Transportation is a significant obstacle youth face when attempting to access education, employment, physical and mental health services, and nutritious food. Access to reliable transportation has been identified by youth experiencing homelessness in Frederick County as one of the top two issues they face daily.
At SHIP, we believe that by eliminating the barriers that students face while experiencing homelessness, students can focus on achieving their educational and career-related goals. This approach ultimately ends the cycle of homelessness, as students who do not graduate from high school are 3.5 times more likely to become homeless as adults. Students who can complete high school and move on to stable career-oriented employment or further educational opportunities are unlikely to experience homelessness as adults.
The best way to ensure sustainable transportation access is to obtain a driver’s license. Completing the process of becoming a legal driver in Maryland is lengthy and expensive for students. Our case management team, which is familiar with the process and all the necessary steps, works individually with students to set a realistic timeline for obtaining a license. They also work with students to obtain all necessary documentation. For many students, this includes locating and obtaining vital records such as a birth certificate. It may also include an eye exam and the purchase of glasses. The team assists students in setting up all appointments for instruction and testing. With a small investment from the student, SHIP supplements the significant cost of driver’s education classes, driving practice time using cars owned by the driving school, transportation to and from instruction and testing, and testing fees. SHIP has partnered with Frontline Driving School, which offers instruction in English and Spanish. Offering Spanish instruction to native Spanish speakers eliminates a barrier to safe and responsible driving for these youth. The out-of-pocket cost for a student to fully complete this process without SHIP’s help is over $5,000. With SHIP’s help, the student never pays more than $50.
Part of the planning that the case management team does with students is to identify their next steps toward regularly using a vehicle. For some, this may be purchasing a car and budgeting for insurance. For others, this could mean using the car of a family member and paying to be added to their insurance plan. Youth who have obtained a driver’s license through SHIP’s program are eligible for up to one year of car insurance assistance, up to $3,500 in vehicle purchase assistance, and a monthly gas stipend issued based on recorded mileage within Frederick County. Case managers assist youth in shopping for an affordable vehicle, budgeting for their portion of vehicle and insurance costs, and learning to track mileage to budget for gas and vehicle maintenance costs. Youth have the opportunity to utilize MileIQ to log trips within Frederick County. This mileage can be submitted to SHIP at the end of the month for up to 6 months to be reimbursed at 50% of the federal mileage rate.
SHIP has identified local insurance agents who are willing to provide access to a variety of stacking/layered discounts for SHIP’s program youth. The agents also provide a monthly payment plan without an increase in rates. This insurance, which is in the student’s name, is superior to the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund in many ways, including offering roadside assistance, a renters insurance bundle, and having a local broker and contact available to youth. Assisting youth in gaining high-quality insurance ensures that if they are in an accident or break down, they will be able to quickly and easily recover. Students in SHIP’s programs have historically cited the high cost of insurance for those under age 26 as the main reason for not purchasing a car. In fact, before the start of SHIP’s program, Second Chances Garage only sold their program vehicles to those over age 26 because they did not believe the insurance cost for youth in their income range was sustainable. Thanks to a strong partnership with SHIP’s program, Second Chances Garage has now lowered its minimum age requirement to 18 and has provided vehicles to two SHIP youth. Upon obtaining a personal vehicle, youth will be provided with a vehicle safety kit, including jumper cables and first aid items. Youth will receive instruction regarding the use of these items.
To date, SHIP has assisted more than 100 students in obtaining a driver’s license. Youth who have completed the program have increased their income with higher earning positions, increased their school attendance in high school and college, and have been better able to access regular mental health and dental care. This program is one crucial piece of the transportation puzzle. Providing the population we serve with this lifelong skill and tools to maintain stable transportation stops students from experiencing homelessness as adults.
Interested in completing drivers’ education? Complete the form below for next steps!