Community perspectives on how decentralising an emergency shelter influences transportation needs and use for persons experiencing homelessness

Abstract

Despite steady increases in homelessness in the U.S., only recently has research on transportation needs and use for persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) been the focus of research endeavours. Moreover, limited research has identified how the geographic relocation of homeless community services and resources impacts the transportation needs of PEH and how this process affects access to health and social services. To fill this gap in the literature, using a community‐engaged research approach, we conducted a qualitative research study in which 24 professionals working in planning, transportation, local government, and the homelessness services sector were engaged in in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews. We examined participant perspectives on how PEH transportation needs and use changed after three new emergency shelters replaced a centralised one, and how access to health and social services was impacted. Data were organised into three overarching categories: (1) Changes in transportation need and use following decentralisation; (2) Impact of transportation changes on PEH access to services; and (3) Recommendations for improving transportation access. Findings suggest the need to offer PEH transportation on demand, provide education on transportation and system navigation, and increase transportation‐related funding for homeless service providers and PEH to ensure transportation costs are not a barrier to healthcare and social services.

Houselessness and syringe service program utilization among people who inject drugs in eight rural areas across the USA: a cross-sectional analysis

“…The ability to frequently and consistently exchange a sufficient number of needles and syringes at SSPs is critical to harm reduction [ 89 ]. However, people experiencing houselessness may not use SSPs regularly or may exchange fewer syringes due to transportation challenges [ 90 – 92 ], inability to store syringes and/or inability to keep track of syringes to exchange, among others. For example, individuals who are more transient or are residing in public housing with drug-free policies may opt to visit SSPs less often because they lack a private, safe place to store new injection equipment [ 88 ].…”

Comparison of Transportation Use Among Older and Younger Persons Experiencing Homelessness

“…We conducted a secondary data analysis (Hinds et al, 1997) of a qualitative dataset of semi-structured interviews with PEH in Salt Lake County, Utah, that sought to understand how the transition to a scattered-site homeless shelter model affected the mobility and, thereby, the use of services and resources by PEH (see Canham et al, 2022Canham et al, , 2023. The parent study was approved by a University Institutional Review Board.…”

“…TRHSLC was located within the public transportation system's "Free Fare Zone," where bus and TRAX service was accessible without payment in the downtown core, while the new HRCs are located outside the Free Fare Zone by distances of as little as a few blocks (the GKRC) to nearly six miles away (the PARC). Prior research has found that Salt Lake County's decentralization of homeless sheltering services reduced opportunities for access to public transportation, as well as social and community establishments and services, for persons experiencing homelessness (Canham et al, 2022(Canham et al, , 2023Rehn et al, 2023). This study takes a case study approach to understanding the implications of decentralization on access to public transportation.…”

“…Regardless of age, low-cost transportation has been identified as essential for PEH to maintain their housing (Canham et al, 2018;Rothwell et al, 2017), and determines access to necessary services and supports for PEH (Canham et al, 2018(Canham et al, , 2022McDonald et al, 2007;Smith et al, 2021). Moreover, transportation costs have been found to prevent PEH from using transit to access employment, social connections, and health and social services (Hui & Habib, 2017;Jocoy & Del Casino, 2010;Murphy, 2019).…”

“…Age-based differences in feelings of comfort and safety using different transportation modes also influence transportation decisions among low-income older adults; constrained and inflexible transportation options contribute to older adults feeling like a burden and having reduced wellbeing and low community engagement (Fields et al, 2019). Finally, differences in mobility and disability may influence the need for varied designs across different transportation modes, including being Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible (Canham et al, 2022;Rehn et al, 2023)…”