KEYS (Keeping Employment equals Your Success) Auto Loan Program
Mission/Goal of 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.
Programs/Services Offered
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.
Start Date
Wednesday, January 1, 2003
Type of Agency/Organization
Other Public Agency
City
Martinez
State
California
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Active CALWORKS participants in Contra Costa County
Good News Garage creates economic opportunity by providing affordable and reliable transportation options to people in need. Good News Garage accepts donations from across New England and eastern New York and currently serves residents of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Good News Garage has provided over 5,000 vehicles to local New England families since 1996.
Programs/Services Offered
Good News Garage, a program of Lutheran Social Services, accepts, repairs and awards donated vehicles to individuals and families through a variety of programs. Clients use the vehicles to get to work, bring their children to the doctor, extra-curricular activities, access affordable housing and more. The vehicle help clients break the cycle of poverty by becoming financially self-sufficient. All vehicle donations to Good News Garage qualify for a tax deduction, some qualifying for the highest deduction allowable under IRS regulations. Eligibility requirements to receive a vehicle vary from state to state.
Start Date
Monday, January 1, 1996
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-based organization; Nonprofit social service agency
City
Manchester
State
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
Vermont
Geographic Reach
Multistate
Clientele/Population Served
Low-income families and individuals in need of transportation
The Car Ministry is dedicated to helping the poor, the needy, full-time ministry workers like pastors, evangelists, missionaries and other Christian workers to obtain auto transportation. "The Car Ministry," was started in Falls Church, Virginia in 1984. It is one of the first car donation charities. The Car Ministry accepts donated cars and trucks for the purpose of giving them to the poor and needy plus those in fulltime Christian work.
Programs/Services Offered
Car Ministry program accepts donated vehicles, checks their condition, and assesses the need for repairs. Then, the ministry gives the car or truck, at no cost, to someone in serious need, or the program uses the car to further the goal of providing transportation. The program has a long waiting list of people in need.
The Car Ministry insists that the donated vehicles must run well and pass Virginia safety and emission tests before they are given. Most charitable organizations simply pass them through or sell them without repair, a disservice to needy people who cannot afford to pay for immediate car problems. People are referred to the Car Ministry by social workers and pastors. Once given a vehicle people have opportunity to get to work and take care of family needs. Between 50 and 150 vehicles are given each year depending on the number donated.
Start Date
Sunday, January 1, 1984
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-based Organization
City
Falls Church
State
Virginia
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Staff members of a local ministry; a missionary; a needy family; an international student; a minister or priest; a single parent; a seminarian
Question from Pennsylvania Department of Welfare/Bureau of Employment and Training Programs
Question Text
A representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare/Bureau of Employment and Training Programs would like to know what level of participation is expected of a TANF recipient who claims to be unable to get a job or participate in other core-work activities due to lack of transportation (e.g., no drivers license, no access to public transportation, no car, etc.). Please address:
Do States allot time for the individual to make transportation arrangements, or do they provide supports for transportation assistance?
What is maximum time allowed to make transportation arrangements?
What do States do when transportation solutions are not found during that timeframe (e.g., sanction, case closure, etc.)?
What type of transportation subsidies (e.g., upfront mileage, car purchase, cab fare, gas cards, etc.) are offered?
What are the maximum benefits provided to the client?
For how are long transportation subsidies provided?
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Date
November 2011
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Dept of Welfare/Bureau of Employment and Training Programs
State
Pennsylvania
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Access and Availability
Transportation Subsidies /Vouchers
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)
Question from Operation Blessing
Question Text
A representative from Operation Blessing would like to hear from States that have advice for starting a "wheels to work" program for TANF and low-income families? This idea would help families achieve self sufficiency, remain employed, and gain better employment by having the mobility to access jobs and education in surrounding areas.
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Date
February 2008
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Operation Blessing
State
Texas
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Access and Availability
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)
Question from San Francisco Department of Human Services
Question Text
A representative from the San Francisco Department of Human Services would like to know of loan programs that would allow a client to borrow funds to clear fines and tickets with a repayment plan related to suspended driver's licenses? Who administers the program, your agency or CBO?
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Date
February 2008
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
San Francisco Department of Human Services
State
California
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)
Question from PeerTA
Question Text
What are States doing around car repair services for TANF clients/customers?
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Date
February 2006
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
ICFI
State
Virginia
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)
Question from Virginia DSS
Question Text
What best practices or innovative programs are States and counties implementing relating to transportation assistance for TANF recipients? Are there examples of car-loan, car purchase, or ride share programs being implemented? The State of Virginia would appreciate any information you could provide.
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Date
January 2005
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Virginia DSS
State
Virginia
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)
Question from West Virginia DHHR
Question Text
I have heard information that some States are providing cars to TANF recipients. Are these States actually providing the money to the client and allowing the client to purchase his/her own car? Are there any less expensive alternative methods, or suggestions to providing this service?
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Date
April 2003
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
West Virginia DHHR
State
West Virginia
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)
Question from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Question Text
A representative from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services would like to know which states are providing vehicle insurance to clients and what criteria do they use? What about high risk insurance services?
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