Our Mission
The MICAH Program serves people located in Greenville, SC and the surrounding counties in the Upstate of SC.Â
The MICAH Program exists to help neighbors in financial distress through financial mentoring and low-cost loans as an alternative to predatory loans.
What is The MICAH Program?
- The name of the program is taken from Micah 6:8: "Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God."
- MICAH is an acronym for Micro-loan Assistance and Financial Health Program.
- As an alternative to high cost predatory loans, MICAH helps provide under-served neighbors with a low-cost loan, along with financial mentorship and support. In so doing, we assist our neighbors in achieving greater financial security.
- Our partner, Self-Help Credit Union, makes the loan at a low-interest rate (4% above the current savings deposit interest rate).
- MICAH facilitates a one-time loan of up to $1500, with the expectation that the loan will be repaid.
- MICAH loans are used to pay for a car repair, a home repair, a predatory loan, a security deposit for an apartment, or medical expenses not covered by insurance.
- Neighbors who don’t qualify for a loan under the MICAH Program are offered counseling and support from MICAH and are referred to agencies in the community for help.
How did The MICAH Program get started?
- In 2020, individuals with St. Anthony Catholic Church in Greenville formed a South Carolina non-profit corporation named "MICAH Program, Inc." to administer this program and started facilitating loans.
How does The MICAH Program support our neighbors?
- Volunteer mentors are the heart of MICAH's service to neighbors in financial distress.
- Mentors are not required to have specific financial expertise but have good, common sense financial experience and undergo training in financial coaching and mentoring.