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Bus passes for the poor?

How does one get a hold of free bus passes for the poor (me)? My unemployment just ran out and my funds dwindling. Bussing is important to get to interviews. There is such a thing in Seattle, right?

sharonc asked in Personal Finance 10 months ago | Report

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  • Wa_usa_small
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    soundslikepuget

    You need to contact the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

    Free passes are not distributed by Metro or Sound Transit, you're going to have to work with DSHS and navigate their alphabet soup of programs.

    Different programs have different requirements, but as a basic guideline, you need to be at or below the eligibility level to receive food stamps in order to get DSHS to buy you a bus pass.

    Under their Basic Food & Employment Training (BF E&T) program also known as Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) DSHS will provide up to $100 for a bus pass.

    From the DSHS website:

    "BF E&T participants are eligible for a maximum $100 allowance per month for transportation or other costs related to participation. Bus passes and gas vouchers are allowed and will be paid by DSHS and the Employment Security Department (ESD) using the JOBS Automated System (eJAS)."

    Here's the thing about working with DSHS that you need to know, it's a giant monstrous shitty bureaucracy with a million stupid acronyms and little rules that are almost impossible for the layperson to interpret. But, most of the people who work there are really, really nice and helpful. So, just pick up the phone and give them a call: 1-877-501-2233

    Good luck!

    soundslikepuget answered in Personal Finance 10 months ago | Report
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  • Img_5852_small
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    Tracy M

    Here is something that won't help you right now, but it's a great program that may be reinstated and might help someday. So this answer is more of an FYI for the future. Good luck! Due to budget cuts, the "adopt-a-stop" program is currently "on hold" (they still offer the service to currently enrolled volunteers, but haven't accepted any new members in over a year).

    Adopt-a-Stop is all volunteer. You agree to service a trash can at a selected stop, and metro installs a garbage can. Then metro provides you with trash liners. You just have to regularly empty the trash and put in new liners, and then add the garbage to your trash can each week. In exchange for this, Metro sends you SIXTY free bus passes each quarter. It's not quite enough for daily commuters, obviously, but it does really help. You end up only having to buy a monthly pass every other month. Sometimes the garbage is really nasty, and during our rainy periods, it can get pretty horrible (all that wet mushy stuff and garbage water), but if you empty it pretty regularly, it's not too bad.

    Tracy M answered in Personal Finance 10 months ago | Report
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    asteria

    I second the DSHS recommendations - even if they don't have bus passes, I'm sure you can get food stamps at the least.

    Also try calling 211 - they have a database of non-profit agencies and can help you find a local organization that might have bus tickets. You can also search their database at http://www.resourcehouse.info/Win211/

    I don't find the database that helpful, but try searching for "bus" and your zipcode and see what is available.

    Unfortunately a lot of these organizations are having hard times too, so even if 211 says they have bus tickets they might not actually have any available right now. But if you need assistance with utility bills, or rent, you can sometimes get some money - usually limited to $50 or $100 per organization - with a shut-off notice or 3-day pay or vacate eviction notice.

    Another option is visiting your local church - some of them have designated funds to help people in the neighborhood and/or bus tickets to distribute. Some churches give money to a nonprofit neighborhood organization and will refer you to them.

    Finally, I know that if you qualify for worker retraining you can get a free bus pass and help buying books, etc. You get more assistance if you are studying for a high-demand field, which varies depending on the community college. If you're interested, you should apply for DSHS benefits first (you get more assistance if you are receiving food stamps) and then go to http://startnextquarter.org/.

    asteria answered in Personal Finance 10 months ago | Report
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