Grants for automobile and car repairs - Need Help Paying Bills

Low-income individuals and welfare recipients may be able to qualify for transportation assistance from the federal government. The program that they have created is known as Job Access and Reverse Commute, or JARC. It is limited in scope and funding, and is run by a number of non-profit organizations across the nation. Only a small number of towns, cities and counties will offer transportation and car repair assistance from JARC.

This federal government funded grant program has a goal of addressing transportation challenges of the low income, working poor, and those who need a car or auto to get to work. The money needs to be used to pay for transportation challenges that will either help people obtain and/or keep their job/employment. In addition to providing individuals with grants or cash, JARC may also offer micro-loans that can be used to repair cars and trucks or aid for other general transportation assistance and services.

Examples of transportation assistance provided

All of the assistance provided revolves around ensuring people have a safe and reliable car to get back and forth to work. For example, many entry-level jobs may be located outside of a city in a suburban area. Public transportation may not be able to access these areas. So low-income individuals who live in the inner city, urban, or rural neighborhoods can have difficulty accessing those jobs from their current homes. Funds from the government Job Access and Reverse Commute program may be able to assist with those expenses related to transportation. A key being the assistance provided, such as automobile repairs and general access, needs to be able to allow individuals to either obtain a job in those situations, or keep their existing employment.

In addition to the distance that may be involved, many entry level-jobs require the individual to work on weekends or late at night, when other conventional and public transit services are either non-existent or operate at reduced hours. Job Access and Reverse Commute can help in those situations too. Other examples where JARC can help is to address the fact that many employment related-trips involve a employee needing to access multiple destinations including reaching childcare facilities or other services, so a car would be needed in these cases. The bottom line is that anything have to do with transportation, such as repairs, maintenance, new tires, etc. may be able to be addressed from JARC.

The government provides money to non-profit organizations around the county, and the assistance is not offered directly to individuals. Rather anyone who is interested in receiving financial assistance for their car repairs, maintenance and transportation needs will have to apply directly to a non-profit. Some agencies may provide this JARC assistance as part of a program known as Ways to Work.

How to apply for a grant

This program has very limited funding, and only a small number of non-profits may have cash assistance from JARC to provide to low income individuals. The best place to call to see if it is offered in your local town or city is a community action agency. Those non-profits would usually be the agency that accepts applications.

If the Job Access and Reverse Commute program is not offered in your county, then a community action agency may have other suggestions or referrals for you. A case manager may be able to tell you about other car repair or transportation assistance programs, such as those that may be run by a church, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, or other organization. Learn more on community action agencies.

 

Each agency will also have their own conditions that need to be met by applicants. For example, in general approval, for the 0 percent interest loans is not based on an applicants credit ratings. Most organizations will instead look at an applicants budget and overall financial condition. They will then check to see if the applicant has outstanding warrants, traffic or parking tickets, or if the individual has a history of unemployment fraud.