Albany- Charlie Gardner has been using a hammer for as long as he can remember.
"Basically it's something I've done most of my life so it's just something I love to do," Gardner said.
So he opened his own construction company, and went to the city for help.
"I went in and applied for it and I was able to get it."
He received two loans and paid each off within months. But everyone who borrows money isn't quite like Charlie. City commissioners have decided to write off money they may never see. But there are 50 delinquent borrowers who they're not giving up on.
"Well, they've got to the point where they've gone at least 90 days past due," said Johnny Hamilton, the community development manager.
Those 50 people borrowed more than $1.2 million, but have repaid less than $205,000.
"Some of them have been there for years," Hamilton said. "They've just remained in the system and we've been doing everything we legally can do to try to collect on them."
But most people, like Charlie, do pay the money back. Those were dollars that helped him become his own boss.
"Doing your own thing and seeing how well you can do it and, ya know, how successful you can be at it," Gardner said.
At the end of the day, Charlie goes home knowing the only person he owes anything to is himself.
Here's the list of Delinquent Active Cases
CLIENT LOAN AMT. PRINCIPAL PAID
Allen, Wayne S. & Jacqueline J. $7,311.60 $201.68
Anderson, Jeron & Velma $10,000.00 $4,429.61
Anthony, Delothia $17,988.00 $6,135.00
Arnold, Carlton $33,926.28 $716.86
Bradford, Jimmy $137,485.28 $6,300.00
Burton, Tyjuana L. & Orson D. $17,242.32 $1,773.83
Carr, Pearlie $26,116.20 $4,616.97
Chapman, Philmore J. $10,000.00 -
Chatmon, Tommy & Brenda $82,121.71 $6,728.62
Clark, Rickie $6,167.00 -
Cunningham, Dervin $20,000.00 $17,970.01
Daniels, Rosa $11,422.00 -
Davis, Jessie $24,222.00 $1,932.21
Eckles, Rebecca & James $25,000.00 $12,038.50
Griffin, Bennie $15,300.00 $765.00
Griffin, Otis $52,122.84 $20,165.29
Hall, Gordon $10,511.62 $8,348.76
Hawthorne, John $4,455.00 $760.64
Haynes, James $12,529.11 -
Holt, Phyleatha A. $3,308.00 -
Houston, Antrinita & Timothy $24,386.96 -
Kegler, Andrew L. $18,284.50 $830.08
Lingo, James $25,631.55 $1,193.20
Lofton, William Wesley $23,429.00 $3,417.32
Malone, Gloria $28,445.00 $3,389.08
Mosley, Frank $19,000.00 $18,106.20
Payne, Nathaniel $8,698.00 $7,305.88
Perkins, Sharon D. $13,818.60 $1,619.70
Peterson, Gail $16,906.37 $4,276.23
Reeves, Perry $22,097.53 -
Reeves, Phyllis $25,000.00 -
Ross, Ethel Wright $37,100.00 $5,023.07
Rowe, William $25,185.30 $2,679.76
Sheppard, Glenda $42,932.99 $4,179.97
Singfield, Glenn & Tandra $50,000.00 $5,675.68
Smith, Aaron $35,009.00 $5,358.62
Stephens, Phyllis $22,250.00 $943.26
Sutton, Tracy B. $60,030.50 $72.13
Tucker, Magdalene $41,267.00 $7,085.55
Turner, Helen W. $19,844.34 $5,955.62
Washington, George & Bertha $22,800.00 $3,416.59
Washington, Diane C. $35,818.00 $3,359.12
Williams, Gwendolyn $22,237.00 $3,195.19
Winston, Geraldine $400.00 $120.00
Wright, Jewon & Sherry $25,000.09 $5,895.59
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