PRISM’s Car Program Offers Opportunities To Those in Need

Minneapolis mom Rose Lobley was driving around a 1988 Buick LeSabre a few weeks ago when the car started to act up. She took it in for repairs only to find out the bill would be $1,700.

“There was no way I could afford that,” she said. “No way.”

Without a car, Lobley was out of work. Then, she heard about an auto program through .

In 2000 PRISM took over car loans from a dissolving nonprofit. Seeing the need for this kind of program, the Golden Valley-based organization decided to create a program of its own.

“PRISM decided to get a dealer’s license to allow us to take in donated vehicles, added an in-house car class and budgeting class, and invited more families to be in the program,” PRISM Executive Director Liz Johnson explained.

PRISM takes donated cars, repairs them and then sells them to accepted applicants with a low-interest loan. Lobley applied for the program, and is now the proud owner of 2000 Ford Focus.

“I love my car,” Lobely said, who makes payments on the car each month. “You would not believe how thankful I am for this car.”

With a running vehicle, Lobely was able to go back to work. Johnson says that is one of the main goals of the program.

“Steady and advancing employment is the answer to families financial success and without reliable transportation, steady employment is often just out of reach,” she said.

In the past 12 years the program has grown. It has helped 500 families obtain low cost transportation and Johnson says the need is only growing. Right now, people come from all over the metro to participate in the car program that is housed in Golden Valley.

PRISM plans to open several smaller sites across the metro area to accommodate the growing demand of clients like North Minneapolis resident Josh Wilson.

“No other place will give you an honest chance with a car loan,” Wilson said. “Other places wanted to charge me 20 percent interest because of my credit. I shouldn’t have to pay for a car twice just because of a few bumps in my past.”

Wilson, who has six kids, is now driving a Plymouth Voyager thanks to the PRISM car program.

For more information about the car program at PRISM call 763-529-1350.