Kalamazoo carshare decreases carbon emissions, increases transportation accessibility

Local leaders across West Michigan say the new car-share program at The Creamery apartments will not only cut carbon emissions but help people in need get from point A to point B.

"According to the Michigan Association of the United Way's transportation, childcare and housing costs accounted for about 60% of a typical households' budget," said Matt Hollander from Hollander Development. "Anybody who's paying attention right now understands that we have an affordable housing crisis. But what people don't think about are those two other big expenses: childcare and transportation."

Hollander and local leaders introduced the Affordable Mobility Program, a partnership with the nonprofit organization Forth. The program was launched by the Michigan Clean Cities Coalition and aims to help with transportation while saving money and the environment. The project is supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office.

For $5 an hour or $50 a day, Hollander says anyone can reserve the car.