Getting Behind the Wheel — and Ahead in Life

Financial Stability Depends on a Reliable Ride

Only 32% of jobs in the greater Rochester region are accessible within a 90-minute bus route. That number drops to 10% if you’re looking for a ride to work that takes 45 minutes or less. Those long commutes on public transportation take away time residents could be making additional income or spending with family.

One innovative program is tackling the trouble with transportation by addressing barriers to car ownership. Driven2Success, a program of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester, helps income-qualifying residents develop savvy car-buying skills and access affordable auto loans. 

Low-Cost Car Loans Open Opportunities

Reliable transportation is key to keeping a job or getting one with more earning potential, but buying a car requires having a handle on things like your credit score and household budget. 

Through one-on-one counseling and car buyer education, Driven2Success connects eligible residents with trusted loan partners — often securing better loan terms than they’d find on the open market. On average, clients save over $3,000 a year on transportation by reducing loan interest, spending less on rideshares, and gaining back time for income-earning opportunities.

“People can come to us for help and not feel any shame about their credit or any of those issues,” said Deniz Akman, program coordinator for the Driven2Success program. 

“People can come to us for help and not feel any shame about their credit or any of those issues.”

— Deniz Akman, Driven2Success program coordinator

Driven2Success Hits the Road

Since launching in Monroe County two years ago, Driven2Success has received more than 900 applications and helped over 40 residents secure car loans and get behind the wheel of their own car. This got neighboring counties interested in how this model could help increase car ownership and financial stability for their residents too.

One program participant, Karen Delgado, describes the impact Driven2Success had on her job prospects and home life. “They’ve definitely been instrumental in me being able to grow my financial profile which has grown everything else in my life exponentially not just from the house but even just making myself feel like, ‘well, I can pretty much do anything,’” said Delgado. 

“Being able to grow my financial profile [makes me] feel like, ‘well, I can pretty much do anything,’”

— Karen Delgado, program participant

A group of funders consisting of the Community Foundation, ESL Foundation, Excellus Foundation, and Greater Rochester Health Foundation invested together to support an expansion of Drive2Success into Ontario and Wayne Counties. A network of trusted partners is spreading the word about the program and helping clients get ready for car ownership.

A $70,000 grant from the Community Foundation will support Driven2Success in providing car buying education to 1,000 residents and helping 500 clients secure affordable car loans over the next four years. 

Do you want to help more neighbors reach their financial goals? The Upward Mobility Fund empowers individuals and communities to achieve greater financial stability by creating opportunities for long-term economic independence. Give today.

Community Foundation Grantmaking

The Community Foundation promotes two broad grantmaking goals that align with our vision for community change: creating an equitable community and strengthening our region’s vitality.

The Driven2Success program contributes to a more equitable community by addressing a key transportation barrier (in alignment with the Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework) and by supporting two of the more rural counties in our service area.

This grant was supported by the Sarah Collins Fund and Vincent and Marjorie Olney Fund.