HN: Looking to set up zipcar-like non-profit service for the poor.

Re:HN: Looking to set up zipcar-like non-profit service for ... by notahacker on Saturday September 21, 2013 @05:19PM (#6424600)

One of your biggest issues to iron out is who qualifies for access to the scheme (anyone poor enough to consider renting a donated car for a very low fee? That's probably a lot of people, even in the US). Then you've got to figure out how much you want to spend promoting the scheme to those people - assuming the economics of the scheme are such that marketing doesn't generate a positive ROI.

Another issue might be that the genuine poor who most need cars are those that use them - all day every day - to go to and from their low paid jobs. If you intend the cars to actually be shared you'll have to choose a way of addressing that.

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Re:HN: Looking to set up zipcar-like non-profit service for ... by Killah911 on Saturday September 21, 2013 @05:48PM (#6424719)

We've already figured out the qualification part. This non profit is under the umbrella of another non profit which already does case management for poor families who are at risk of homelessness, usually due to loss of job. One of the big burdens on some of these families is a car payment from a buy here pay here scammer.

We're working on emergency housing, in conjunction with some other non-profits, however, the transportation situation is still unresolved.

We also noticed that many of the these families are in a similar area and often work in close proximity to one another.

Ride sharing or car sharing would not only be a greener solution, but I personally feel, it would be a far more effective solution. It may help lift some of these families out of poverty as they can actually get to a job/school and what is generally a usurious car payment and full insurance can go into a fund to get some training or actually save up to get a car.

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