Transportation


Needs

Lack of transportation prevents Work First participants from being able to accept jobs that are very far from home, and transportation problems also contribute to worker absences and tardiness. Participants with unreliable vehicles or no vehicle at all must often use public transportation, which can be slow, time-consuming, and sometimes unreliable. In rural areas, public transportation may not be available at all. Some individuals need to learn to drive, obtain a drivers license, or clear driving violations. Others need assistance with car repair. In the long run, individuals will still need to arrange for their own transportation once they get a job. They may need to consider walking to work or riding on a bike or motorcycle.

Concerns

About 80% of the states welfare families lack reliable transportation. With recipients now facing bot state and federal time limits on their assistance, the need to remove such work barriers has never been greater.

Community Response

Employers, service agencies, and others in the community can all work together to advocate for extended hours and expansion of bus routes, as well as to assess modes by which people get to work. Plans to implement creative solutions can be developed based on assets and needs. Be sure to become familiar with any existing services which may be available for the elderly and disabled.

Strategies

1. Agency Vehicles

A contract between agencies to use vehicles which may be sitting idle for several hours per day could be arranged in order to share transportation among programs.

2. Goodwill

Goodwill Industries has secured some good financial arrangements on cars retired from the county fleet of vehicles. A local car dealer could repair the cars and make them road-worthy. Decisions need to be made concerning who will hold the title. Liability insurance could be donated by a local insurance company.

3. School Buses

Some communities are arranging for school employees to ride to work on school buses and help bus drivers with children if there is room on the buses. Only those individuals who pass a criminal-records check and have no drug or alcohol problems should be considered.

4. Ride Match

This involves a network of "contact" people who could receive phone calls from those who need rides and match them with volunteers who are willing to give rides.

5. Volunteer Drivers

Volunteers from churches and other civic organizations could adopt welfare recipients and coordinate responsibility for driving them to work once a week until they can provide their own transportation.

6. Cooperative Shuttle

A shuttle service could be established along a business corridor that includes several hotels and restaurants that employ entry-level workers. Minimal fees could be assessed or businesses could share the expense. Or bus passes could be provided on existing bus routes.

7. Car Repair Courses

A volunteer could help teach maintenance while helping assess car problems. A course like this could build trust and lead to other types of involvement.

8. Vouchers

Vouchers can be an effective way to provide transportation from remote areas. A voucher is redeemed or paid upon arrival at work.

9. Bikes

A bike-to-work project could rent or donate a bike for a minimum fee. Be sure locks and helmets are part of the project.