We all need transportation…to get to school, or get to work, or find work, and so on. But if you’re struggling financially, then feeding your family comes before dealing with car expenses. Unfortunately, if repairs go unmade, or tickets or insurance go unpaid, then pretty soon you’re off the road and out of luck: the car won’t run, or it gets impounded, or you’re not allowed to renew your license and registration. Things can go downhill quickly from there.
That’s where the AUTO (ARRA Utilization for Transportation Opportunities) program came in.
The AUTO program helped CalWORKs families pay car-related fees or expenses, such as new repairs or old tickets, to mitigate transportation barriers to self-sufficiency. For folks hampered by lack of wheels to begin with, AUTO could even buy a bicycle and helmet, or a bus pass for the kids to get to school.
The AUTO program helped CalWORKs families pay car-related fees or expenses, such as new repairs or old tickets, to mitigate transportation barriers to self-sufficiency. For folks hampered by lack of wheels to begin with, AUTO could even buy a bicycle and helmet, or a bus pass for the kids to get to school.
During the program’s run, from March to September 2010, 500 AUTO applications were approved. Roughly half of applicants were employed and half were unemployed, and the majority were from North County
- “Carmen” had her broken windshield repaired and her stalling engine fixed, so she could accept a job where she had to drive out of town daily. She is now a full-time caseworker at a private women’s mental health facility, loves her job and was able to discontinue aid.
- “Joe” had old fines cleared so he could reinstate his license and apply for the type of heavy equipment operator positions he had been employed at for years. He is a big burly guy, but he had a few tears of joy when he got his new beginning.
AUTO was funded by ARRA’s TANF Emergency Contingency Fund’s Non-Recurrent Short-Term Benefits provision, which allowed counties to develop their own innovations to support work and families during the economic downturn. That funding expired on September 30, 2010.
Who benefited?
- Local business. A total of $325,000 was spent, much of it with local small businesses such as mechanics.
- Local families in the CalWORKs program. The average grant was $586—that’s real help for a family struggling to get by, and it helped prevent further loss of income.
- The whole community. We’re all safer when the cars on the road are legal, insured, and in proper operating condition.
Next Steps
AUTO proved so successful that the Department continues a scaled-back version, also known as AUTO (Ancillary Usage for Transportation Opportunities), funded instead by the Welfare to Work (WTW) supportive services provision for ancillary expenses (WTW AD 10-600). Effective October 1 2010, AUTO is available to WTW participants only, so they can continue their assigned program and stay on the road to self-sufficiency.
