VOA标准英语2014--美国小银行帮助失业的借款人找到工作,避免丧失抵押品赎回权

 

Small US Bank Helps Unemployed¹ Borrowers Find Jobs, Avoid Foreclosure 美国小银行帮助失业的借款人找到工作,避免丧失抵押品赎回权

Home foreclosures have declined in many parts of the United States, but tens of thousands of Americans are still losing their homes every month.  It’s all part of the changes brought on by the Great Recession - changes that have hurt average incomes and in some cases made some jobs obsolete².  But a small Midwest bank is challenging other financial institutions to be part of the solution by teaching their customers the skills to stay employed and reclaim³ their share of the "American Dream".

Since 2007, more than five million American families have lost their homes to foreclosure.

Marketing⁴ manager Katrina Holmes almost became one of them.  Just weeks after buying a new home for her family, she lost her job.  With her options running out, Holmes contacted her mortgage lender.  She expected the bank to tell her she had to give up her dream of home ownership.

“Fifth Third Bank could have said to me: 'you got to go.'  And they didn’t.  And that would have been worse but I have not had to deal with worse," said Holmes.

Holmes is just one of the success stories from Fifth Third Bank’s decision this year to use part of its advertising⁵ budget to hire a career-coaching firm to help unemployed borrowers.  Holmes landed a job in the health industry - and the bank earned a loyal customer.  Bank spokesperson Larry Magnesen calls that a good  business decision.”

“A foreclosure is a disaster for all concerned.  It’s a tragedy for the family.  It’s not a good thing for the community and in many cases, the bank will lose a substantial amount of money on that process.  So no bank wants to take back a home.  So this is a really great solution for all concerned," said Magnesen.

Randall Jackson faced losing his Chicago home after being unemployed for nine months.  The last thing he expected from his bank - was career coaching.

“I was just absolutely shocked that Fifth Third was offering such a program to me and so I signed up and it turned out to be one of the best things I’d ever done," said Jackson.

Besides helping⁶ build effective resumes, the 16-week program relies heavily on one-on-one career guidance.  That's important says NextJob CEO John Courtney, who says unemployment can take a heavy toll⁷ on job seekers.

"The first part is to help build their confidence and with their accomplishments⁸-based resume that doesn't just list their work history but goes through all of their accomplishments - they begin to stand up a little straighter, begin to approach the job market with more hope and more confidence to go into an interview and land that job," said Courtney.

While foreclosures have fallen to their lowest level since the financial crisis, each month - some 100 thousand American families face the prospect⁹ of losing their homes.  Banks and financial institutions which helped create the conditions that led to the crisis ought to be part of the solution, says Fifth Third Bank's Larry Magnesen.

"There's certainly a lot of people who had a hand in creating the crisis and I think we all have to take a hand in fixing the crisis and addressing these issues," he said.

Fifth Third Bank's re-employment program boasts a 40 percent success rate for long-term unemployed clients, compared to the national average of 11 percent.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

3 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

8 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。