It is common for single moms to face transportation barriers. With an annual gross income of no more than $40,000, single-mother households struggle with the expenses of purchasing, maintaining, and operating a vehicle. Additionally, providing for a child without an automobile is a difficult task, both physically and financially.
Government agencies and private organizations establish assistance programs to lessen the burden of single-mother households. Grants are often provided to single moms who require assistance with housing, food, utility bills, education, and transportation. In this article, we’ll cover the various transportation grants for single mothers, along with their eligibility requirements. Read on to learn more.
Overview Of Transportation Grants
Transportation grants are non-competitive grants wherein financial resources are provided to single mothers based on financial eligibility and household composition.
All applicants that meet the eligibility requirements will receive monetary incentives, but the amount is based on predetermined criteria. For example, local governments and charities may offer financial assistance to single-mother households for a certain activity, and the amount provided may be based on their financial situation and the number of dependent children in the household.
A number of transportation grants are currently available to assist single mothers in acquiring affordable transportation.
Types Of Transportation Grants For Single Mothers
If you’re a single mom who struggles to make ends meet, there are several different kinds of transportation grants that can assist you in buying a used car at an affordable price or getting one for free. Low-income single-parent households may take advantage of the transportation assistance programs designed to help them become self-sufficient and financially secure.
Government Grants
Low-income families and individuals are not directly provided by the federal or local government with monetary incentives that cover transportation expenses. Instead, they establish assistance programs to provide reliable, affordable transportation for qualified low-income households.
Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF). This is a US government initiative administered by the Office of Family Assistance (OFA). The TANF program is designed to assist low-income households in achieving self-sufficiency and economic security. Single mothers that require financial assistance for food, housing, transportation, utilities, and clothing may apply for the TANF program.
Although this program does not specifically give away free cars to single mothers, the guidelines permit beneficiaries to use the provided funds to address their family’s mobility and transportation needs.
Non-Profit Organizations Providing Grants
There are several non-profit organizations (NPOs) and charities that provide transportation assistance services and auto loans to low-income single mothers. Among the most popular NPOs that provide free automobiles and car grants across the country are:
FreeCharityCars.org. This non-profit organization is the designated subsidiary of 1-800-Charity Cars which provides donated vehicles to low-income families that lack personal vehicles and reliable public transportation access.
Vehicles For Change. Over 7,500 cars have been provided to low-income families in Maryland and Virginia by Vehicles for Change. In addition, they offer secondhand vehicles at an affordable price of $700 to qualified applicants.
CarsForMoms.org. This charitable organization is designed to help single mothers better fulfill their responsibilities by providing them with dependable light passenger vehicles. Donated cars may be used to seek better employment opportunities or accompany their children to school.
ExtendedFamily.org. This California-based non-profit organization enables single moms residing within the state to purchase vehicles in excellent condition at reduced costs. They also provide transportation grants that can be used to cover repair and maintenance expenses.
Private Donations And Fundraisers
Private donations and fundraisers are also available to assist single mothers with their transportation needs, in addition to grants from the government, state, and non-profit organizations.
Goodwill. In order to assist low-income households, persons with disabilities, university students, and single parents in finding employment and earning a decent wage, Goodwill provides free cars through their Wheels for Work program. They also offer other transportation assistance services, including gas vouchers, public transport coupons, and free auto repairs.
GoFundMe. A popular fundraising website, GoFundMe can help you can raise enough money to purchase a personal vehicle. Starting a GoFundMe page is as simple as connecting your laptop to the internet.
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) Offering Grants
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are non-profit resource centers that offer welfare assistance services to the local community or a specific group within the area.
Single parents associations, childcare providers, community health centers, religious organizations, domestic abuse coalitions, and community support clusters are some examples of community-based organizations.
CBOs typically receive funding from the local government, which they use to provide emergency cash assistance and transportation grants to vulnerable members of the community, including single mothers. Grants from these organizations may range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the available resources.
Corporate Grants And Programs For Transportation Assistance
Monetary incentives are offered to non-profit organizations by large corporations and foundations to fund transportation assistance projects. Such initiatives may benefit single mothers by providing them access to reliable public transportation options.
AARP Community Challenge Grant. This grant provides funding for small-scale transportation infrastructure projects that can make rural communities more accessible and livable for low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals.
Eligibility Requirements For Transportation Grants
Not all single-mother households are entitled to receive transportation grants. In order to qualify, you must satisfy basic eligibility requirements, including:
- U.S. Citizenship or eligible immigrant status
- A resident of any state
- Single female head of a household with one or more dependent children under 18 years old
- Working as a full-time employee
- Meets financial eligibility requirements
Financial Eligibility Guidelines
The federal government, CBOs, and non-profit organizations determine an applicant’s eligibility and grant amount based on their household’s median income. Guidelines for eligibility may vary between grant programs, but basic financial requirements include the following:
- Earned wages are the only source of income
- Gross annual income should not exceed federal poverty levels (this may range from $13,590 to $46,630, depending on family size).
Documentations Required To Apply For A Grant
A few documents are required to qualify for most transportation grant programs, such as:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship (passport, U.S. birth certificate, FS-240)
- Valid driver’s license in any U.S. state
- Recent paycheck stubs
Conclusion
One of the most basic needs for single mothers is a reliable vehicle. However, if you are unable to afford a car due to your financial situation, you may apply for several different transportation grants for single mothers.
If you are a single mom in need of financial assistance, check out this article from Single Mothers Help on free personal grants for single mothers in 2023.