“No More Uber”: How On the Road Lending and City of Refuge Give Back Control and Peace of Mind
Written by On the Road Lending
Kirk found On the Road Lending through City of Refuge in Atlanta. Born in Detroit, Kirk and his family moved to Macon, Georgia when he was 16. After graduating from high school, he decided to get a job instead of going to college. Initially pursuing a career in law enforcement, Kirk soon found himself challenged with layoffs after the pandemic. Looking for a fresh start, he decided to pursue a job opportunity in Las Vegas.
Kirk was working as a security guard on the Las Vegas strip when he started to experience anxiety attacks. As with most people that suffer from these intense worrisome feelings and fear, he just could not control them. He would be fine, and then one day would suffer a sudden episode. He was waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety and felt like he had no control over the fear. Doctors told Kirk that he was suffering from extreme stress, so in looking for a peaceful solution, he decided to move back to Georgia to live with his family.
Kirk continued to fight through the fear to create the life he wanted. He persevered and found a program through City of Refuge’s Tech Transformation Academy to become certified in a cybersecurity program. He graduated from the prestigious Carolina Cyber Center and developed a deep passion for all things related to information security. This journey was an incredible experience that laid a solid foundation for a career in the digital world.
Although Kirk secured a stable job in a growing career pathway, he still struggled every day to get to work. His workplace was far from his home, and he did not have reliable transportation to get there. Kirk found himself spending hundreds of dollars per month on rideshare. He was once again suffering from the stress of relying on public transportation or carpooling. He needed to save precious time and improve his quality of life. He needed a car.
City of Refuge told him about On the Road Lending and he submitted an application with an excellent reference from the City of Refuge program director. We helped him secure a loan for a small SUV, that gave him peace of mind and new career options.
Kirk says that his life has changed in the most positive way. He can get to work now without the hassle of paying almost $50 dollars each workday for rideshare. He can also take his mother to her doctor’s appointments and get her better care. Without his car, transportation was difficult for both of them.
Kirk’s stress level has improved now that he does not have to worry about how he is going to get around, especially in case of emergencies. He said he feels like he has control now that he has reliable transportation.
Like so many of our clients, Kirk now wants to give back to his community and participate in various volunteer opportunities offered at work. He is proud to now be able to help others because he is in such a better position because of his vehicle. He also plans to obtain additional certifications to advance his career.
The partnership between On the Road Lending and City of Refuge is changing lives for the better.
Better Car. Better Job. Better Life.
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