Mississippi to Provide CDL Training For the Homeless
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is working with community partners to eliminate homelessness and help alleviate a truck driver shortage that is facing transit agencies within the Magnolia State.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is working with community partners to eliminate homelessness and help alleviate a truck driver shortage that is facing transit agencies within the Magnolia State.
D.R.I.V.E.
According to a news release, MDOT and its partners are providing housing assistance, job training and employment for the homeless through a program called D.R.I.V.E. (Developing Responsible Individuals with Valuable Education),
Participants in the program are completing commercial driver’s license (CDL) training and obtaining employment through MDOT’s Public Transit Division.
“MDOT’s Public Transit Division and Mississippi Home Corporation have teamed up with community partners to reduce homelessness and help alleviate the serious driver shortage that is facing transit agencies within the state through the D.R.I.V.E. service,” the news release stated.
Montresa Harney was homeless with her seven children but was able to turn her life around through this very program, which assisted her with job training, employment and housing assistance.
Harney recently obtained her Class C CDL through the program, and MDOT connected her with a job in public transit.
“I can drive anything under 26,000 pounds, so like a school bus, light transit, driving elderly people to their appointments,” Harney said. “It was very rewarding especially the patients I met. I love talking to them, they love talking to me it was very rewarding.”
Harney said she now has a new lease and outlook on life.
“Eventually, I think I want to get my Class A and get on the road, drive big trucks,” she said.
“I would encourage people to do it, if you’re thinking about getting your license, class A,B,C — go ahead and do it you know because you get to meet a lot of people who will support you.”
D.R.I.V.E Funding and Partners
D.R.I.V.E. is funded through a multi-million dollar C.A.R.E.S. funds grant through the Mississippi Home Corporation.
D.R.I.V.E partners are as follows:
- MDOT
- Mississippi Home Corp.
- Grace House Ministries
- Driver Improvement Agency
- City of Jackson Homeless Program
- Catholic Charities
- Salvation Army
Other Mississippi Homeless Resources
- Meals, Food, and Clothing
- Homeless service groups
- Food stamps (SNAP)
- Legal assistance
- Social Security offices
- HUDVet State and Local Resources
- United Way
- Jobs and job training
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