The Salvation Army and Goodwill can be great resources for you to get a donated car for an affordable price. If you meet Goodwill's criteria, you could even get a car for free. If you need wireless service so you can get or keep a job, the federal Lifeline program may be able to help.
How to get cars for free?
Government subsidized loans can help pay for new or used cars. The main organization is Ways for Work. There is another national charity called Working Cars for Working people, and they rely on federal funding. Dozens of charities in all 50 states also rely on federal government grant funding.