Urban planners promote walkable cities with good public transit and affordable housing near jobs. However, refugees and immigrants in the U.S. need reliable transportation to reach work, school, grocery stores, and doctors.
In Virginia, getting a driver’s license can be challenging due to language barriers at the DMV. Although the learner’s permit test is offered in 26 languages, the driver’s manual is only in English and Spanish, and the road test is in English only.
Kate Ayers from ReEstablish Richmond, a nonprofit aiding refugees and immigrants, emphasizes that transportation barriers affect access to community resources and economic opportunities. Initially, the organization helped refugees with public transit but switched focus to assisting with driving credentials and expanded to provide broader support.
Of 196 newcomers given study materials, 161 obtained a driving credential, achieving an 82% success rate. The process for obtaining a learner’s permit shortened from one to three years to one to three months.
Tetiana, a client from Ukraine, shared that receiving study materials and language-specific help allowed her to pass the driving test. With a grant from ReEstablish Richmond, she bought a car, improving her quality of life and enabling her to support her son’s swimming dreams.
ReEstablish Richmond aims to help 200 people get driving credentials in 2024, mainly serving clients from Afghanistan, who speak Dari or Pashto, as well as Arabic, Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Ukrainian, and Russian speakers. The organization offers free driving workshops, including digital resources and ongoing support, and helps clients with behind-the-wheel lessons and car purchases through scholarships and grants.
The success of their language access program has led to discussions on adapting their model nationally. ReEstablish Richmond also provides support for housing, employment, and public transportation, contributing around $27,000 in rent and financial aid to 28 clients in 2023. They’ve found that combining education with practical support like transportation and childcare increases attendance rates for classes.