Operating a program that provides transportation to low-income families
Abstract
Lack of reliable transportation can be an insurmountable barrier for individuals who want to move off welfare into the workforce. Without transportation, it's difficult to search for jobs, get to jobs or transport children to child care. The Good News Garage in Vermont accepts donated vehicles, reconditions them, and passes them on to economically disadvantaged individuals for the cost of the repairs. The organization also provides a managed carpool program for individuals who cannot access a vehicle through the Good News Garage. This effective practice was shared at the AmeriCorps*VISTA Faith-Based and Community Organization Conference at the University of Indianapolis, August 20-22, 2001.
Issue
For thousands of New Englanders, the lack of affordable, dependable transportation is a major stumbling block to full employment opportunities. Furthermore, it is an insurmountable barrier for individuals who want to move off welfare into the workforce. Without transportation, people in rural areas cannot search for jobs, get to jobs, or transport their children to child care. Even in more populated areas served by public transportation, second- and third-shift jobs are unreachable without a car. Without transportation, people are denied the dignity that is a natural outgrowth of having a decent job that allows one to support a family and contribute meaningfully to society.
Action
The Good News Garage (GNG), a program of Lutheran Social Services of New England (LSSNE), is an innovative, faith-based transportation equity program that addresses a pressing need. The Good News Garage accepts donated vehicles, reconditions them, and passes them on to economically disadvantaged individuals for the cost of the repairs (average $1,150). GNG serves people throughout the state of Vermont whose gross income is less than 150 percent of the federal government's poverty level. Vehicle donors gain a tax deduction while offering an economic jumpstart to someone striving to become self-sufficient. Based in Burlington, Vermont, it is the first program of its kind in New England. Reconditioning costs are reimbursed by agencies that refer participants to GNG via supportive service funding.
The Good News Garage also operates a program called CommuteShare. CommuteShare is a managed carpool program that GNG operates similarly to the federally funded RideShare program. CommuteShare's target population is low-income people who don't own cars and are unable to access a car even through the Good News Garage. The Good News Garage owns the vehicles, organizes the routes, drivers and passengers, and provides all maintenance, repairs, replacement costs and insurance. Commuter groups of two or more applicants are formed, and participants pay an affordable monthly sliding scale fee for access to these vehicles. The vehicles are available for job access and personal needs such as grocery shopping and medical appointments. CommuteShare also offers a Guaranteed Ride Home in case of emergencies.
Context
The Good News Garage was created through LSSNE's Congregational Social Ministry Outreach process. Five local Lutheran congregations met twice a month for a year to learn and understand the needs of the Burlington community. The lack of transportation equity for low-income people was identified as a need not being addressed by the social service community. LSSNE embraced the GNG concept and the local congregations affirmed and have supported the program.
The Good News Garage works closely with several state of Vermont departments: the Department of Prevention Assistance Transition and Health Access (PATH), the Department of Employment and Training, and the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Through these agencies, subsidies are provided to low-income applicants to help pay for the cost of the repairs of GNG vehicles and grant support is provided to help cover the program's administrative costs. Other entities in Vermont are involved as well, including the Northeast Kingdom Community Action Program and the Northern Community Investment Corp., both of which collaborate to assist potential employees in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom area to acquire affordable, private transportation. We are currently working on a partnership with other Vermont Community Action Programs to have in place a working relationship with all five of them within the next two years.
With initial funding from LSSNE, the Good News Garage was set up in loaned space at the Chittenden County Transportation Authority in July 1996. Later, the Garage set up shop in its own garage space and has expanded to include two office spaces, off-site storage, and 14 employees. Currently several volunteers put in a total of over 40 hours of work per week working with applicants, matching cars to applicants, entering data, and picking up and delivering cars. A capital campaign is underway to raise $1.7 million ($1.3 million raised) to consolidate the program physically under one roof and double its production capacity. GNG expects to move into its new location by June 2002.
Outcome
In the last five years since its modest start-up, the Good News Garage has enabled more than 700 Vermont families to purchase donated reconditioned cars for the cost of repairs. The Vermont legislature provided $107,000 over two years to the Good News Garage to open a satellite program in Vermont's "Northeast Kingdom," a mountainous, rural area on the Canadian border with high unemployment and no public transportation. Another satellite Good News Garage has been established in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and additional programs are being planned for opening in Connecticut (October 2001) and New Hampshire (March 2002).
CommuteShare has provided nearly 1,800 rides to Vermont residents in about one and a half years of operation. Vermont's new One-Stop Centers are planning with GNG to expand the cost-effective program statewide.
Most significantly, 75 percent of vehicle recipients participating in Vermont's Department of PATH Reach Up program have moved off welfare into employment.
Evidence
The University of Vermont has conducted a cost/benefit analysis of the GNG program to measure its fiscal impact in the community. The study looked at recipient families one year prior to receiving a GNG vehicle and a year after receiving their vehicle. The mean aggregate support payments provided by the state decreased $2,000 per household per year. The mean earned income of the families increased $3,000 per household per year.
More than 400 communities from around the country have contacted GNG for general information or technical support to replicate the program. GNG has conducted two surveys with recipients where results strongly support the program's effectiveness. GNG has been recognized by HUD as the "Best of the Best" Best Practices in August 2000 and received a Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Non-Profit Management Innovation Award in November 1999.
Posted On
August 22, 2001For More Information
Resources
DID YOU FIND THIS PAGE BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE?
Be advised that the Resource Center’s Effective Practices Collection is not affiliated with the program described on this page. We do not have information about, nor can we provide assistance with, transportation issues.
For information specific to the Good News Garage in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Vermont, refer to their contact information, below. Information for programs in other states can be found at http://goodnewsgarage.org/Apply/Others-state-programs.aspx.
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