By Marci Izard

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (abc40) There has been some public outrage over a state program that provides free cars to people on welfare.

"So much for the budget Armageddon ... Let the taxpayers worry about those billion-dollar deficits, if you're on welfare, come on down," wrote Howie Carr in the Boston Herald.

But Carolyn Venne of Good News Garage, a charity that receives donated cars and works with the state's Department of Transitional Assistance to place them with people in need, disputes that. 

"What we're doing is helping people get off state assistance and get back to work full time," she says.

About 65 free cars are given out to families across the Bay State a year. Families who receive the cars also get additional benefits -including a free AAA membership for one year. The recipient of the car needs to show proof of employment -otherwise the benefits are stripped.

"We do find that it really helps them get to work and also break the cycle of poverty for their family," says Venne.

According to the Boston Herald's reporting, the Department of Transitional Assistance says about 20 percent of those who get car end up back on welfare.