Funds to help move families from welfare to work
HAs can partner with others for transpotation grantsThe U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced the availability of $75 million under the "Access to Jobs" program. The program provides competitive grants to states, local governments, and non-profit organizations to develop transportation services to connect welfare families and low-income persons to employment and support services.
The DOT is encouraging local agencies and employers to form working partnerships to improve their chances of accessing funds. Housing authorities may want to collaborate with other metropolitan entities to locate more employment opportunities for residents.
The funding for the initiative comes from DOT's mass transit and general fund accounts. Funding is guaranteed for the program from FY 1999 through FY 2003. The federal government will pay up to 50 percent of program costs. Other federal funds may be used to meet the local match requirement including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare to Work funding provided by the Department of Labor. In addition, HOPE VI grants may be used to meet the match requirement.
In order to qualify for a grant, local partnering agencies must compose a coordinated transportation, human service plan. In addition, transit agencies must approve these programs. The program also allows agencies to develop reverse commute programs to provide services to suburban employment centers from urban centers, rural areas and other suburban locations.
Grant award criteria include the following: 1) the percentage of the population that are welfare recipients; 2) the need for additional services; 3) coordination with and the use of existing transportation providers; 4) coordination with state welfare agencies implementing the TANF program; and 5) use of innovative approaches, the presence of a regional plan and long term financing strategies, and consultation with the community to be served.
Grant applications must be submitted to the DOT by December 31. More information on this initiative can be found on the Federal Transit Administration's web site at www.fta.dot.gov/wtw. Interested readers can also call Mr. Douglas Birnie at the Department of Transportation (202-366-1666) for more information.
PHADA Advocate (vol. 13, number 19, 11/9/98)
