Transportation access is one of the biggest factors in keeping people out of homelessness. Cities can help with discounted fares and last-mile connections.
A piece in CALmatters explores the opportunity for California cities to provide transportation assistance as a preventative measure to fight homelessness and poverty.
Research has shown that transportation access is the single biggest factor in helping people avoid homelessness; it's critical to holding down a job, getting to school, keeping service appointments, and many more aspects of daily life.
Yet transportation is also unaffordable to many people struggling with poverty, especially since many cities don't offer subsidies for lower-income transit riders. Seattle's transit programs, however, are praised by advocates as models for California cities: King County launched low-income discounted fares in 2015 and distributes free passes through homeless service organizations, and the city of Seattle recently made passes free for high school students.
But even free transit is no good if it doesn't get you where you need to go. A study in San Diego found that 30 times as many jobs were accessible by car than by public transit—but that the situation could be improved by improving connections to transit stations.
FULL STORY: How a transportation safety net could keep more people off the streets
Means-Based, Transit-Fare Discounts Take a Leap Forward in the Big Apple
The 2019 New York City budget includes $106 million to subsidize half the transit fare for qualified residents for six months. The city joins the ranks of Seattle, Toronto, and the Bay Area that offer income-based discounts for transit fares.
Germany Launches €49 Nationwide Transit Pass
The low-cost monthly ticket is a boon for some commuters and urban travelers, but critics of the program question the lack of investment in expanding train service to underserved rural parts of the country.
How Transit Agencies Can Offer Supportive Services
As more people experiencing homelessness seek shelter in transit facilities, transit agencies are looking for ways to offer assistance and reduce interactions with law enforcement.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.
Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.
Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
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