KEVIN & DANIELLE

“We can’t buy a house because of this debt. Even if we had the down payment, even if we had the credit, we still cannot buy a house. We have to pay this off in full.”

~ Danielle

Kevin and Danielle are parents to three small children. As pastors at a small non-profit, they fundraise for their family’s income. Their combined LFO debt is about $133,000, including fees for traffic infractions and misdemeanors, plus 12% interest. They also have to repay unemployment compensation, plus interest. As an example, one of them owes $4,537, plus $2,984 in interest, to one county court, so the current balance is $7,522.

Says Danielle, “I haven’t even talked to these guys [the court clerk’s office] because [. . .] County is notorious for throwing people in jail. So if they don’t hear from me, then maybe I don’t get to go to jail?”

Despite being gifted a down payment to buy a home, mortgage lenders will not finance their home purchase, because the state would immediately put a lien on the house.