Annual Report | Justine Petersen

Credit Building: Aurelia W. Success Story

Aurelia started working with a credit building counselor in February 2011. She had a 568 credit score with some collection debt and 0 active trade lines. A counselor worked with Aurelia to establish a Credit Building Loan and the Citi Banamex USA secured credit card, starting both an installment and revolving line of credit that would positively affect her credit score. While Aurelia focused on making on time payments and keeping a low credit card balance, she also began paying off past debt. Inaccurate debt was disputed and overtime as Aurelia’s lines matured, Aurelia began to see her credit score improve. By the end of the year, Aurelia’s credit score was a 638, making her just about ready to home purchase!

Micro-enterprise Success Story: La Mancha Coffeehouse

Listen to the remarks of Veronica Holden, owner of La Mancha Coffeehouse in Old North St. Louis, a JP financed small business. La Mancha is a neighborhood hub and community space which received a loan of $10K to assist with business cash flow.

Housing Success Story: Jasmine F.

Jasmine F. was referred to Justine PETERSEN by North Grand Neighborhood Services, a local nonprofit partner. She began working with a JP credit building counselor in July 2010; oftentimes step one towards homeownership is credit related. Jasmine had a mid-credit score of a 583, she had $2,000 in collections, and found herself in the vicious payday loan cycle to stay afloat. Initial counseling included focus on financial management and budgeting to ensure that Jasmine could avoid high-interest payday loans. Overtime, a secured credit card was also opened so that Jasmine could begin building credit. For several months, Jasmine focused on paying her auto loan and credit card on time and by April, her credit score was a 670. In July 2011, Jasmine was ready to purchase her first home! She received grant funds from St. Louis County and Better Family Life and was eligible to purchase the U.S. Bank American Dream loan with down payment assistance funds. Jasmine stated, ”Justine PETERSEN went above and beyond what I imagined. I’m grateful to JP; I would not be where I am today and I know that I have one of the best loan products out on the market because of them.” Jasmine purchased a 2 bedroom, 2 baths, and 2 garage 1400 sq. foot new construction home in Woodson Terrace, and was even able to have her basement finished due to funds saved because of her low interest rate.

Annual Report 2011

The mission of Justine PETERSEN is to connect institutional resources to the needs of low- and moderate-income families in order to build assets and create enduring change.

2011 Impact on the Community

634 individually counseled on building good credit in order to access safe and affordable capital.
$2.6 million originated to 342 small businesses – start-ups and expanding businesses – that were unable to access safe and affordable capital anyplace else.
142 families purchased homes after participating in homebuyer counseling and education. 186 families in foreclosure and 67 seniors considering reverse mortgage were also counseled.

Credit Building & Financial Education

Partnerships
As part of a national credit building initiative, Justine PETERSEN partnered with various nonprofits through the Aspen Institute Asset Building through Credit Pilot Program and the Chicago Credit Building Coalition. All 16 nonprofit partners are offering the Citi Banamex USA secured credit card and have been trained to conduct credit building counselings.

Micro-Enterprise Lending and Technical Assistance

Expanded Capital
The U.S. Department of Treasury awarded Great Rivers Community Capital, Justine PETERSEN’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), $1.5 million allocated as lending capital for microenterprise loans and consumer finance products in the City of St. Louis. In addition, as a specialized intermediary micro lender for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Justine PETERSEN is now able to lend up to $50K – an increase from the previous cap of $35K – to local entrepreneurs.

Expanded Geographic Region
Justine PETERSEN is an awardee of the 2011 Program to Invest in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME) grant. PRIME is a SBA program that provides assistance to organizations targeting low-income entrepreneurs who lack the training and education to gain access to capital to establish and expand their businesses. Justine PETERSEN has expanded its services to Kansas City, Cape Girardeau-St. Genevieve, and Springfield MO, and has partnered with the Women’s Employment Network of Kansas City and the Missouri Business Development Group.

Homeownership and Retention

Affordable Housing Developments
Justine PETERSEN is involved with two affordable housing developments in Granite City, IL. Four Neighborhood Stabilization (NSP) properties were purchased and renovated; three have been sold. NSP properties are part of a federal project established to stimulate stabilization in communities that have suffered from foreclosures and abandoned homes. In 2011, all twenty homes in the Twenty-First Homes Development reached full occupancy.

Home Retention
Loss mitigation services saw more volume with the expansion to include participation in the Illinois Hardest Hit Fund® program. Foreclosure intervention counselors worked with 186 individuals to assist with loan modifications to prevent foreclosures in 2011.

Justine PETERSEN - 2011 Board of Directors
Filomena Angelucci-Dean, President
Matt Ghio, Secretary/ Treasurer
Fr. William Hutchison
Keith Willy
Michelle Watts
Katherine Potts

Great Rivers Community Capital - 2011 Board of Directors
Richard Torack, President
Matt Ghio, Secretary/ Treasurer
Eddie Davis
Robert Boyle
Angela Burrage

2011 Financials