KEYS (Keeping Employment equals Your Success) Auto Loan Program
The KEYS Auto Loan Program is the Employment & Human Services Department’s (EHSD) low-interest auto loan program intended to provide auto loans to help employed CalWORKs participants in Contra Costa County, to purchase a vehicle. The loan has a maximum dollar amount of $7,000 and up to a 3-year term (Loans over $6,000 carry a 3- year term; loans below $6,000 carry a 2-to-3-year loan term.) This auto loan program targets those participants for whom an automobile is the only practical means of transportation to employment or training, and who would otherwise not be able to obtain an auto loan.
The KEYS Auto Loan Program is the Employment & Human Services Department’s (EHSD) low-interest auto loan program for employed CalWORKs participants who have difficulty obtaining an auto loan from other sources.
Referral to the KEYS program is through the CalWORKs participant’s EHSD case manager.
In its 20+ years as a program KEYS has provided 150 loans to CalWORKs participants in Contra Costa County to assist them in maintaining their employment. The program has a maximum loan amount of $7,000.00 and an average monthly loan payment of $180.00 a month. All vehicles financed through the program are diagnostically inspected by a certified mechanic at no cost to the loan participant. The program also provides budget management material to all loan participants as well as car maintenance on their vehicle that they finance through KEYS.
Responses from the participants in the program were very positive.