Funding granted to low-income Mohawk Valley families with transportation difficulties

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) recently announced that it has granted $150,000 to assist low-income families living in the Mohawk Valley in finding reliable transportation to and from their workplaces every day.

The grant, which is part of the “Capital for a Day” announcement from Gov. Cuomo, will help these families to remain employed by making their daily commutes easier. Many people living in low-income households, particularly in rural areas, don’t have easy access to transportation.

A Wheels for Work program is just one of the organizations that was chosen to receive a portion of the funding. The organizations must qualify through a competitive process before they receive the funds.

“The lack of reliable transportation has been regularly cited by low-income New Yorkers, especially those with children, as a contributing factor to them being unemployed,” OTDA Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said. “The Wheels for Work program can make a tremendous difference in the lives of individuals, greatly expanding their job opportunities by allowing them to get to work without having to rely on others for a ride or depending on public transportation, which may not always be available when needed. Being able to hold a steady job will bring in a steady paycheck and enable low-income families to move out of poverty and become self-sufficient.”