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Transportation

Auto Financing

• Lack of transportation is a significant barrier to work for many TANF parents and lack of affordable credit can prevent individuals from purchasing a vehicle. States can support policies designed to help families purchase automobiles and build credit. Some possible strategies include:
• Increase reporting and monitoring requirements on auto finance companies to ensure that they do not take advantage of low-income families who are only able to qualify for sub-prime financing rates.
• Include financial literacy and credit counseling in the state's welfare reform plan in order to help TANF recipients learn to budget, build credit and avoid predatory lenders.
• Require sub-prime lenders to report a customer's good payment histories (instead of reporting only late payments or defaults) so borrowers can build a positive credit history.

Ways to Work is a national program that provides loans to low-income families in order to help parents find and maintain employment. Loans may be used for automobile purchase or repair, mortgage or housing costs, or child care expenses. The borrower must repay the loan within 2 years. Borrowers participate in financial management counseling and maintain communication with the loan coordinator throughout the repayment period.

Charity Cars, Inc. is a Florida-based nonprofit that provides refurbished vehicles to disadvantaged families. The program also provides vehicle repair services and AAA memberships. Referrals are made through local social service agencies. Clients must be employed or participating in a work activity within 30 days of receiving the vehicle and must remain employed for the entire 1-year lien period.

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) provides employment-related transportation to individuals moving from welfare to work in the Detroit area. The program offers several transportation-related services.

• SMARTCards are available (through participating employers) to newly employed individuals to allow them to ride on SMART's fixed route service free of charge.
• The SMART Jobline provides information on job openings along the SMART bus route.
• Job Express provides transportation directly to job sites within 1 mile of the SMART fixed bus route.

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