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Lakeland public housing tenants get free rides

LAKELAND, Fla. — People who live in public housing in Lakeland can use the area's bus service for free for one year.
 
According to the Lakeland Ledger, the pilot program aims to help folks with rides to school, employment training programs, interviews and ultimately jobs.
 
The discounted tab of $6,000 is being picked up by the housing authority, which is trying to help tenants find and maintain gainful employment to end or reduce their reliance on public assistance.
 
Officials say 100 people selected by Lakeland's housing agency to ride buses for free will be monitored in hopes of seeing a return on the expense.
 
Similar programs are in place for students and workers of certain companies; the companies and schools subsidize the cost of the rides.