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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Transportation Equity: The Often-Forgotten Aspect of Poverty

When you think about poverty, transportation is probably not the first issue that comes to mind. But having a reliable and affordable means of getting around town is fundamental to accessing vital resources.

September 24, 2021

When you think about poverty, transportation is probably not the first issue that comes to mind. But having a reliable and affordable means of getting around town is fundamental to accessing vital resources. That access, in turn, is key to economic wellbeing. 

The ability to get back and forth to work, take children to daycare, arrive on time for medical appointments, and shop for food and other essentials is basic to a family’s financial stability. However, owning a car is prohibitively expensive for many households, involving a monthly payment, insurance, gas, inspections, taxes, and maintenance. 

Public transportation is the only alternative for many households, but it brings a different list of barriers. In cities like Charlotte, where the bus system was designed with routes that branch out from a central hub, riders are often forced to take a circuitous trip involving multiple buses with lengthy wait times in between. A commute that might take a car owner 15 minutes to drive can easily consume 90 minutes or more of a public transit rider’s day. That lost time can translate directly to decreased wages, missed doctors’ appointments, less quality time with loved ones, and increased stress. 

Of course, a community’s transportation system involves more than just its roads, private vehicles, and public transit. Factors such as safe options for walking and biking, and the equitable distribution of those assets throughout all neighborhoods, play an essential role in creating transportation equity. 

A recent Discover Magazine article entitled “Green Spaces Are a Necessity, Not an Amenity” outlines the many ways spending time outdoors in nature improves our mental and physical health. However, the article reports that 70% of low-income communities lack access to green spaces. The negative consequences for children growing up without safe outdoor areas for walking, biking, and playing can be lifelong. 

Locally, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Coalition envisions a community that is fully and equitably connected. With dozens of members ranging from organizations and nonprofits to churches and individual community members, the coalition’s mission is to support transportation choices that connect people to jobs, education, housing, healthcare, healthy food options, art, cultural resources, and each other. 

According to the coalition, it costs an average of $15,700 per year to own and drive a car in Charlotte. Couple that with the fact that an average one-bedroom apartment here rents for over $1,400 a month, or $17,000 a year. Then consider that a full-time worker earning $15 an hour, often thought a living wage, makes $31,000 a year before taxes. The math is straightforward: that worker cannot afford both an apartment and a car in Charlotte.  

Many families served at Crisis Assistance Ministry find themselves caught within this triangle of low-paying jobs, increasingly expensive housing, and the challenge of transportation in the Queen City. Achieving financial stability, let alone economic mobility, is practically impossible when expenses exceed income each month. 

As we strive to create a sustainable and equitable community for everyone who lives here, it is critical not to overlook the importance of transportation. Ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors have the physical means to connect with opportunities for health and prosperity is one of the best investments Charlotte-Mecklenburg can make. 

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: discover magazine, green spaces, Poverty, transportation, transportation equity

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
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  • (704) 371-3001
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  • Main Office:
    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
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    EIN 56-1416719

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crisisassistmin

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We had an unusual 🐿️ visitor this morning. While we DO specialize in stabilizing families through emergency basic needs and financial empowerment, our services are designed for neighbors of the human variety! 🤣 
Fortunately, our little squirrel buddy has been successfully relocated to the outdoors where they can continue to take care of their family too 😁 🎉

crisisassistmin

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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond’s thought-provoking message will help us understand the systemic issues contributing to poverty and inspire us to be part of the solution here in our own community. Tickets are free, but required. Seating is Limited. <Link in Bio>

crisisassistmin

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We aren't throwing a big party, but we ARE asking friends and neighbors to make a direct contribution to help stabilize families facing a financial crisis. Your help with this Non-Event will make more stories like this one possible. Join us with a gift to help neighbors avoid eviction and loss of utilities and to empower more people with the tools to rebuild financial stability for themselves. Don't Save a Date . . . Save A Future.

crisisassistmin

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We love sharing our mission with corporate #volunteers like this team from @humana today. Thanks to their help, families will find essentials like clothing, shoes, school supplies, and household goods—free of charge— in our store while they continue to build financial stability. #thankful

crisisassistmin

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Instead of planning a fancy gala, we're inviting you to skip the party (and all those costs) and instead make a direct contribution to stabilize families experiencing financial crisis right here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
It's our NonEvent 2023, and your gift will help hardworking neighbors escape the threat of eviction or loss of utilities while empowering families with the resources to stabilize their families . . . and their future.
SAVE A FUTURE: https://crisisassistance.org/mobility

crisisassistmin

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What a wonderful day to welcome #volunteers from @DukeEnergy during their Summer of Service. Nearly 100 Duke employees spent part of their day helping with everything from painting barrels to inspecting donations and stocking the store. A GREAT way to spend a Friday here in the Queen City!

crisisassistmin

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This might look like a #Barbie appreciation post, but actually it is a shout out to Team @duke_energy and the 100+ folks who spent their day as #volunteers here today!

crisisassistmin

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Starting the day with a wonderful snack ministry from @elevationchurch for day 6 of #loveweek2023! Thank you for making sure families seeking help today have a little nourishment along the way.

crisisassistmin

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Today's LOVE WEEK 2023 #volunteers from @elevationchurch created no-sew blankets for families who shop here free of charge, staffed the checkout counters in the store, and prepared newly arrived clothing from corporate donors for future shoppers. With help like this, more than 80 people per day find essentials to help stabilize their families when they visit our Free Store. #thankful #loveweek2023

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