How Regional Transit Agencies Can Serve the Daily Mobility Needs of the Unhoused Population

Link to report

Project Overview:

This study is a synthesis of regional mobility and transportation planning as it relates specifically to homelessness. Little is known about the degree to which transit agencies, Councils of Government (COG) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in most California regions incorporate the needs of unhoused residents into their regional transportation plans. The research that has been done on this topic focuses on unhoused persons as sometimes unwelcome occupants of transit stations, rather than riders (Loukaitou-Sideris et al., 2020). Our aim is to consider the ways that a range of transit policies might impact riders experiencing homelessness by bringing the insights of empirical research to bear on the transit policies of various California regions. We use this information to then envision ways that San Diego public transit can become a more integrated partner in efforts to support people experiencing homelessness, especially as they work to access services and housing.

Reports & Relevant Documents:

Follow the links below to read reports written by project team members.

Convenings:

Find notes from our first convening with experts representing transportation and service provision, research and consultant entities, and people with lived experience of homelessness.

Convening Notes

Contact:

If you would like to be involved in future work around this topic, please contact Yao Fu at y2fu@ucsd.edu.

Project Team:

Dr. Jennifer M. Nations, Project Scientist
Yao Fu, undergraduate student
Dr. Mirle Rabinowitz-Bussell, Principal Investigator