Service teaches how to life debt-free
Dot and Nigel Trewhitt from Christians against Poverty with regional manager Katie Ieriko and head of frontline delivery Nissy Concisom.
‘‘We care, we are here, and our help is confidential and free.’’
A new centre to help families struggling with debt has opened in Kā piti.
Christians Against Poverty, a not-for-profit organisation which provides free debt-help and money management services across Aotearoa, has opened its first Debt Help Centre in Kā piti, in conjunction with Coast Community Church.
Centre manager Nigel Trewhitt says he anticipates that a number of people in Kā piti will ‘‘have the chance to escape the stress of unmanageable debt and discover new financial freedom’’.
Working alongside him is his wife Dot, who is a trained CAP debt coach.
‘‘My message to people and families is: if you have debt piling up and you feel like you’re struggling to hold it together, talk to the friendly team at Christians Against Poverty.
‘‘Around 2300 people across Aotearoa just like you have gone completely debt-free with our help, and we want to hear from you next.
‘‘We care, we are here, and our help is confidential and free.
‘‘I understand it can be daunting reaching out for help,’’ he says, but his message to those struggling financially is ‘‘you are worth it.’’
‘‘Thousands of people just like you have called and 99% report our service as friendly, professional and non-judgmental.
‘‘We visit you in the privacy of your home, or in another suitable place and set you up with a budget to meet life’s needs, ensuring all essential costs such as healthy food, rent and bills are covered.
‘‘We also negotiate affordable payments with money lenders and do our best to stop unfair interest, charges and fees.’’
Trewhitt says the goal is for people to be able to pay off debts and at the same time have more money for essentials.
Melanie Searancke says she turned to Christians Against Poverty after constant pressure from lenders to make repayments that was fuelling anxiety and she was struggling to pay for food for her son.
‘‘I had people ringing me all the time, knocking at my door, Facebook messaging me.
‘‘I started getting really harassed and I wasn’t in a good space,’’ she says.
Once she reached out to Christians Against Poverty, the organisation took over all dealings with finance companies, and the phone calls and messages stopped, she says.
‘‘Opening letter after letter of ‘you owe, you owe’… to have all that stop … I didn’t have that stress of people following me.’’
After three years working with Christians Against Poverty, Melanie paid off all her debts and was completely debt-free.
But for her, the sweetest result of her new-found freedom was the change in her 4-year-old son, who had been affected by the tough years of debt and despair.
‘‘He actually stopped hugging me for a couple of years . . .’’
And now? ‘‘He hugs me now, yeah, all the time!’’
■ For free help, or to support Christians Against Poverty continue to provide this free service, call 0508 227 111 or visit capnz. org
For further information or interviews you can contact: Nigel Trewhitt 022 174 7270 Christians Against Poverty, In conjunction with Coast Community Church, KĀ PITI.