Mobility Challenges for Households in Poverty

Record Description
This research-to-practice brief highlights data from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey. Data indicates that low-income households spend a higher proportion of their income on transportation expenses. This disproportionately affects African Americans and Hispanics, who experience the highest rates of poverty. Interestingly, this brief explains that low-income individuals experience transportation differently, depending on the city in which they reside. In Los Angeles and Atlanta, low-income populations have shorter travel radiuses between home and work than the average population. In New York, this trend is the opposite – individuals in poverty are more likely to travel further distances to find work. These trends and challenges have implications for all urban residents, which seem likely to persist in the face of rising transportation costs.
Record Type
Combined Date
2013-12-31T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://nhts.ornl.gov/briefs/PovertyBrief.pdf
Publication Date
2014-01-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

The Drive to Work: The Relationship Between Transportation Access, Housing Assistance, and Employment Among Participants in the Welfare to Work Voucher Program

Record Description
This article analyzes whether access to automobiles and public transport affect employment outcomes for low-income individuals. The authors use longitudinal survey data from participants in the Welfare to Work Voucher Program, which was conducted in five metropolitan areas between 1999 and 2005. Multiple logistic regression shows that access to automobiles has a strong positive correlation to employment. However, neither access to public transport nor registered housing assistance has an impact on job attainment. Research finds that enhancing automobile access for low-income populations could significantly improve employment outcomes among very low-income adults, but that other forms of assistance – including for housing – may not be as effective.
Record Type
Combined Date
2016-03-15T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0739456X16633501
Publication Date
2016-03-16
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

What if Cities Combined Car-Based Solutions with Transit to Improve Access to Opportunity?

Record Description
This brief, published by the Urban Institute, argues for a shift in thinking beyond the “cars versus transit” mentality which isolates urban poor from economic opportunities. Car access is often restrictive for poor families, immigrants, and people of color. Yet at the same time, public transport is often cumbersome or inaccessible – especially for those outside of the densest urban areas. This brief argues for the creation of new regional coalitions – which would assess the transportation needs of low-income households and implement solutions – including strategies combining affordable car ownership, ride sharing, and expanded transit access. Reducing barriers and burdens of car ownership and driver’s licenses, while promoting carpooling and car sharing strategies, could significantly benefit mobility and accessibility for urban low-income populations.
Record Type
Combined Date
2016-06-21T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.urban.org/research/publication/what-if-cities-combined-car-based-so…
Publication Date
2016-06-22
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Employer Engagement by Community-Based Organizations

Record Description
This report from the Urban Institute highlights the work of three community-based organizations taking part in the JPMorgan Chase’s New Skills at Work Initiative. It showcases promising approaches and strategies to engage employers to fill their employment needs and train workers to meet these needs.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-04-30T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/98480/employer_engagement…
Publication Date
2018-05-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Evaluation of Career Bridge: Final Report

Record Description
This MEF Associates evaluation report prepared for the City of Seattle evaluates their Career Bridge program. Career Bridge was developed as an alternative means of addressing recent gun violence in the city by addressing employment barriers of low-income men of color. The report focuses on the implementation of the program and the employment outcomes for the first three program cohorts that completed the program in 2014.
Record Type
Combined Date
2015-06-15T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://mefassociates.com/publication/evaluation-of-career-bridge-final-report/
Publication Date
2015-06-16
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
Question / Response(s)

Transportation Programs

Question Text

A representative from Rainbow Services, a domestic violence agency in Southern California, is interested in learning about transportation programs available to help support participants. Can anyone share about innovative transportation programs in their area?

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Date
April 2018
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Rainbow Services
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Supportive Services
Special Populations
Domestic Violence Survivors
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Vermont Agency of Human Services

Question Text

A representative from the Vermont Agency of Human Services – Economic Services Division would like to know about transportation solutions for rural communities. Have states used Uber to transport participants? What are other transportation methods that are cost effective and can meet transportation needs in rural areas?

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Date
January 2017
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Agency of Human Services - Economic Services Division
State
Vermont
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Access and Availability
TANF Regulatory Codes

Barriers to Employment Opportunities in the Baltimore Area Region

Record Description
This study, published by the Opportunity Collaborative, provides a detailed look at barriers to employment across the Baltimore region. Research was gathered through interviews with workforce development managers, as well as a survey of over 1,000 active job seekers. It views workforce barriers not as separate issues, but rather as a complex network requiring comprehensive solutions. Transportation is examined in context to associative issues including social barriers, racism, a lack of education, and housing – making it an important resource for understanding challenges to self-sufficiency. Findings report that low-income neighborhoods, which are constrained by limited public transport, are unable to access job centers across the city. Twenty-five percent of job seekers cannot access jobs via public transport, since job creation is increasingly happening outside of the city. When public transport is available, limited service schedules inhibit its effectiveness. This keeps off-peak workers from getting to and from work, and makes it difficult for individuals to easily travel between home, child care, and work.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2014-06-01T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://baltometro.org/phocadownload/Publications/OpportunityCollaborative/17050…
Publication Date
2014-06-02

How Transportation Problems Keep People Out of the Workforce in Greater New Haven

Record Description
This report from the Greater New Haven Job Access and Transportation Working Group provides data and analysis regarding recent job growth in the New Haven area and the issues low-income residents have accessing those jobs. The most reported barrier was related to a lack of appropriate transportation. The report provides the data depicting the issues and lays out the plan to collaboratively improve transportation service.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2014-11-30T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.ctdatahaven.org/sites/ctdatahaven/files/DataHaven_TranspRpt_WEB_pgs…
Publication Date
2014-12-01
Innovative Programs

Vehicles for Change

Mission/Goal of Program

Vehicles for Change Inc. (VFC) empowers families with financial challenges to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership and technical training. In 1999, Vehicles for Change opened outside of Baltimore, Maryland. After building its program in the Maryland-Virginia-Washington D.C. region, VFC began work to replicate those programs nationally, aiming to bring independent transportation and training in the automotive field to as many people as possible. VFC opened its second location in Detroit, Michigan in 2015.

Programs/Services Offered

The car ownership program currently awards cars to families in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and Detroit, Michigan. Families are referred to VFC by their partner agencies, which include TANF agencies, domestic violence shelters, or other workforce training programs. Families are provided with a 12-month loan to purchase vehicles on their own for around $85/ month, and can bring the vehicle to VFC centers for repair, as needed. VFC covers the repair at their cost, at a significant discount.

The program did expand to include: 

  • VFC Training Center

In September 2013, VFC launched the Center for Automotive Careers in Baltimore. Later renamed the Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center, the center has 2 training programs, a program that trains automotive detailers and a prison reentry program that trains automotive technicians. Trainees are paid a stipend of $340/week. 

  • The VFC Advantage

As part of the Full Circle Auto Repair & Training Center, VFC opened the center to serve the public in June 2015. The garage provides basic auto repair, brakes, tune ups, tires, and oil changes and is open to the local residents, former VFC customers and recipients.

Start Date
Monday, February 1, 1999
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-Based Organization
City
Baltimore
State
District of Columbia
Maryland
Michigan
Geographic Reach
Multisite
Clientele/Population Served
Low-income families, many of whom are receiving TANF benefits; ex-offenders
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Access and Availability
Car Purchase Programs
Transportation Subsidies /Vouchers
URL
https://www.vehiclesforchange.org/

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