VFC Partner Northern Virginia Family Services Receives Grant to Award Cars to Low-Income Families

Vehicles for Change is excited to report that one of our partnering agencies, Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS), has been awarded funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to provide vehicles to low-income families. The grant is for $999,044, and will be distributed over a two-year period.

In late June, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) voted to approve funding for nine projects aimed at improving mobility options for low-income commuters and persons with disabilities in metropolitan Washington. These projects are funded under the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom Programs of the Federal Transit Administration.

Northern Virginia Family Services’ car award program, which receives cars from Vehicles for Change, was selected to receive funding in 2012 and 2013. The grant will help approximately 280 families receive vehicles.

Families who receive a car through this funding must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, be working at least 30 hours each week, have at least one child and participate in Rideshare. This is the second time that NVFS has received funding for their car award program from the Federal Transit Authority.

Previously, NVFS received funding that was used to award 168 cars to worthy families in 2011 and 2012.