Unlocking doors: How a Partnership with Second Chance Cars is Making Goal Achievement Possible
At Horizons for Homeless Children, we support families by helping them create pathways to brighter futures. Every step forward is an opportunity for growth, but for many parents, a major hurdle remains: access to reliable transportation. Through a new partnership with Second Chance Cars, a nonprofit dedicated to providing reliable vehicles to low-income recipients who need them to get to work, families now have a means to overcome this significant challenge. This collaboration recently helped one of our moms, Shelene, acquire a car that will help her take the next step toward a better future.
The Challenge of Reliable, Cost-Effective Transportation
Horizons’ team of Family Coaching Specialists often hear that transportation can be a barrier to employment for parents whose children attend the center. Many parents experiencing homelessness face difficult decisions about how to balance childcare, work, and their own education, all while navigating unreliable transportation options. Imagine a parent coming from one neighborhood to drop off their child in Roxbury and then continuing to work somewhere else, so that they can be back to Roxbury in time for 5:00 pickup. If travel is on public transportation or in an unreliable car that breaks down frequently, time and money is wasted.
"We'd often see parents needing to choose between paying exorbitant interest rates to finance a car or have no car at all. Seeing parents use 1/3 to 1/5 of their income to pay for a vehicle is what led us to pursue this partnership. We knew there had to be another way.”
Unlocking doors for Career Advancement
Shelene wakes up early to bring her two enrolled children to Horizons every weekday. After drop-off, she heads upstairs to attend an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class. From there, she heads to one of her two jobs taking two buses or relying on costly Uber rides. Her time working is limited because with transfers, the bus takes longer than a car and she’s got to allow for travel time that gets her back to Roxbury in time to pick up her children. Maruthska Catulle, Shelene’s Family Coaching Specialist, explained, “Shelene has shown incredible commitment to her family and her goals, especially her desire to improve her English and secure a full-time job.” When the opportunity arose to provide her with a car through Second Chance Cars, Maruthska didn’t hesitate: Shelene was at the top of her list.
On the Road to Growth, Stability, and Security
For Shelene, receiving the car is more than just about convenience—it’s about opportunity. The car is a tool that will allow Shelene to not only improve her work situation but also create more time and space for her children, building a stronger, more secure future for them all.
The impact of this partnership goes beyond just the car itself. “In addition to the vehicle, Shelene has gained her voice throughout this process,” Maruthska said. “She always said, ‘I don’t speak English,’ but I’ve watched her skills improve throughout the application process.” This car, while crucial in terms of transportation, also represents Shelene’s growth as an individual. It’s a symbol of her hard work, her determination to improve, and her resilience in the face of challenges.
The Power of Partnerships
Second Chance Cars (SCC) receives donated vehicles and works with vocational schools to refurbish and prepare them for their next owner. The team at Horizons worked with Shelene on the paperwork to demonstrate her readiness and need. SCC cars, including Shelene’s, are worth about $6000, cost $900 and are paid for via a guaranteed, zero interest loan regardless of credit score. The loan will be paid off over a year and will help Shelene build her credit score, putting her in a better position for the future. Once all the final paperwork was done, representatives from both organizations, including the car’s original owner and donor, gathered for the hand-off to Shelene.
This collaboration with Second Chance Cars is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when organizations and communities come together to support those in need.
"This community of goodness celebrates this new partnership and the positive impact it will have on families like Shelene’s.”
