But making a living in a skilled trade involves more than just hard work and a willingness to learn. It requires traveling to new job sites as often as every two weeks – with equipment in hand – to keep steady work and gain experience.

Unfortunately for Fandrich, valve problems on her car (with almost 240,000 miles) made it undriveable. The repairs would cost more than the car’s value.

Riding the bus to job sites wasn’t just inconvenient – it was expensive, and was not really an option for jobs located outside downtown Seattle. And Fandrich didn’t have the luxury of choosing jobs that were close to home.

Construction jobs are, by nature, mobile and seasonal - and with the region’s recent economic downturn, more scarce. Fandrich could be asked to leave her apprenticeship if she was unable to make it to work due to transportation problems.

The lack of transportation took its toll in other ways, too: getting a child to a doctor’s appointment, meeting a teacher after school or picking up her kids from after-school activities was nearly impossible. And attending her apprenticeship training classes regularly was becoming more difficult as well.

Fortunately for Fandrich, she learned about Working Wheels from another apprentice at her jobsite, and sent in her application to Fremont Public Association for consideration.

She purchased her car in September 2003.

Having a car means making a living

Having reliable transportation for work has made a world of difference for Fandrich. She is now in the 5th and final year of her apprenticeship. She has completed all of her classes and works full time as jobs become available, sometimes for as long as 2 months at a time. She credits Working Wheels with making it possible.

“I would not have been able to stay in my apprenticeship program without the Working Wheels car. Having the flexibility and reliability of a car is really a must for my job. If I can’t get to job sites, I can’t get work in my field,” says Fandrich.

Her current job requires a commute from Capitol Hill to Woodinville – about 35 minutes of driving – and Fandrich says she wouldn’t be able to work there without her car. Since receiving her car, she has worked on jobsites as far away as Duvall and Federal Way.

“Being able to get to trainings in Renton meant I could gain the skills I need to take on more work. I still draw unemployment when work is scarce, but the benefits from my employer and union have allowed me to stop receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).”

Fandrich says having a car has not only made it easier to get to work, but also to take care of everyday errands like grocery shopping, day care and healthcare. Now she has more quality time to spend with her children: “With the car, I can get them where they need to go. I can do what’s right for my family now - it’s just been a lifesaver.”