Does "Cash for Clunkers" Hurt the Homeless?

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-08-08 05:15:00 UTC
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In addition to stimulating the economy and promoting fuel efficiency, the "Cash for Clunkers" program may be having another unintentional effect: hurting the poor and homeless. 

Vehicle donation programs, such as Mission Solano in Fairfield, California, rely on vehicle donations (in return for a tax write-off) to raise funds to serve the area's homeless. 

"It is too early to know how much we will be hurt by the Cash for Clunkers program, but we know we can't compete with the government's checkbook" said Marlette.

"Our donations were already down due to the economy as people are driving their old cars longer or brokering a sale themselves. The Cash for Clunkers program could shut us down."

Aside from a drop in vehicle donations, Cash for Clunkers could reduce the number of affordable transportation options for low-income families.

And what good is a job if you have no means of getting there?

 

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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