Good News Mountaineer Garage has two different programs that award $1 cars to low income people in West Virginia. These programs are focused on helping people obtain safe, reliable transportation so that they can become more self-sufficient.
What is Good News Mountaineer Garage?
Good News Mountaineer Garage is a nonprofit organization that helps low income West Virginians connect with reliable transportation. They repair donated vehicles and give them away so that people can get to work or job training.
Since this program was founded in 1999, they have given away over 3,500 vehicles to families across West Virginia. This organization supports families statewide.
Who is Eligible?
GNMG offers two different programs and both have different eligibility requirements.
- WV Works provides $1 cars to people who receive TANF and are actively participating in the WV Works program. You will need to have a valid WV driver’s license and have no other means of transportation in order to qualify.
- Jobs & Hope provides vehicles to people who are engaged in recovery programs and referred by a transition agent. You must be at least 18, have a valid WV driver’s license and be gainfully employed or beginning job training to qualify.
No matter which path you take, you must also provide proof of liability insurance and participate in their car care training before you can receive the vehicle.
How Do I Apply?
You can’t apply for the vehicle programs directly. You have to be referred by someone.
For the Jobs & Hope program, you must be referred by a transition agent. You’ll need to talk to your recovery program for more information about how to initiate that referral.
For WV Works, you will need to be referred by your caseworker from the Department of Health and Human Resources. Make sure you talk to them if you need help obtaining a reliable vehicle and ask them to put in that referral for you.
Relief Recap
Good News Mountaineer Garage provides very low cost vehicles (seriously, $1?!) to low income people who qualify. You need to be on TANF or in a recovery program in order to qualify. Please contact your appropriate referral agent in order to get started. And don’t forget – there are even more free car programs you may qualify for!
