This is Sarah’s story, edited to keep her safe and help you read. Quotes are Sarah’s own words. Names have been changed.

Life’s been a journey, but one of the toughest periods was not long ago when I almost lost everything.

At the time, we were living in a semi-rural area. As a solo mum I was working while trying to keep our heads above water. It became clear I needed to downsize from our family home, which I bought off my ex-partner when the property market was high. Interest rates were skyrocketing, and it was stressful to know I needed to sell before I couldn’t afford the mortgage anymore. I just needed to bide my time until the market started to pick up again and I could make enough to secure a new mortgage.

Around this time, the gearbox in my car failed and needed to be replaced. I couldn’t afford to fix it. But without the car, I wouldn’t be able to get to work. Public transport wasn’t an option where we lived. If I couldn’t fix the car, I’d lose my job. Without my job, I’d lose the house. We were at the brink of a spiral that would be hard to stop. 

“If Good Loans hadn’t helped me, it would have been really dire.”

Every option I explored turned into a dead end. My bank wouldn’t approve a personal loan because of my mortgage. I tried other lenders, but I kept getting declined. It was my boss who suggested I apply for a loan through Good Shepherd.

“I felt trapped. I felt like my best efforts weren’t working.”

The process of applying for the loan was straightforward once I got started. Bex, the person who helped me, was incredibly kind and supportive. She treated me like an individual, not just another application. She could see my situation — that I was equity-rich but serviceability-poor — and she understood the challenges I was facing. She didn’t judge and treated me with respect, which made all the difference to me when I was at my wits’ end.

“I feel like it helped me not have a nervous breakdown. It was a really huge sense of relief. Bex was just really kind…She could see I had equity and money that I couldn’t access. She empathised with me and saw I was a good steward of money with no credit cards or afterpay or anything. I felt seen.”

There was a bit of a delay before I was connected with Bex, which was stressful given how urgent my situation was. When people are desperate, they’re more likely to turn to predatory lenders. I’m grateful I held out, but I can see how others might not have that patience. Once everything was finalised, though, I could breathe again.

The interest-free loan allowed me to repair my car without sinking deeper into debt. Given my situation with the house, I don’t think I would have been able to afford a car loan with high interest rates. The Good Loan helped me manage everything so things didn’t fall apart. I could get to work, earn my income and hold onto our home until it was sold. That stability meant the world to me and my kids. Growing up, my parents’ divorce left me feeling constantly uprooted. I didn’t want that for my kids.

“I would have been devastated if I had to rent because the only time I’ve ever had stability is when I was in charge of my own money and had my own house. My kids have been able to stay in the home they grew up in their whole lives until I could sell it. They had stability I never had. That was really big for me.”

Life is still challenging, but it’s more manageable. I’ve downsized to a smaller house closer to town, which means I can walk to shops or catch a bus if the car ever has issues again. My mortgage is smaller — though with the current interest rates, my weekly payments haven’t decreased much. I’m just treading water until the rates hopefully drop next year. But we have a home, and that’s something I’m deeply grateful for.

“I count myself as one of the lucky ones. I feel blessed, and we have a roof over my head. It could always be worse.”

Looking back, the Good Loan wasn’t just financial assistance. It prevented a cascade of other losses. Sometimes, one small thing can stop everything else from spiraling. It helped me keep my job, my house and my peace of mind. The weekly payments for the loan are really manageable. Without the burden of interest, I can focus on moving forward.

I’m proud of the steps I’ve taken to provide for my family. The loan gave me the breathing room we need to get through that difficult time. For anyone in a tough spot, sometimes all you need is a helping hand, and for me, that’s exactly what Good Shepherd provided.