, ultimately resulting in legal debt recovery action if required, there are no clients currently in this position. Loan Purpose Examples of businesses supported include: pet supply business florist homewares shop lawn mowing employment mentoring beautician semi-trailer driver café concrete contractor kerbing and paving mobile food/coffee van pub bistro honey producer cleaning/laundry artist taxi service health and fitness heritage surveyor Case studies Liz and Ruth* Indigenous sisters in a Goldfields community have started a cleaning, laundry and ironing business. only six months of operating Liz and Ruth have secured contracts with a number of local government agencies. These contracts were formalised with pro bono legal support from Squire Sanders, a Many Rivers partner. They are now trialling gardening, home maintenance and handymen services and employ local people on a casual basis as they expand their business.
cdfi_evaluation_report_0.docx