Debra Grant has led the charge on many issues in South Hampton Roads including opposing voter suppression laws, fighting predatory lending and fair redistricting.

Most recently Debra helped with the successful effort to get the Chesapeake City Council to pass a requirement for predatory loan stores to get conditional use permits before locating or re-locating in the city of Chesapeake. Thanks to the efforts of Debra and other supporters the public will be able to comment on whether these lenders should get the permits.

Debra is one of many Virginians who has fallen into the predatory lending trap. “I’ve been caught in the predatory lending cycle of debt and so have my children. My son even lost his car to the car title lenders. Now, that I am out of the cycle of debt, I spend my time helping others realize that there is a better way. These payday lenders are hurting low-income communities,” said Debra.

Debra has helped with BankOn, an initiative of the Interfaith Alliance to provide small loans to low-income residents who would otherwise get caught in the predatory lending trap. So far the program has helped over 100 South Hampton Roads families avoid the predatory lending trap and get financial planning education.