Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS)

The Hebrew Free Loan Society (hfls) advances economic stability and opportunity for lower-income new yorkers within and beyond the jewish community by making safe, affordable interest-free loans. Hfls is a non-sectarian lender, serving the new york city area since 1892.hfls provides 0%-interest loans to assist low and moderate-income households who are struggling to manage spikes in expenses, dips in income, and all types of emergency or outsize needs. Hfls loans help lower-income individuals and families pay for college, graduate school, or professional training; manage medical and dental expenses; afford moving costs and security deposits; consolate and reduce high-interest debt; start or expand a small business; access expensive special education services for their special needs children; pay immigration and legal fees; and more. At end of fy23, hfls had 3,989 loans outstanding totaling $34.14 million; in fy23 alone, hfls disbursed 2,033 loans totaling more than $29 million, an increase of nearly $5.5m and more than 100 loans over the prior fy.