Transportation Resources for Survivors

For many survivors of intimate partner violence—especially those living outside of an urban setting—acquiring safe and reliable transportation can be a particularly challenging hurdle in efforts to attain economic security. Victim advocates can work to address the transportation challenges of their clients by evaluating current needs and resources and identifying solutions that may exist where there is a lack of resources.

The following list provides examples of transportation programs, partnerships and strategies. This list is not exhaustive, and inclusion on this list does not represent an endorsement of any institution or program.Additional research must be conducted by program staff to ensure the reliability of services and the safety of clients.

 

General Transportation Resources

Resources and Tips on Purchasing a Car

Best Practices for Car Ownership Programs

Individual Development Account:

• Alternatives Federal Credit Union
• Nehemiah Community Foundation

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI)

 

National Examples

Ride Share or carpool programs:

• Craigslist, under the Community, Rideshare section
• eRideShare
• RideshareOnline.com
• Ad-Carpool.com
• nuride
• Reliable Rider
• Rideshare Directory
• Carpool Connect
• Carpool World

Goodwill not only helps their clients find a job, but also assists them with reliable transportation.

Working Cars for Working Families maintains a database of charities that provide cars to low income families.

 

State Examples

Alabama

• Family Services Center in Huntsville provides cars to low-income individuals for job transportation

Arizona

• Arizona Central Credit Union and the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) partnered to provide  a Wheels to Work program

California

• Many Motors donates cars in Oxnard, CA

Colorado

• The City of Fort Collins and Project Self Sufficiency run a program that provides discounted car repair services

Connecticut

• Good News Garage has operations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

Delaware

• Cars for Careers was operated by the First State Community Action Agency and ended in December 2010 due to funding issues

Florida

• FreeCharityCars.org but the site is currently being redone

Georgia

• Oconee River RC&D runs a Wheels for Work program in northeast Georgia that helps individuals coming of welfare with the purchase of a car
• The Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Council runs a Wheels to Work program in northeast Georgia:
• The Seven Rivers RC&D in southeast Georgia runs a Wheels to Work program for recipients of TANF:

Illinois

• C.A.R.S. Ministry helps single moms with their transportation needs through the Willow Creek Community Church
• Bethany for Children and Families runs a Ways to Work loan program  in Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa:

Indiana

• Families First provides loan and down payment assistance to families:

Iowa

• Bethany for Children and Families runs a Ways to Work loan program  in Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa:
• Heartland Family Service provides low-interest auto loans:

Kansas

• Cars4Christmas operates in Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas
• The Family Conservancy offers an asset building program

Louisiana

• The Family Service of Baton Rouge runs a Ways to Work program which helps with financing
• The Family Tree runs a Ways to Work Loan Program in the Lafayette, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin, Acadia or Vermilion Parishes 

Maine

• More Than Wheels helps with financing and loans in New Hampshire, and the surrounding areas of Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts
• Goodwill of Northern New England runs the Good Wheels program that provides low interest auto loans for working TANF recipients

Maryland

• Vehicles for Change operates in Maryland and Virginia
• Garrett County Community Action provides a Wheels for Work loan program as well as a transit service
• The Baltimore Ways to Work program provides low-income families with car loans

Massachusetts

• Good News Garage has operations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont
• More Than Wheels helps with financing and loans in New Hampshire, and the surrounding areas of Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts

Michigan

• Goodwill of Central Michigan runs a Wheels to Work program
• Charity Motors operates in the Detroit and Dallas-Ft. Worth areas

Minnesota

• Newgate Education Center donates 4-5 refurbished cars in the Minneapolis area through their Wheels for Women program
• Minnesota Valley Action Council runs Wheel Get There, which helps low income individuals purchase a car through a guaranteed loan

Mississippi

• Cars4Christmas operates in Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas, with a location in Belton, MS:

Missouri

• Cars4Christmas operates in Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas
• The Family Conservancy offers an asset building program

Nebraska

• Cars4Christmas operates in Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas
• Heartland Family Service provides low-interest auto loans

New Hampshire

• Good News Garage has operations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont
• More Than Wheels helps with financing and loans in New Hampshire, and the surrounding areas of Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts
• Rockingham Community Action in New Hampshire participates in the Individual Development Account (IDA) Program

New Jersey

• Cars for Success is run by Strengthen Our Sisters  in New Jersey, and it provides donated cars to homeless and/or battered women
• Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program runs an Individual Development Account (IDA) Program

New York

• Wheels for Work in Lewis County, NY, provides assistance with repairs and insurance payments among other forms of transportation assistance
• ProAction runs a Wheels for Work program in central New York that helps with loans for the purchase of a car or repairs
• The Fulmont Community Action Agency runs a Wheels-for-Work program for TANF eligible families in Fulton, Montgomery or Schoharie counties in New York
• Community Action of Green County in New York runs a Wheels for Work car loan program for TANF eligible families

North Carolina

• Goodwill  operates a Wheels for Work Program in central North Carolina

Ohio

• Trillium Family Solutions operates a Ways to Work loan program
• Greenleaf Family Center operates a Ways to Work loan program for residents of Summit, Portage, Medina or Wayne County

Oregon

• Canby, Oregon offers a fareless bus service
• The Metropolitan Family Service runs the Ways to Work Program in Oregon

Pennsylvania

• Ways to Work Family Loan Program through Family Answers, Inc, provides loans to low-income parents in Pennsylvania
• Goodwill  operates a Wheels for Work Program in the Keystone Area, PA:

Rhode Island

• Good News Garage has operations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

South Carolina

• The Cooperative Ministry provides car donations

Tennessee

• Advance Memphis runs an IDA to help with the purchase of a car

Texas

• The Irving Bible Church donates cars and holds monthly car repair clinics in Irving, Texas
• Charity Motors operates in the Detroit and Dallas-Ft. Worth areas

Vermont

• Saint Barnabas’ Episcopal Church runs the Good Wheels Program in Vermont that provides cars and repair services to low income families
• More Than Wheels helps with financing and loans in New Hampshire, and the surrounding areas of Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts

Virginia

• Vehicles for Change operates in Maryland and Virginia
• Responsible Rides  in Roanoke, VA

Washington

• Working Wheels  sells affordable cars to eligible candidates:

West Virginia

• Good News Mountaineer Garage  provides cars to families enrolled in TANF in West Virginia

Wisconsin

• Ways to Work is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides loans to low-income families in the Milwaukee, WI, area
• In Wisconsin, Family Services’ Ways to Work program helps families purchase a used car or make car repair payments
• The Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program offers a Work’n’Wheels car loan program
• Jumpstart Auto and West CAP in Western Wisconsin