April 2026

Neighborhood Trust partners with Hebrew Free Loan Society of New York (HFLS) to disburse Fresh Start Loans—a zero-interest, zero-fee loan that enables New Yorkers to refinance up to $20,000 in debt over 50 months.

Since launching the partnership in 2022, we’ve enabled Neighborhood Trust clients to receive $2,812,780 in 0% interest loans, including over $1,000,000 in 2025 alone.

As the only product of its kind on the market, the Fresh Start Loan offers a unique opportunity for workers to escape expensive, predatory debt and manage life’s financial curveballs at no cost. Building on a partnership that began in 2022, HFLS worked with Neighborhood Trust to expand the 2025 offering beyond debt consolidation. The Fresh Start Loan now addresses a full spectrum of financial challenges facing New Yorkers in today’s escalating affordability crisis, such as unexpected family events, car repairs, legal fees, and more.

The power of good financial products + expert financial coaching

Access to the Fresh Start Loan is exclusively paired with financial coaching, ensuring borrowers have essential wraparound support both to navigate the qualification and application process and to use their loan funds as a platform for long-term financial security.

The results of this partnership demonstrate the power of combining access to a safe, affordable financial product with trusted, expert financial guidance tailored to the needs of low-wage workers. Among our 2025 loan recipients:

  • Credit card debt dropped dramatically—from an average of $19,436 to $11,187, with 78% of clients reducing their debt by a median of nearly $8,000
  • Overall debt (including installment loans) decreased for 81% of participants, with a median reduction of over $13,209
  • Credit scores improved for 86% of clients, rising an average of 30 points
  • 44% of participants moved up an entire credit tier—including from Subprime to Prime
  • 95% remain “current” on their loan payments, an extraordinary repayment rate that ensures funds can be re-lent to the next person in need.

These statistics represent real workers who have a fresh opportunity to get out of debt, putting money back in their pockets right away and saving them thousands in interest and fees over the life of their loan.

Hear directly from one of our clients, Ashley D, about her experience working with a TrustPlus Financial Coach to qualify and apply for the loan, helping her get out of stressful, high-interest debt.

Visit our landing page to learn more.