The people who receive our interest-free loans open their hearts to tell us about the sometimes overwhelming challenges they’re facing. They also tell us how receiving community support has a profound effect on their lives and makes their challenges easier to bear. Mark Kaplan is one of these grateful loan recipients.
Mark had been homeless for several years when we first met him, and he needed help as he transitioned into supportive shared housing. He’s given us permission to share his story so you can see exactly how much our interest-free loans meant to him.
Mark has struggled with a severe anxiety disorder for much of his life. Although he’s always excelled academically and holds multiple graduate degrees, he hasn’t been able to work or function in the world on a consistent basis. Our interest-free special needs loan provided support while he settled into a therapeutic living situation and waited to begin receiving Social Security disability.
Four years later, Mark turned to us for a second loan. He had stabilized enough that he was ready to live on his own, and he had gotten approved for a small studio apartment in an affordable housing development. He was excited to have a home of his own for the first time in a long time.
Mark lost most of his possessions when he became homeless, so he was starting over from scratch. Our interest-free general needs loan helped him purchase basic household furnishings and modify the new place to make it easier to navigate with his disabilities.
“The help I received from Hebrew Free Loan was profound, and it’s hard to fully express the depth of my gratitude. You supported me through two very challenging times. I don’t know if I’d be where I am today without you.”
And yet, if you talk to Mark, what comes through is a determination to focus on the things he CAN do and find ways to give back to the world. He’s an artist and a researcher, and he’s exploring how smart technologies and AI can be used to create environments that help people manage their disabilities and live independently.
Mark’s deepest hope is to use his challenges to help others. Tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a major motivation for him, and he dreams of crossing the bridge from needing help to being a fully self-sustaining individual who can help others.
It’s been an honor to support Mark as he creates a life of dignity, comfort, and safety. We look forward to seeing what his future holds.
