An EMT program that trains low income students free of charge needs a lifeline of its own now that its funding is running out. NY1's Tamani Wooley filed this report.

Marcus Wiley and Jamilah DaCosta say learning how to save other people's lives is helping to save their own by giving them the chance to start a new career.

"I couldn't imagine reaching this point with any other institution," student Marcus Wiley said.

"I was just like ‘I've got to do something, got to back to school. Just help myself.’ I was using everything, everything in my savings," said student Jamilah DaCosta.

​They both discovered the SAVE-EMT program at LaGuardia Community College. The classes help underemployed and unemployed New Yorkers train to become emergency medical technicians at no cost to the student.

“We have students who come here, some of whom are making a choice between having lunch or buying a MetroCard,” said Program Director Christine Alvarez. “We have students who struggle with surviving ok and this opportunity has changed their life forever.”

Alvarez says in its nearly 10 years, 90% of SAVE-EMT's almost 300 graduates have passed the EMT licensing exam and 77% have gotten hired within 3 months of graduating. Wages start at about $11 an hour.

“[Graduates say] ‘I feed my family. I have a car. I'm moving on. I'm going to get a college degree now. I've been promoted.’ I mean that, to me, is why I'm here,” said Alvarez

But now the program is at risk of closing because its recent 3 year federal grant has run out. Without funding, the program ends on February 25th but students say they hope that doesn't happen.

"It yields good EMT so I don't see why they would not want to invest in something that works," said student Steves Richemond.

"If I can get a paycheck and take 5% of my paycheck, 10% of my paycheck and give it back to this program, I would definitely do that," said DaCosta.

Program officials say they're continuing to apply for new grants but have yet to find one that will fully fund the program. And they'll be contacting local elected officials for help.