Why Lane County
Reliable transportation creates opportunity. Opportunity creates independence.
The scale of need is real
More than 381,000 residents call Lane County home. For many, a personal vehicle isn't a convenience — it's a lifeline to work, school, healthcare, and family.
People who call Lane County home, spread across urban, suburban, and rural communities.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Nearly 1 in 7 residents lives below the federal poverty level, with little margin for unexpected costs.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Nearly half of Oregonians cannot cover a $500 emergency expense — one unexpected repair can derail everything.
Source: Oregon State Treasury
For many, owning a reliable vehicle isn't a convenience — it's a necessity
Reliable transportation is essential for maintaining employment, attending school, accessing healthcare, and supporting families. Lane County stretches from Oregon's coastal communities through Eugene-Springfield and into rural and mountain communities — and public transportation does not reach every community, destination, or work schedule. Throughout Lane County, thousands of residents depend on personal vehicles every day because many jobs, schools, and services are not easily reached without one.
Lane County covers more than 4,500 square miles, stretching from the Oregon Coast through the Willamette Valley and into the Cascade Mountains. Transportation needs can look very different across a county this large — for residents of Eugene and Springfield, as well as for residents of rural, coastal, and mountain communities where transportation alternatives may be more limited. For many residents, a personal vehicle is their practical connection to employment, education, services, family responsibilities, and opportunity.
When a vehicle becomes unsafe or inoperable, people may be unable to:
One unexpected repair can create a transportation barrier that affects every aspect of a person's life. Lane County recognizes that transportation is essential to connecting people with jobs, education, healthcare, food, and other critical services.
Why Vehicle Repair Assistance Matters
Many households can manage monthly expenses but cannot absorb an unexpected repair costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. According to the 2026 Oregon Financial Wellness Scorecard published by the Oregon State Treasury, 48% of Oregonians are unable to cover a $500 emergency expense with savings — and an essential repair such as brakes, a starter, an alternator, or a wheel bearing can easily cost that much or more.
When brakes become unsafe, a battery or starter fails, or an alternator stops working, individuals may face difficult choices between repairing their vehicle and paying for necessities such as housing, utilities, or food.
Drive Forward Lane County exists to bridge that gap. By providing car repair assistance and vehicle repair help to qualified residents of Lane County, Oregon — from Eugene to Springfield and the surrounding rural communities — we help people continue working, attending school, searching for employment, and supporting their families. Sometimes the most powerful intervention is the one that prevents the crisis from happening at all: one essential repair can protect a job, preserve a household's independence, and keep a family moving forward.
Our Mission
Drive Forward Lane County removes transportation barriers by providing financial assistance for essential vehicle repairs to qualified Lane County residents. We believe reliable transportation creates opportunity. Every repaired vehicle represents another person who can continue moving forward.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
When reliable transportation is lost, the impact extends far beyond the vehicle.
A single mechanical failure doesn't just strand a car — it can unravel months or years of hard-won stability. The ripple effects touch employment, education, health, and family.
Missed work and lost wages
A single missed shift can mean the difference between making rent and falling behind. Multiple absences often lead to job loss.
Difficulty maintaining employment
Without reliable transportation, even the most dedicated employee can't guarantee they'll show up on time, every day.
Missed classes or training opportunities
Education and skills training are the path to better jobs — but only if you can get there.
Inability to meet essential obligations
Without reliable transportation, everyday responsibilities like getting to work, attending school, or caring for family become overwhelming challenges.
Increased financial hardship
Without a vehicle, income drops while other costs (rides, late fees, missed opportunities) pile up.
Greater reliance on emergency assistance
A preventable crisis spirals into an emergency that costs the community far more than a repair ever would.
Helping someone repair a vehicle costs far less than the alternative
Helping someone repair a vehicle is often significantly less expensive than addressing the long-term consequences of unemployment or prolonged financial instability. A repair today prevents a crisis tomorrow — for individuals, families, and the entire Lane County community.
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