Help us keep 300 families in their homes in 2025
Good Karma Garage is a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness by addressing a critical early-stage challenge. We are proud to continue our commitment to helping individuals and families maintain stable employment and housing through vehicle repairs and support services. Providing transportation assistance to financially insecure families returns dividends to the community almost eight fold.
Every year, countless individuals and families are at risk of losing their homes due to financial instability caused by unexpected car breakdowns. Without reliable transportation, people struggle to maintain employment, pay bills, access medical care, and ultimately risk homelessness. Good Karma Garage recognizes this critical link between transportation and housing instability and has been working tirelessly to bridge the gap. Pennsylvania is one of the most expensive states in which to own a car due to the rigorous annual inspection requirements. This has been exacerbated over the last several years due to the cost of vehicle repair and exorbitant new and used car prices. Our customers are forced to limp along their older cars, many of which have been neglected over the years due to lack of funds by the owner. Higher repair bills disproportionately affect those in the lower income brackets forcing them to either drive illegally in an unsafe vehicle or rely on expensive options such as Uber or to use public transportation, which often does not reach their employment without significant inconvenience through increased travel time. This is where Good Karma Garage shines. We have had people call us in tears because they can’t afford the repair bill to get their car through inspection. If I had to pick the most common quote that we hear from our clients, it would be “I didn’t know what I was going to do before you came along.” Our services make a difference in people’s lives – that is undeniable.
Through data gathered over the past several years, we have found that every dollar spent by Good Karma Garage on vehicle repair frees up $2.95 to the families we serve in money they don’t have to pay. That is money that can be used for other bills or housing expenses. Additionally, studies have shown that every dollar spent in preventing homelessness saves nearly $5 in community costs to service the homeless. Every dollar donated to Good Karma Garage is multiplied by $7.95 in benefits to the families we serve and the community.
In 2023, we served 186 families allowing them to remain in their houses. That work also freed up $120,000 for the families we served and saved the community over $200,000 in potential costs to rehouse these individuals.
We have surpassed our goal of 200 families this year and intend to serve 300 families in 2025. You can be a part of our success.
Our program is unique and has been recognized nationally through a Jacqueline Onassis Jefferson Award and locally with a Non-Profit Innovation Award from the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal. We have local charitable foundations that have supported our efforts from the start and continue to do so presently. Each year has seen us expand the services we offer and the number of families that we serve.
Good Karma Garage was started in July, 2021 out of a desire to help folks that were struggling financially. With the ever increasing cost of auto repair, our customers are forced to drive illegally because they can’t afford the cost of the repair work needed to meet the stringent PA vehicle standards. Without a vehicle, many people will not be able to keep their jobs. This could cause a downward financial slide from which they may not be able to recover leading to homelessness. Our services are valued by the social services agencies with whom we interact. We are very proud of what we have done to date and look forward to multiplying these numbers as we grow.
2021 Working nights and weekends out of a residential garage, our first customer
came through at the end of August.
We assisted 12 people, providing $4,000 in parts $6,000 in labor.
We gifted 1 car to a veteran.
2022 Still part time in the residential garage for the entire year.
We served 99 customers, providing $26,000 in parts and $36,000 in labor.
We gifted 3 cars to deserving recipients this year.
2023 This year saw us in a commercial garage, but still working part time. In the first
half of this year, we served 59 customers with $15,000 in parts and $20,000 in
labor; still at no cost to our recipients.
In July of this year, we were able to open our garage five days a week and ended
up serving 186 families providing $41,000 in parts and $55,000 worth of labor.
