“Vehicles for Change” Automobile Awarded to Low-Income, Working County Resident | Community Spirit

The following information was sent to us by Susan Yancy:

On Wednesday, December 21 at 10:30 a.m., Shanita Godfrey will become the newest County 

resident to receive an affordable, reliable vehicle through the Vehicles for Change (VFC) 

automobile donation program.   

Shanita Godfrey, a working, Bethesda single mother of two, will receive the keys to a 2001 

Toyota Camry at an award ceremony to be held at the Housing Opportunities Commission, 10400 

Detrick Avenue in Kensington.  She will be purchasing the car for $750. Vehicles for Change 

provides a 6-month/6,000 mile warranty for these cars.  

Ms. Godfrey currently has a five-hour round trip commute using public transportation.  She will 

now have reliable personal transportation, enabling her to work additional hours, pick up her 

children from separate day care sites, and spend more time at home with family. 

Since October 2002, 179 low-income families receiving assistance through HOC’s affordable 

housing programs, have received affordable refurbished automobiles through a partnership 

between HOC Community Partners (HOC’s nonprofit affiliate) and Vehicles for Change.  

All of the HOC clients receiving the vehicles are enrolled in the HOC Family Self-Sufficiency 

Program (FSS), The goal of the five-year FSS program is to build on the stability that housing 

subsidies provide and to break the cycle of poverty for future generations by assisting families 

toward economic independence.  Ms. Godfrey, who is one of more than 440 participants in the 

FSS program, is on track to graduate from FSS next year.