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This report provides policy recommendations from a field discussion on reducing barriers to viable low-income car ownership. Suggestions include modifying regulations of public assistance programs, limiting the use of credit scores in determining insurability, and offering ownership supports such as tax credits and fuel stamps.
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Policy Recommendations from the Field • Defining “The Field” • Represented by 25 organizations dedicated to providing reliable • transportation to low-income families. • This group spent two days in September discussing the issues • that effect “the field” and how the organizations can be more • effective.
Policy Recommendations from the Field Reduce Barriers to Viable Low Income Car Ownership • Modify the regulations of the current public assistance programs that limit or provide disincentives for LICO. • Limit the use of credit scores in determining insurability for automobiles. • Require car lenders to disclose their fees and interest charges over the life of the loan. • Broaden and enforce usury laws.
Policy Recommendations from the Field Offer Ownership Supports for Low Income Families 1. Individual tax credit for car purchase, possibly on a sliding scale, from older to newer, more fuel efficient cars. 2. Fuel stamps to offset high gas costs. 3. Make car purchase an eligible use for all public Individual Development Account Match (IDA) funds in TANF, AFIA and ORR programs. 4. Provide car insurance support similar to flood insurance.
Policy Recommendations from the Field Provide Other Incentives Which Support Low Income Car Ownership 1. CRA credit for banks making Low Income car loans 2. Loan guarantees for prime lender LI car loans 3. Develop a CRA type model for car insurance companies 4. LICO Tax Credits, modeled after the Low Income Housing Tax Credits, that non-profits could sell to buy down the capital costs of acquiring newer, reliable economy cars
Policy Recommendations from the Field Provide or Re-direct Funding to Support LICO Programs across America • 1. LICO Demonstration in Senate TANF and Congresswoman • Gwen Moore’s Car Act • 2. Modify JARC and WIA rules to strengthen LICO support
Policy Recommendations from the Field Provide or Re-direct Funding to Support LICO Programs across America 4. Identify a federal “home” for LICO programs 5. LICO Tax Credit Program noted above 6. Support for replication of successful LICO models