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Working Through Problems
DSS grant may improve access to jobs for low-income workers
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Business New Haven
12/23/2002
By: BNH
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The state's Department of Social Services (DSS) has awarded the Regional Growth Connection (RGC) approximately $342,000 in the form of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) High Performance Bonus funds to support non-traditional transportation services for low-income workers throughout the south-central region.
According to DSS Commissioner Patricia A. Wilson-Coker, funds will be used in five projects aimed at assisting commuters with limited or no means of personal transportation.
The RGC is an affiliate of the Regional Growth Partnership, the Regional Workforce Development Board and Rideworks. RGC was founded to create transportation options for former welfare recipients who have returned to the labor force since the inception of welfare reform in the late 1990s.
Among the RGC's five new projects is the Auto Emergency Fund, which helps eligible low-income job-seekers and workers who own cars that may be just short of being serviceable or road-worthy. The fund will pay for up to a $600 one-time repair, or other related cost voucher, to eligible participants in the RGC program.
“Many workers need money for car repairs, registration, insurance, taxes or even driver's education,” explains RGC Program Director Michael Krauss. “Our work with public transportation has helped many workers, but many jobs are not accessible by public transportation.”
The DSS bonus will also fund Transit On Call, a program that provides RGC clients rides to job fairs, interviews, training or immediate job openings not served by existing transportation services. As many as 500 customers may use this service over the next year, say RGC officials.
“Our job developers work with employers who can't delay interviews or new hires just because the bus schedules don't work for our customers,” explains William Villano, executive director of the Regional Workforce Development Board. “This funding allows us to respond more quickly and provide a more flexible range of services to both employers and employees.”
A third grant beneficiary is Holiday Special Services, which augments bus schedules during the holiday season. This potentially benefits employees and businesses along the Route 1 corridor from New Haven to Milford. These bus route extensions serve retail, service and manufacturing employment areas and accommodate easier connections to suburban jobs. The increased service includes early morning, late evening and weekend work shifts.
Employers in need of workers, or assistance with arranging transportation for workers, may call 203-624-1493 for particulars.
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