Helping People Build Income, Confidence, and Independence - One Small Loan at a Time

At Our Livable Solution (OLS), we believe that people don’t just need support, they need opportunity, trust, and a chance to grow.

The OLS Micro Loan Pilot Project is a new initiative at our Community House that helps residents build skills, confidence, and income by starting small, supported projects of their own.

How the Program Works

Participants start with a small micro-loan (up to $100) to launch a simple project - such as yard work services, baking, crafts, reselling items, cleaning services, or other small business ideas.

They use the loan to buy supplies, run their project, earn money, repay the loan, and keep any profit they make.

When they complete a stage, they can move to the next level and take on a larger project.

The program includes 10 stages, starting with $100 and growing step-by-step up to $5,000 as participants build skills, confidence, and responsibility.

But this program is about more than earning money.

At each stage, participants also complete:

• A learning activity (budgeting, customer service, planning, etc.)

• A compassion activity (helping others, volunteering, mentoring, community projects)

This means participants are not only building income - they are building character, confidence, and community.

Why This Program Matters

Many of the individuals we support have never had the opportunity to try running a small business, managing money, or earning income on their own terms.

This program helps participants develop:

• Financial literacy

• Job and employment skills

• Confidence and independence

• Problem-solving skills

• Communication and customer service skills

• Leadership and teamwork

• A sense of purpose and pride

• Real work experience

• Income they earned themselves

Participants move from:“I don’t know if I can” → “I can try” → “I can earn” → “I can build” → “I can lead.”

A Revolving Fund That Keeps Helping

The micro loans are provided through a revolving loan fund.When a participant repays a loan, that money is used to fund the next participant’s project.

This means one donation can help many people over time, not just once.

Your donation doesn’t just help one person, it helps create opportunity again and again.

Our Pilot Project Goal

We are launching this program as a pilot project with 7 residents at the OLS Community House.

Our goal is to help participants:

• Start small projects

• Earn income

• Learn new skills

• Build confidence

• Contribute to their community

• Develop greater independence

We will track progress, learning, and outcomes so we can grow and expand this program in the future.

How You Can Help

We are raising funds to create the OLS Micro Loan Revolving Fund. We are also looking for volunteers who can help mentor budding entrepreneurs, who can participate in project evaluations and who can cheerlead. Email volunteer@ourlivable.solutions.

The Bigger Vision

This program is about more than small businesses.

It’s about helping people discover that they are capable of:

• Creating value

• Earning income

• Solving problems

• Helping others

• Building a future

Please Consider Supporting the OLS Micro-Loans Pilot Project

Your support will help create opportunity, confidence, and independence — one small step at a time.

Together, we can help people build skills, build income, build confidence, and build community.