To assist States in strategically and creatively utilizing their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) dollars, while yielding better outcomes for low-income families, Occupational Enterprises, Inc., (OEI) sought assistance from the Northern Shenandoah Valley Public Mobility Program for methods of addressing rural transportation issues in Southwest Virginia. The Intelligent Transportation Society of Virginia developed the Public Mobility Session to assist human service transportation and rural transit service providers in implementing economically viable technology applications to improve public mobility. This report is a summary of the 1-day site visit sponsored by the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance (TA) Network to Front Royal, Virginia on Thursday, June 17, 2004, to allow OEI to study a successful rural transportation venture in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia before they design their own approach. (author abstract)

This report details associated transportation barriers experienced by TANF participants in New Jersey. Based on focus groups and interviews conducted with caseworkers and TANF participants, it provides a first-hand look at how transportation barriers limit participants’ employment opportunities. Findings include that approximately one in three participants report losing a job opportunity due to transportation challenges. Lacking adequate public transportation, as well as the ability to afford a car, impedes individuals’ abilities to both find and retain employment. Several suggestions are proposed to help reduce these barriers – including more reliable bus routes, and decreasing the costs of car ownership. This resource also reviews several “best practice” state programs that support low-income families in obtaining vehicles and subsidized public transport.

On October 10, 2010, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and the National Consumer Law Center, with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, hosted a forum titled “Working Cars for Working Families: Real Progress, Real Opportunities.” This event focused on efforts to provide working families the opportunity to access safe and reliable vehicles, under fair terms. Panelists discussed the importance of car access in improving economic outcomes for families. Struggling families, however, are facing multiple-barriers to vehicle ownership; barriers created by the recession-era car market and current financing regulations. Despite these challenges, the forum noted solutions in the form of policy changes, market-improvements, and the emergence of successful nonprofit ownership programs.

Joblinks Employment Transportation hosted a Webinar that provided information about partnerships between transportation providers and employers to develop solutions that provide job retention and stability for workers and employers alike.

The Rural Communities Academy was the "kick off" event for the 16 selected rural sites and included time for each rural site team (consisting of four/five team members) to participate in information gathering, networking, and action planning. The team members who attended the Academy participated in workshops and plenary sessions, and met with Rural Content Specialists and representatives from other rural communities who shared their insight into strategies being utilized in rural areas with TANF participants.

This Webinar took place on February 11, 2009 and included presentations from John Squires, Executive Director, Community Resource Group, Donna Shaunsesy, JAUNT Program, Virginia, and Sandy Conner, Workforce Transportation and Referral Center/Transportation Institute Partnership, Maryland.

This is a breakout session from the Rural Communities Initiative Academy.

This Webinar included presentations from Charles Rutkowski and Chris Zeilinger, Community Transportation Association of America; Mary Leahy, Senior Director, Easter Seals Project ACTION; David Schnieder, Program Specialist, Federal Transit Administration; and Nichole Goldsmith, Director, National Rural Transit Assistance Program.

The Rural Transportation Roundtable was held January 27-28, 2009 in Charleston, West Virginia. Attendees included representatives from seven of the Rural Communities Initiative Sites and various content specialists. One of the key challenges and issues facing rural TANF agencies and organizations is providing reliable and cost effective transportation. The purpose of the Rural Transportation Roundtable was for sites to learn more about additional programs in the field of rural transportation, resources on forming partnerships with local transportation stakeholders, and funding for these types of projects. Content faculty presented on lessons learned from current rural transportation models and participants had time to engage in action planning to develop programmatic and funding solutions to rural transportation challenges. Participants also conducted a site visit to the Good News Mountaineer Garage to see their service delivery model, their facilities, and meet with staff for a question and answer session.

This report discusses the correlation between car ownership and work readiness.  The publication addresses car ownership and leverages it as an asset-building strategy for helping people move into the labor market and helping low-wage workers gain access to better paying opportunities. In addition, it provides profiles and experiences of seven car-ownership programs, along with a bibliography of additional publications on transportation and poverty.