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There is a distinction between grant and micro-loan.  I think my point is that everyone, no matter how good or bad things are, should fend for themselves.  Can you get money for free?  Maybe.  But I believe that without responsibility, giving free money away will not help a person.  Are there people who genuinely need and can't survive without welfare or charity?  Yes.  Society should help those who can't help themselves.

But if you can help yourself, you should.  A micro-loan is a small amount of money (it's all relative),  maybe 100 to 1000 dollars but is given for a specific purpose and underlying that is a plan for how to use that money to improve your situation.  Namely, you have to figure out how to dig yourself out of a hole and how and why this money will improve your family's situation.  It should be a longer-term thing, not a short-term one-time I need to pay my electric bill type of thing.  Because you pay your bill this month, what about next month?   So, if things are tough,  there needs to be a change in your game plan.  What is the plan to make your life better?  I can only help so much but you have to take action.

You know the saying about giving a man a fish or teaching him to fish?  I could give you a fish and you wouldn't be hungry today.  But if I help you find your own fish, you can self-sustain yourself.

Thanks for your comment.

I happened to come across this site and I know a lot of people are desperate and near the point of no return.  I am willing to help the most needy people out there (money, food, etc.).  But how I do I know I'm helping someone who actually needs help and not a lesson on managing money?

Things are bad right now but it won't be like this forever.  If things are really bad for you, how are you getting on the internet and posting here? Have you really cut all the expenses you can to survive?

I am willing to make micro-loans to people who really need it, can prove it, and have a good plan to dig themselves out of a hole.  Do you ever say "If only..."?  If only this. If only that.  Let's say we took care of that one thing.  Will there be another one thing right after that?  Look at the source of issue and cut all the fat you possibly can.

Would be interested to know what people think about all this.