Welfare reform and the spatial divide: a study in transporting recipients to jobs

A number of studies supports the ineffectiveness of public transportation to connect low‐income individuals with entry‐level employment. The transportation obstacles faced by welfare recipients to find and maintain employment continue to persist. Focussing on the example of two programs implemented in suburban Washington, D.C., this study explores the question of what type of transportation services best support the welfare‐to‐work goals and whether they instill a sense of self‐reliance and esteem among participants. In addition, this study used the data to develop spatio — temporal travel pattern diagrams, which suggest that transportation may change the psychology of transit for recipients. The authors recommend that service providers give greater attention to outreach services and ensure better coordination between transit, childcare and job training programs. The paper also includes a number of suggestions to improve both skill and spatial mismatch.

Keywords:

• Welfare reform
• Transportation
• Spatial mismatch
• Employment
• Transit