Plan Would Help Needy to Get Cars

County supervisors on Tuesday will consider a plan to put donated cars into the hands of welfare recipients whose job prospects are hindered by a lack of reliable transportation.

Crafted by Supervisor Frank Schillo over the past few months, the proposal would help welfare recipients obtain cars at below-market prices and pay them off through a lease-payment arrangement.

It is one of several ideas that have come forward as county officials look to implement California’s version of welfare reform, which, beginning Jan. 1, will place limits on the amount of time a recipient can receive public aid.

Officials estimate that half of the 8,600 families that had been receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children do not have reliable transportation.

Schillo said Friday that for every family able to find permanent work and get off welfare, county taxpayers will save $5,376.

Schillo said county officials have reached an agreement with the Ventura County Federal Credit Union to create a loan program that helps county welfare recipients become self-sufficient but protects the credit union’s members.

Under the plan, cars will be donated to a nonprofit agency and leased through the credit union to welfare recipients for a maximum of 48 months.

The lease proceeds will accumulate in a special fund that could be used to purchase more vehicles or support other efforts to help aid recipients overcome other transportation barriers.

So far, the Bank of America has donated two used cars to the program. The county also has committed a government fleet car to the effort. The county would reimburse itself for the cost of the car through lease proceeds, Schillo said. None of the cars has yet been leased.

The supervisor’s plans include provisions for private insurance and liability protections for the county. Applicants to the program must be employed and prove they are able to make payments.

The credit union is making $60,000 in loan funds available for the project, Schillo said.