Employment Programs Committee

Always ask yourself, "Why not?" Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it won’t work. Don’t be afraid to suggest unconventional ideas.

In lay terms, identify the unmet transportation needs within your community. Know your Work First Caseload. Be prepared to cite your agency’s current number of able-bodied Work First recipients, your state assigned Work First Goals, the percentage of Work First recipients in your caseload that don’t have access to reliable transportation, the number of recipients currently being transported by the local transit system, etc. Determine your agency’s cost per participant in transportation spending over the past twelve months. And finally, calculate the anticipated cost savings in supporting a new/expanded transportation initiative.

By creating a new employment transportation resource, you are not only helping welfare recipients get to work, you are also helping employers obtain and retain good employees who might otherwise not be able to participate in the workforce. This valuable resource makes employers more competitive in a tight labor market. Make it a win-win situation for the community.

A successful transportation system stimulates economic growth. Employers interested in coming to your community will be pleased to know that safe, efficient, and reliable transportation resources are available.

Educate your local elected officials about the transportation barriers faced by many families in your community and the potential for solutions. Help them understand the importance of developing cost effective and reliable transportation resources. Ask for their support in expanding transportation opportunities.

Successful marketing of the availability of quality transportation services within the community is essential. Chambers of Commerce, civic organizations, and other groups comprised of local employers should be educated about the community’s transportation barriers, the resources available, and what they can do to alleviate the problem.

Let other states and local colleagues know about the transportation challenges you are facing and what you have done to eliminate the problems.

Make a commitment to spend the necessary time, effort and resources needed to develop a successful transportation system. Transportation is commonly identified as one of the most significant barriers to putting Work First recipients to work. If it is that much of a problem, why not devote our energies toward finding solutions. There’s no quick fix!

The local transit system can not meet all of your community’s transportation needs. Carpools, vanpools, taxis, volunteers, car ownership programs, and other options are needed to address the individual needs of the transportation-disadvantaged population. Think about what YOU can do to develop additional resources.

Consider using Work First Block Grant funds to fund an Employment Transportation Mobility Manager position. The position would work in concert with the local transit system and would be responsible for all employment transportation coordination. Based on the transportation needs and the availability of resources, the "mobility manager" would determine the most cost-efficient and effective way to get the individual to work. One option would be to place the position within DSS but physically locate the (DSS) employee at the transit office. Another option would be to establish the position as a transit employee with DSS paying the individual’s salary and fringe benefits.

NCDOT is struggling to find enough money to support the growing capital needs of the local transit systems. Work First Block Grant funds can be used to assist with the purchase of vehicles for your local transit system, provided that the vehicles will be used to enable TANF-eligible individuals to commute to work or work-related activities. The amount of Work First Block Grant Funds used for this purchase must be based on a reasonable estimate of the TANF-eligibles expected to benefit from the service. This is not to say that TANF-eligible individuals can only use the vehicles. This is a grand opportunity to use Work First Block Grant Funds to expand transportation services for the entire community!

Most folks’ transportation woes don’t end once the welfare check ceases. So why should we immediately terminate their support systems? Remember, transportation provided to former Work First recipients who are employed, continue to have an eligible child in the home, and have a family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level is not considered "assistance." Therefore, develop a transitional policy that will "wean" the family from their reliance on transportation support.

Take advantage of opportunities to blend resources with multiple funding sources. Encourage other agency partners to merge their resources with yours to support additional transportation resources that will benefit all. A new/expanded transportation route, after hours services, weekend services, out-of-county services, etc., are ways you can support additional resources. The amount of Work First Block Grant Funds used for these purposes must be based on a reasonable estimate of the TANF-eligibles expected to benefit from the service.

Entrepreneurial transportation initiatives should be encouraged and supported, particularly in counties where transportation resources are limited. Staff from the local Departments of Social Services often has the expertise to assist interested entrepreneurs in establishing transportation businesses. Local community colleges are also an excellent resource.

Local transit system directors should actively participate in the planning, development, and implementation of Job Fairs. The transit system representative should be available at the Job Fairs to assist employers in identifying transportation alternatives for potential employees. Job Fairs have proven to be an effective tool in promoting transportation awareness and availability within the business community.

Take advantage of opportunities to apply for special grant funds such as the Job Access and Reverse Commute Grant Program. Public and private organizations frequently solicit proposals for innovative demonstration projects aimed at helping welfare recipients and other low-income families access employment transportation.

This concept may be difficult to accept at first, but consider the possibility of providing "transportation allowances" to TANF-eligible individuals and hold them responsible for locating and accessing their own transportation to work and work-related activities. This is an eligible TANF expenditure as long as the individual is working, continues to have an eligible child in the home, and has a family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The recipient would be allowed to use the "transportation allowance" for whatever purpose necessary to help them get to work. The "transportation allowance" can be packaged into a job retention plan that includes post-employment case management and employer contact.

Sometimes we know where the jobs are but we just can’t get folks there! The local transit system’s existing route may not extend far enough to transport your clients to the worksite. Sometimes the local system can get people to work but services are not available to pick them up. Weekend services are unheard of in many areas. Consider using Work First Block Grant Funds to expand your local transit systems’ services (e.g., after hours, weekends, and out-of-county transportation services). Operations and administrative costs are allowable expenditures. The amount of Work First Block Grant Funds used for these services must be based on a reasonable estimate of the TANF-eligibles benefiting from the service.

State DOT and DHHS representatives are available to attend local stakeholder meetings and make suggestions for additional services. What works in one county, region, or state might work for you!