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12 Easy Ways To Make Money With Your Car — There’s So Much More Than Uber!

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12 Easy Ways To Make Money With Your Car — There’s So Much More Than Uber!

Looking for a new way to earn money, want to work from home or searching for an easy side hustle that can help buy holiday gifts or pad your retirement? If you have a car, you’re in luck because you can earn $7 to $29 per hour while behind the wheel. Whether you drive yourself around, drive others around or rent your car out, you’re helping to make other people’s lives easier while offsetting the costs of owning a car — it’s a win-win. Here, we found the best ways to make money with your car.

The best driving apps to make money 

Driving apps have come a long way since Uber was founded in 2009. With so many to choose from, the “best driving app” depends on your unique situation and goals.

If you’re looking for an extra income stream that’s super low maintenance, renting your car or wrapping it in advertisements may be the perfect fit. Or, if you’re looking for a more active gig, you can let your car pay for itself as a rideshare driver or delivery driver.

Regardless of where you live or what your professional background is, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to making money with driving apps. This is especially beneficial if your personal life or schedule makes it challenging for you to commit to a job with fixed hours.

“These platforms aren’t just apps; they’re transformational catalysts changing how we see transportation, commerce, and the rising tide of opportunities for women,” says Robert Walden, a small business owner, mechanic and the founder of VehicleFreak.com. “I’ve had countless conversations with enthusiastic women who’ve harnessed the potential of these apps. The word I hear most — empowerment! Women from diverse walks of life now have the liberty to operate within flexible schedules, ensuring a balance between professional pursuits and personal commitments.”

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12 ways to make money with your car and driving apps

Oscar Wong/ Getty

1.Driving app that will make you money: Uber

Considered the original rideshare platform, Uber is now available worldwide. Becoming an Uber driver is easy: As long as you’re over 21 years old, you just have to pass a background check, and have a vehicle that passes inspection. One great perk is the flexibility — you have total control over when you choose to accept rides and can create your own schedule.

Uber drivers can earn between $17 and $29 per hour, plus tips. The pay depends on where you live, the day of the week (weekends tend to have higher demand) and the time of day (you can make more money driving at peak hours). Want to maximize your earnings? Consider doubling up your services by signing up as an UberEats driver. It’s all on the same app that you use as a rideshare driver, and you can choose to pick up passengers or deliver food orders depending on demand.

2. Driving app that will make you money: Lyft

Lyft is another popular rideshare app that can serve as either a part-time or full-time gig, with drivers typically earning between $16 and $19 an hour. Similar to Uber, you have to be 21, pass a background check, and have a vehicle that passes inspection.

Again, tips from passengers can boost your earnings. Just the little things, like being friendly and keeping your car clean, are great ways to “tip” the scales in your favor!

Success story: “I make $200 a week giving other people rides!”

Michelle Ramos, 49 lyft driver
Corpus

“When I heard about Lyft, a ride-sharing service that hires drivers to help people get around town, it sounded like a great opportunity to make extra cash on my own schedule,” says Michelle Ramos. “So I downloaded the app and uploaded my photo, driver’s license, registration, insurance and consent for a background check. Then they inspected my car, and I was approved as a driver.”

“When I’m available to work, I simply open the app and I’m ready to accept ride requests. When a job pops up, I get a photo and a description of my passenger, then I have 15 minutes to confirm. The app guides me to the pickup point, then directs me to their destination. The passenger pays through the app, so I never have to handle cash. I do about 10 rides a week, and I make between $100 and $200—money that pays the bills or goes for fun things like trips with my family.”

“I usually work in the morning and afternoon, driving people to work, the elderly or parents with kids. My most memorable passenger was a 98-year-old woman who needed a ride to meet her husband at their 50th anniversary party! Best of all, I always feel safe when I drive, but I can cancel a ride if I feel un­comfortable. It’s a great way to make money, I get to meet people from all walks of life and it’s flexible, so I can spend time with my kids!” — as told to Julie Revelant

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3. Way to make money with your car: Carvertise  

Did you know that you can make passive income as a driving billboard? Carvertise is exactly what it sounds like — a company that pays drivers to display car decal advertisements.

All you have to do is fill out a quick online application, answering questions about your car and where you normally drive. Then, Carvertise will “match” you to a brand that likes your driving habits, and wrap your car with the advertisement (the wrap is totally safe for your car, FYI!). Drivers can choose which brands to accept, so you don’t have to worry about an unsightly ad on your car.

Pay varies depending on the size of the campaign, but most campaigns start with a base of $100 per month. Drivers are also offered additional opportunities to boost their earnings (this could mean driving to busy areas with lots of eyeballs, such as a local mall), with the potential of earning up to $500 a month with Carvertise throughout a campaign.

Success story: “I earn $100 a month driving with ad wraps on my car!”

Peggy Sneeringer in her ad wrapped car for carvertise

“Four years ago, I saw a bumper sticker for Carvertise, a company that places ad decals on cars. I checked out their website and filled out an application, which asked about my car and driving habits,” says Peggy Sneeringer, 60. “The requirements involve having a clean driving record, driving 30 miles a day and owning a vehicle that was made after 2007. Next, I had a phone call with the company’s founder, accepted the opportunity to join the team and scheduled a time to get my car wrapped. The wrap is safe for your car, and the process takes about one to two hours. I enjoy getting to learn more about the brand I’m driving for. Drivers have a choice when it comes to the brand, so I don’t have to worry about getting an unsightly ad.” 

“Once the wrap is on, I install an app on my phone, which tracks where I drive. Then I simply drive around in geographic areas where a brand wants to be noticed. I love meeting new people, and the advertisements are always a wonderful icebreaker. Plus, I earn $100 a month. There are also occasional bonus opportunities for extra money. Once, I was paid $50 just to drive for two hours around my local mall during the holiday season.”

“Having your car wrapped is a great opportunity to make extra cash, meet new friends and have a great time doing it!” 

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4. Way to make money with your car: Wrapify

Wrapify is another app that makes it easy to earn passive income using your car as a portable ad. To sign up, just download the Wrapify app and create a profile. You’ll receive offers when campaigns become available in your area (campaign zones are typically within 50 miles of the advertiser’s target town or city).

You can boost your earnings by choosing to wrap your entire car, or you can opt for a partial ad. Depending on the campaign and amount of miles you drive within the campaign zone, Wrapify drivers can earn between $196 to $452 per month.

Success story: “I make up to $400 a month ‘wrapping’ my car with ads!

Melanie Still, wrapify driver
Sam Barillas

“After spending a decade as an executive paralegal and investigator, I was ready to make a change, so I became a rideshare driver with Uber and Lyft,” says Melanie Still, 44.
“Then about two years ago, I read an article about ways drivers could earn extra money with Wrapify, an advertising company that places ads on cars as part of their campaigns. I was intrigued, so I looked it up!”

“All I had to do to qualify was download their app on my phone, then drive 50 miles in one day. Once chosen for a campaign, you agree to have your car wrapped with ads, which, depending on the campaign, can pay $250 a month for a partial wrap (just the side doors). And the pay increases for a full wrap (covers most of the car) or for driving more miles.

“Since starting, I’ve earned about $400 a month for the campaigns I’ve done — all of which ran longer than planned and ended up paying even more! Having my car wrapped, I earn enough each day to fill up my tank for the next day, drastically cutting my expenses as a rideshare driver! I also love the extra attention the wraps on my car bring me. I get stopped at stop signs, red lights and gas stations, even at the terminal at the airport by people directing traffic. Everyone wants to know about the wraps and how they can get them! As long as I’m driving, I’ll continue to wrap my car. My goal is to land a yearlong campaign.” — as told to Alexandra Kay

5. Way to make money with your car: Instacart

woman holds bag full of groceries at home (driving apps to make money)
Maca and Naca/Getty

If you enjoy grocery shopping and have a car, then you’re ready to make money as an Instacart shopper! Instacart is an online grocery delivery platform that hires both part-time and full-time shoppers. It’s a simple way for anyone looking for flexible, seasonal, or regular work to make money — shoppers keep 100% of their tips and can cash out their earnings in as little as two hours.

The amount of money you can make depends on factors like order size, trip distance and time of day, with the average Instacart shopper earning $16 per hour. If you accept jobs during times of high demand (like weekends), your earning potential is even higher.

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Success story: “I earn $700 a week delivering groceries with Instacart!

Janine LaCerra, Instacart

“After having my second daughter — I’m the mother of three girls — I knew I needed to go back to work,” says Janine LaCerra, 45. “But I wanted something that paid well and allowed me to work around my family’s schedule. Then, while on Craigslist about two years ago, I saw an ad looking for shoppers for Instacart, a home-delivery service where people use a smartphone app or website to place grocery orders with various retailers from Costco and Target to Aldi and Big Lots! The ad said I could make my own hours, which intrigued me!”

“I filled out basic information online, like my name, address and phone number. It took about a week for them to do a criminal and driving record background check, and then I was hired! After I did my first shop at Super Fresh, I knew the job was perfect for me.”

“When orders are placed, I get alerts on my phone, and I can choose the ones I want to complete. Some days, I feel extra energetic and will do a Costco order, which is harder due to the items’ sizes, and sometimes I keep it to the local ShopRite.”

“I do around two to four shops a day during the week and five to eight on the weekends. I make $35–$50 an hour (a combination of the hourly rate and generous customer tips) and bring in about $700 a week—money that pays the mortgage, for things for myself and my kids or even a nice ­dinner out with my husband.” — as told to Alexandra Kay

6. Way to make money with your car: Shipt

Shipt is another app that allows you to earn a profit shopping for other people and delivering their orders. Shipt shoppers can set their own hours and are offered orders on the app, each one spelling out the estimated pay and time it will take. Shoppers purchase each order using a prepaid card provided by Shipt, which is funded with the amount of the order before the delivery window begins.

Like Instacart, multiple factors determine your rate, with the average Shipt shopper earning up to $14 an hour.

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Success story: “I make $22 an hour grocery shopping!”

Julie Sweder Shipt
Mary DuPrie Studios

“I own a daycare center, but as my own kids were in high school, I had all this time on my hands and was looking for a way to earn more money,” says Julie Sweder, 53. “Then I saw an ad on Facebook for Shipt, a membership-based marketplace that hires people to shop for groceries and other items for those who are time-strapped. I could set my own hours and work as much or as little as I wanted!”

“Getting started was easy. I registered on the app and answered basic questions about how to pick produce, communicate with customers and problem-­solve. I also recorded a short video so they could see my personality. After a background check and verification of my car insurance, I was approved! They sent me a Shipt shirt and a debit card to shop with, and I got to work!”

“The system is pretty simple: Members post their orders and choose a time for delivery, then I get an alert and accept the order. Orders can include everything from food and alcohol to toys, apparel, flowers and balloons.”

“I work between 15 and 20 hours a week, mostly in the evenings and on weekends, and I love that I get to help people—some of my clients have become regulars! I make up to $22 an hour, and though I always tell customers that tips are not required, many still tip through the app or in person, which adds to my earnings. The money I’ve made helps pay for my kids’ college expenses and trips with friends!” — as told to Julie Revelant

7. Way to make money with your car: Turo

Got a car that’s collecting dust in the garage? Signing up with Turo is a low-maintenance way to reach 14 million prescreened customers to rent your vehicle. While that number may be a worldwide customer base, the earning potential that Turo offers as the leading car sharing marketplace is pretty impressive — the average annual income of one car is $10,516.

To start making a profit, all you have to do is create a profile on the Turo app and list your car and availability. You also get to set your own prices. Once your listing is live, you have the choice to accept or deny requests from people who are interested in renting your car.

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Success story: “I bring in $750 a month loaning out my wheels!”

Rhiannon Andersen, Turo driving app

“I’m one of two owners of an exhibit design and production company in Las Vegas, and I travel a bit for work,” says Rhiannon Andersen, 47. “I had experience with things like Airbnb and Uber in the sharing movement and thought those sorts of services were cool. I like to have access to a home-style stay, and I thought it would be fun to have a car service along the same lines.”

“This prompted me to see if there was a local service where I could rent out my own car — I’m away a lot and I have access to a company car if I need it. That’s when I found Turo.com and decided to offer my Jeep for rental and see how it did. The process is pretty easy: You list your car, create a profile and post pictures. Then people contact you with requests, which you can choose to accept or reject.”

“I meet all the renters at my office. They Uber or taxi from the airport, which is about 10 minutes away. I just meet the guest, check their credentials and walk around the car, and Turo provides both liability insurance and roadside assistance. My car has been popular, renting about five times a month for varying lengths of time. In the first two months it was listed, I earned $1,500. I use some of the money for expenses associated with owning my car, and I bank the rest.” — as told to Alexandra Kay

8. Way to make money with your car: Getaround

Getaround is similar to Turo in that you can rent your car to neighbors or tourists who need to “get around.” Once you create a profile, which includes naming your car and uploading photos, the next step is for the Getaround hardware to be installed in your car. This allows guests to unlock your car with their phone — and means you don’t have to meet them in person. Then, you can start accepting bookings and earning extra cash!

Success story: “I make $6,500 a month just by sharing my cars!”

Catonya Sconiers in her car for getaround driving app

“As a full-time security guard, I had been looking for a way to earn passive income to supplement my retirement,” says Catonya Sconiers, 54. “So when I first heard about Getaround, a peer-to-peer marketplace for renting cars that’s 100% digital, I was immediately intrigued. Since I have five cars and people always compliment me on how well I maintain them, I thought car-sharing would be a great fit!”

“I started by visiting the site and was thrilled to see that each of my cars met the eligibility criteria. It also gave me peace of mind to see that there’s a happiness team who can assist with any issues. “

“I created a Getaround profile and listed each of my cars — an initial cost of $100, then $20 per month thereafter. I installed Getaround Connect, the digital hardware that gives me data about the location and usage of each of my cars. This technology also allows guests to access the cars without keys—all they need is a smartphone and the Getaround app!”

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“To my delight, the requests quickly began pouring in. Since I don’t have to meet guests in person, the only time I have to spend on this side gig is tidying up in between rentals with a portable vacuum cleaner and microfiber towel. Keeping my cars pristine also helps me earn five-star reviews!”

“I bring in about $1,300 per month on each car for a total of $6,500 a month — money that boosts my retirement fund. I love that sharing my car helps others become more self-reliant. Plus, it’s great to know that I might be out of town and on vacation, but my cars are still getting booked and helping me make money!”

9. Way to make money with your car: DoorDash

DoorDash is an easy-to-use app where drivers (“Dashers”) make money from picking up orders from restaurants and delivering them to customer’s homes. It’s a great option if you like driving but also want frequent breaks to stretch your legs. Signing up takes just a few minutes, and if you don’t have a car, you can even make deliveries on your bike or motorcycle.

As a Dasher, you’re guaranteed a base pay for all deliveries and keep 100% of your tips. People are often inclined to tip generously during sporting events and rainy days! You can also take advantage of various promotions to earn more money when it’s busy (for example, completing a certain number of deliveries in a set amount of time).

Success story: “I make up to $500 a week making food deliveries!” 

Vanessa K. Herron,  doordash , driving app for money

“My family’s finances shifted when my husband went back to school,” says Vanessa K. Herron, 40s. And though I’d been working as a screenwriter for years, I needed a way to ­supplement my income, especially as our four children started to go off to college.”

“Then one day, I was chatting with my daughter, and she said, ‘I’ve got to go. I have to do a Dash.’ She explained that she was making money delivering restaurant food to people through the mobile service DoorDash. All you need is access to a vehicle, a driver’s license and a phone to install the app. ‘I could do that too!’ I thought. So I went online, completed the registration and orientation and downloaded the app.”

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“For my first job, I drove to a local restaurant, picked up the order and delivered the meal to the customer’s house using my phone’s GPS. The app paid me a delivery fee, and I kept 100% of the tip I was given at the door.”

“In no time, I was making $250 to $500 a week delivering lunches to offices, dinners to busy families and coffee to tired students. Best of all, I can ‘cash out’ through the app daily, so I never have to wait for a payday.”

“The money I make has helped me pay for my kids’ college and fund my creative projects as a filmmaker. Plus, I can work from anywhere. When I visit my kids in their college towns, I do a couple of deliveries to earn money to take them to dinner!” — as told to Lisa Maxbauer

10. Way to make money with your car: Grubhub

Similar to DoorDash, Grubhub is a food delivery app where you can make money on your own time and terms. Getting started is quick and easy, with applications available both online or the Grubhub app.

The amount of money you earn depends on factors like mileage, delivery type, time spent delivering, and more (plus tips). According to Glassdoor, you can expect to earn between $16 and $23 an hour as a Grubhub driver.

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11. Way to make money with your car: Citizenshipper

Love the freedom of the open road? As a driver for the driving app Citizenshipper, you can explore new places while getting paid to pick up shipments all over the country!

These “shipments” can include everything from cars to couches, with pet transports being the most popular. Once you sign up and pass the background check, you can set your preferred type of shipment and then get notified in the app when opportunities become available. According to the Citizenshipper website, the average monthly revenue earned by their drivers is $6,000 to $10,000.

Success story: “I bring in up to $3,000 a month transporting pets!”

Lisa Juszkiewicz, citizenshipper driving app with her dog
Hailey Crabtree

“I had been out of work due to health problems, and as I was getting ready to go back, my father was ready to retire as a truck driver,” says Lisa Juszkiewicz, 51.  “I was doing research to help him find ways he could make extra money, and I discovered CitizenShipper, a company that hires people to deliver items and transport pets. It looked like a great opportunity, so I applied too.”

“I filled out an online profile, and they ran a background check. Since I have a cargo van, I paid for cargo insurance, but you can use any vehicle. I also took a course and became a certified animal rescue transporter through the Animal Rescue Professionals Association and started a website so clients can book me directly as well.

“When someone books my services, I contact them to work out the details. I get paid per mile. The pay varies, but I’ve made up to $3,000 a month after gas, tolls and oil changes. I’ve delivered all kinds of things, from pinball machines to animals (including dogs, cats, turtles, guinea pigs and goats) and horse trailers. I always ask the client to supply their vet paperwork, food, a crate and toys, and I spend a few minutes with the pet so they feel comfortable.”

“I love that I make my own schedule, and on some trips, I get to visit family and friends. I’ve traveled over 66,000 miles to places like Florida and Arizona! The money I make pays the bills, for concerts, trips and gifts for my six grandchildren!”  — as told to Julie Revelant

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12. Way to make money with your car: Kango

As a Kango driver, you can make up to $48 per hour helping families in the community with rides. After completing the online application, you just have to pass a safety check and take an online training to get started. One of the benefits of being a Kango driver is that most rides are scheduled ahead of time, so that you can plan your day accordingly. At the moment, Kango is offered in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, but there are plans to expand to more locations in the near future.

Success story: “I bring in $600 a weekdriving kids around town!

Rowena Tong Kango driving app

“I’m a teacher, but when I took a sabbatical, I was in search of a way to supplement my income. I thought about doing a ride-share service but was concerned about my safety,” says Rowena Tong, 54. “So whenI heard about Kango, a ride and carpool service for kids, I knew it would be an easy—and safe—way to make money.”

“Once I applied, I had an in-person interview, then Kango ran background, fingerprint, criminal background and reference checks. I gave them a copy of my car insurance and proof that my car was under 10 years old and that I had experience working with kids within the last two years. They gave me booster seats and taught me how to use the app.”

“When I do a job, parents can track me, but I always let them know when I’m on my way, when I’ve arrived and when I’ve dropped off their children. I drive kids to school, after-school programs and home. When I pick up them up from school I have to show my ID, and when I pick up them up from other programs or if their parents aren’t there, they have to give me their code word. Older kids who have their own phones check the app so they know my car and license plate and can confirm the pickup. The older kids are usually quiet, but the younger ones like to talk to me about what they did in school.”

“I love this work because it’s flexible, I get to help out parents and it’s a safe, fun way to make extra money. I earn $600 a week (I work 5 hours a day, 5 days a week)—money that pays the bills and will be used for vacation when I return to teaching!” — as told to Julie Revelant


Looking for even more ways to make money? Then click through the links below!

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How Yvette Nicole Brown Lost Weight and Got Her Diabetes Under Control

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How Yvette Nicole Brown Lost Weight and Got Her Diabetes Under Control



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As bird flu spreads, CDC recommends faster 'subtyping' to catch more cases

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As bird flu spreads, CDC recommends faster 'subtyping' to catch more cases

As cases of H5N1, also known as avian flu or bird flu, continue to surface across the U.S., safety precautions are ramping up.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday its recommendation to test hospitalized influenza A patients more quickly and thoroughly to distinguish between seasonal flu and bird flu.

The accelerated “subtyping” of flu A in hospitalized patients is in response to “sporadic human infections” of avian flu, the CDC wrote in a press release.

ONE STATE LEADS COUNTRY IN HUMAN BIRD FLU WITH NEARLY 40 CONFIRMED CASES

“CDC is recommending a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens among hospitalized patients and increasing efforts at clinical laboratories to identify non-seasonal influenza,” the agency wrote.

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The CDC now recommends accelerated subtyping of influenza A in response to “sporadic human infections” in the U.S. (iStock)

“Clinicians and laboratorians are reminded to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and, going forward, to now expedite the subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens from hospitalized patients, particularly those in an intensive care unit (ICU).”

LOUISIANA REPORTS FIRST BIRD FLU-RELATED HUMAN DEATH IN US

The goal is to prevent delays in identifying bird flu infections and promote better patient care, “timely infection control” and case investigation, the agency stated.

These delays are more likely to occur during the flu season due to high patient volumes, according to the CDC.

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Health care systems are expected to use tests that identify seasonal influenza A as a subtype – so if a test comes back positive for influenza A but negative for seasonal influenza, that is an indicator that the detected virus might be novel.

Patient on hospital bed

Identifying bird flu infections will support better patient care and infection control, the CDC says. (iStock)

“Subtyping is especially important in people who have a history of relevant exposure to wild or domestic animals [that are] infected or possibly infected with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses,” the CDC wrote.

In an HHS media briefing on Thursday, the CDC confirmed that the public risk for avian flu is still low, but is being closely monitored.

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The agency spokesperson clarified that this accelerated testing is not due to bird flu cases being missed, as the CDC noted in its press release that those hospitalized with influenza A “probably have seasonal influenza.”

Niels Riedemann, MD, PhD, CEO and founder of InflaRx, a German biotechnology company, said that understanding these subtypes is an “important step” in better preparing for “any potential outbreak of concerning variants.”

Blood collection tubes H5N1 in front of chicken

The CDC recommends avoiding direct contact with wild birds or other animals that may be infected. (iStock)

“It will also be important to foster research and development of therapeutics, including those addressing the patient’s inflammatory immune response to these types of viruses – as this has been shown to cause organ injury and death during the COVID pandemic,” he told Fox News Digital. 

Since 2022, there have been 67 total human cases of bird flu, according to the CDC, with 66 of those occurring in 2024.

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The CDC recommends that people avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals that are suspected to be infected. Those who work closely with animals should also wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

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Sick Prisoners in New York Were Granted Parole but Remain Behind Bars

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Sick Prisoners in New York Were Granted Parole but Remain Behind Bars

When the letter arrived at Westil Gonzalez’s prison cell saying that he had been granted parole, he couldn’t read it. Over the 33 years he had been locked up for murder, multiple sclerosis had taken much of his vision and left him reliant on a wheelchair.

He had a clear sense of what he would do once freed. “I want to give my testimony to a couple of young people who are out there, picking up guns,” Mr. Gonzalez, 57, said in a recent interview. “I want to save one person from what I’ve been through.”

But six months have passed, and Mr. Gonzalez is still incarcerated outside Buffalo, because the Department of Corrections has not found a nursing home that will accept him. Another New York inmate has been in the same limbo for 20 months. Others were released only after suing the state.

America’s elderly prison population is rising, partly because of more people serving long sentences for violent crimes. Nearly 16 percent of prisoners were over 55 in 2022, up from 5 percent in 2007. The share of prisoners over 65 quadrupled over the same time period, to about 4 percent.

Complex and costly medical conditions require more nursing care, both in prison and after an inmate’s release. Across the country, prison systems attempting to discharge inmates convicted of serious crimes often find themselves with few options. Nursing home beds can be hard to find even for those without criminal records.

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Spending on inmates’ medical care is increasing — in New York, it has grown to just over $7,500 in 2021 from about $6,000 per person in 2012. Even so, those who work with the incarcerated say the money is often not enough to keep up with the growing share of older inmates who have chronic health problems.

“We see a lot of unfortunate gaps in care,” said Dr. William Weber, an emergency physician in Chicago and medical director of the Medical Justice Alliance, a nonprofit that trains doctors to work as expert witnesses in cases involving prison inmates. With inmates often struggling to get specialty care or even copies of their own medical records, “things fall through the cracks,” he said.

Dr. Weber said he was recently involved in two cases of seriously ill prisoners, one in Pennsylvania and the other in Illinois, who could not be released without a nursing home placement. The Pennsylvania inmate died in prison and the Illinois man remains incarcerated, he said.

Almost all states have programs that allow early release for inmates with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. New York’s program is one of the more expansive: While other states often limit the policy to those with less than six months to live, New York’s is open to anyone with a terminal or debilitating illness. Nearly 90 people were granted medical parole in New York between 2020 and 2023.

But the state’s nursing home occupancy rate hovers around 90 percent, one of the highest in the nation, making it especially hard to find spots for prisoners.

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The prison system is “competing with hospital patients, rehabilitation patients and the general public that require skilled nursing for the limited number of beds available,” said Thomas Mailey, a spokesman for the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He declined to comment on Mr. Gonzalez’s case or on any other inmate’s medical conditions.

Parolees remain in the state’s custody until their original imprisonment term has expired. Courts have previously upheld the state’s right to place conditions on prisoner releases to safeguard the public, such as barring paroled sex offenders from living near schools.

But lawyers and medical ethicists contend that paroled patients should be allowed to choose how to get their care. And some noted that these prisoners’ medical needs are not necessarily met in prison. Mr. Gonzalez, for example, said he had not received glasses, despite repeated requests. His disease has made one of his hands curl inward, leaving his unclipped nails to dig into his palm.

“Although I’m sympathetic to the difficulty of finding placements, the default solution cannot be continued incarceration,” said Steven Zeidman, director of the criminal defense clinic at CUNY School of Law. In 2019, one of his clients died in prison weeks after being granted medical parole.

New York does not publish data on how many inmates are waiting for nursing home placements. One 2018 study found that, between 2013 and 2015, six of the 36 inmates granted medical parole died before a placement could be found. The medical parole process moves slowly, the study showed, sometimes taking years for a prisoner to even get an interview about their possible release.

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Finding a nursing home can prove difficult even for a patient with no criminal record. Facilities have struggled to recruit staff, especially since the coronavirus pandemic. Nursing homes may also worry about the safety risk of someone with a prior conviction, or about the financial risk of losing residents who do not want to live in a facility that accepts former inmates.

“Nursing homes have concerns and, whether they are rational or not, it’s pretty easy not to pick up or return that phone call,” said Ruth Finkelstein, a professor at Hunter College who specializes in policies for older adults and reviewed legal filings at The Times’s request.

Some people involved in such cases said that New York prisons often perform little more than a cursory search for nursing care.

Jose Saldana, the director of a nonprofit called the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, said that when he was incarcerated at Sullivan Correctional Facility from 2010 through 2016, he worked in a department that helped coordinate parolees’ releases. He said he often reminded his supervisor to call nursing homes that hadn’t picked up the first time.

“They would say they had too many other responsibilities to stay on the phone calling,” Mr. Saldana said.

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Mr. Mailey, the spokesman for the New York corrections department, said that the agency had multiple discharge teams seeking placement options.

In 2023, Arthur Green, a 73-year-old patient on kidney dialysis, sued the state for release four months after being granted medical parole. In his lawsuit, Mr. Green’s attorneys said that they had secured a nursing home placement for him, but that it lapsed because the Department of Corrections submitted an incomplete application to a nearby dialysis center.

The state found a placement for Mr. Green a year after his parole date, according to Martha Rayner, an attorney who specializes in prisoner release cases.

John Teixeira was granted medical parole in 2020, at age 56, but remained incarcerated for two and a half years, as the state searched for a nursing home. He had a history of heart attacks and took daily medications, including one delivered through an intravenous port. But an assessment from an independent cardiologist concluded that Mr. Teixeira did not need nursing care.

Lawyers with the Legal Aid Society in New York sued the state for his release, noting that during his wait, his port repeatedly became infected and his diagnosis progressed from “advanced” to “end-stage” heart failure.

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The Department of Corrections responded that 16 nursing homes had declined to accept Mr. Teixeira because they could not manage his medical needs. The case resolved three months after the suit was filed, when “the judge put significant pressure” on the state to find an appropriate placement, according to Stefen Short, one of Mr. Teixeira’s lawyers.

Some sick prisoners awaiting release have found it difficult to get medical care on the inside.

Steve Coleman, 67, has trouble walking and spends most of the day sitting down. After 43 years locked up for murder, he was granted parole in April 2023 and has remained incarcerated, as the state looks for a nursing home that could coordinate with a kidney dialysis center three times each week.

But Mr. Coleman has not had dialysis treatment since March, when the state ended a contract with its provider. The prison has offered to take Mr. Coleman to a nearby clinic for treatment, but he has declined because he finds the transportation protocol — which involves a strip search and shackles — painful and invasive.

“They say you’ve got to go through a strip search,” he said in a recent interview. “If I’m being paroled, I can’t walk and I’m going to a hospital, who could I be hurting?”

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Volunteers at the nonprofit Parole Prep Project, which assisted Mr. Coleman with his parole application, obtained a letter from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in June offering to give him medical care and help him transition back into the community.

Still incarcerated two months later, Mr. Coleman sued for his release.

In court filings, the state argued that it would be “unsafe and irresponsible” to release Mr. Coleman without plans to meet his medical needs. The state also said that it had contacted Mount Sinai, as well as hundreds of nursing homes, about Mr. Coleman’s placement and had never heard back.

In October, a court ruled in the prison system’s favor. Describing Mr. Coleman’s situation as “very sad and frustrating,” Justice Debra Givens of New York State Supreme Court concluded that the state had a rational reason to hold Mr. Coleman past his parole date. Ms. Rayner, Mr. Coleman’s lawyer, and the New York Civil Liberties Union appealed the ruling on Wednesday.

Fourteen medical ethicists have sent a letter to the prison supporting Mr. Coleman’s release. “Forcing continued incarceration under the guise of ‘best interests,’ even if doing so is well-intentioned, disregards his autonomy,” they wrote.

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Several other states have come up with a different solution for people on medical parole: soliciting the business of nursing homes that specialize in housing patients rejected elsewhere.

A private company called iCare in 2013 opened the first such facility in Connecticut, which now houses 95 residents. The company runs similar nursing homes in Vermont and Massachusetts.

David Skoczulek, iCare’s vice president of business development, said that these facilities tend to save states money because the federal government covers some of the costs through Medicaid.

“It’s more humane, less restrictive and cost-effective,” he said. “There is no reason for these people to remain in a corrections environment.”

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