Help for low-income workers to find, finance used cars

While light rail and better bus service is coming to Greater Seattle, a group of community activists is trying to get more people into cars.

"It's one key component to being able to achieve self-sufficiency," said attorney Nick Straley, who heads a project at Columbia Legal Services of Seattle to combat fraud in used-auto sales and financing to low-income people.

One nonprofit group, Working Wheels, finds cars for low-income workers and arranges financing to help them purchase it.

The program brings together working people with the cars they need to stay employed by arranging low-interest loans for low-priced cars, generally used sedans in the $1,500 range. The cars are culled from motor pools that have been well-maintained, and are inspected and repaired before being sold. Most are about eight years old and have been driven about 50,000 miles.

The number of cars is limited, so not everyone who applies will be accepted into the program. Those who are must submit to a review of their credit and driving record, attend financial skills classes and shop for insurance to help create a monthly spending plan that includes the costs of paying for and operating the vehicle.

To be eligible for the program, people must be employed and fit one of several scenarios:

• Their job cannot be easily reached through public transportation.

• They face long commutes on public transit to get to work, would otherwise use public transportation to get children to day care or tend to family needs.

• They are unable to work alternate shifts because of limited public transit.

• They can't afford to repair a car that is unsafe or does not run.

For more information, go to www.working-wheels.org or call the program at (206) 694-6833.