Proposal: to request a committee be formed by the City Commission with the express goal of examining the issue of transportation from the Shelter into the Lawrence community and to present one or several comprehensive solutions by July, at the latest. Following is a basic presentation of the problem and also a brief examination of possible solutions to this issue which should be considered by the appointed committee in conjunction with new ideas.

Discussion: The Lawrence Community Shelter was moved away from the downtown to a larger facility on 3701 Franklin Park Circle on December 29, 2012. A donated minivan and one-way bus passes are available for shelter residents to take them downtown, but only for job interviews, rehab, and medical appointments. However, the needs for transportation from the Shelter is demonstrably more than what is presently provided. The city and transportation department extended the route of City Bus line 5 to include the Community Shelter. At this point, residents of the Shelter must still pay for this bus both to and from downtown, amounting to $1.00 each way for each person. It appears now that not only has this move made the homeless a less visible part of our community, it has also created an undue burden for those experiencing homelessness and joblessness. If they are without a vehicle or money for transportation, they are unable to access the shelter or the many services in the community upon which they rely.

A volunteer offered rides to those people who had either missed a bus or could not pay for the bus. After evaluating the rides of 445 individuals between Jan 25-Feb 20, 2013 it has been found that 69% of these trips can be readily identified as necessary for those individuals. Medical stops, including Bert & Nash, LMH, pharmacies and the emergency room made up 17% of this group. Educational needs, which includes schools and libraries, and work needs, which includes job interviews, made up 12% of these trips. Governmental offices such as the social security center, and non-profit services, such as Just Food, Willow House or Penn House made up 13% of these trips. Common, daily needs for people such as grocery stores and Laundromats made up 27% of these trips. It is clear that a single bus coming once an hour coupled with the price of a bus ticket has severely impacted a shelter resident’s ability to carry out the most basic tasks which are necessary in day-to-day life.

Further, we have no data concerning trips which needed to be taken but could not be taken due to preventative such as a lack of money for the bus, or the bus schedule. This especially involves the children at the shelter who have afterschool programs which do not have USD funded transportation, rec centers, sport leagues, summer camps, school dances, and friends with birthday parties and play dates. It is vital that these children not be deprived of these experiences due to the lack of mobility caused by their parent’s circumstances, the transit system and the city. It is imperative that the city not make clients at the shelter choose between spending precious amounts of money and being alienated from their community.

Solution: The situation of LCS is incredibly unique and its position is especially isolated. The possibility of increasing the number of bus passes has been proposed, and this was the original “solution” to the problem of the Shelter being moved so far afield. Yet, this has proved to be the least viable option. It is not an efficient use of the funds provided to the Shelter, as it purchases a single, disposable ticket which is more expensive, every month. Single one-way passes have become a “black hole” of spending, and a more efficient means of providing transportation must be found. There will never be enough disposable, one-way tickets to provide adequate transportation for all needs for everyone at the Shelter.

At this point, several solutions have been proffered by various community committees and groups. The most beneficial and the simplest solution may be to make the bus stop next to the Shelter a free stop. However, such a move would involve the transportation department and an analysis of the pros and cons of such a change. It is very noteworthy that this option, after much discussion and debate, has been supported by HIAC, by the Coalition for Homeless Concerns, by the League of Women Voters, the Oread Friends Meetings, the Lawrence Neighborhood Association, the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, and the Older Women’s League.

It is the object of this proposal that this option and others be explored and discussed by a committee, formed at the behest of the City Commission. It would focus on this issue of transportation from the Shelter into the Lawrence community and would present one or several comprehensive solutions by July, at the latest. This issue should not take longer to assess and consider as it is present and imperative. It is the vital responsibility of our community, of which the Transportation department is an integral part, to provide safe and timely access to all parts of the Lawrence community for all people.