Transit’s Response to People Who Are Homeless

APTA is delving deeper into the solutions for addressing the issue of homelessness at three upcoming sessions at APTA conferences in 2019:

• Mobility Conference
• Rail Conference
• TRANSform: APTA’s reimagined Annual Meeting

People who are struggling with homelessness often rely on public transit vehicles or facilities as shelters from the weather and to stay safe. Unfortunately, this is a growing challenge for many transit agencies and can discourage travelers from using public trains and buses. To preserve the quality of the transit environment, transit agencies across the country are exploring ways in which to respectfully support and manage the homeless population and minimize adverse impacts to the traveling public. Some agencies have developed important new partnerships with law enforcement, social service agencies, and others to approach this issue in a more decisive and positive way.​​

Resources

• LA Metro’s Transit Homeless Action Plan

• PRESENTATION Tim Chan (BART) Homelessness and Transit – Potential Solutions to this Growing Problem

• PRESENTATION 2018 Leadership APTA Team 4 Public Transit and Social Responsibility

• REPORT 2018 Leadership APTA Team 4 Public Transit and Social Responsibility

• PRESENTATION Wendy Hawthorne (Metro Vancouver Transit Police) Partnerships

• PRESENTATION David Green (St

• PRESENTATION Dan Boyle (Dan Boyle and Associates, Inc

• PRESENTATION Alex Wiggins (LA Metro) LA Metro’s Response to Homelessness

• TCRP Synthesis 121-Transit Agency Practices in Interacting with People Who Are Homeless

Relevant News

• Transit Agencies are Changing Their Approach to Homelessness

• As waves of homeless descend onto trains, L.A. tries a new strategy: social workers on the subway

• Response team created for homeless on buses, light rail

• Phoenix spends $125k on homeless outreach on light rail

• Transit Chief urges subway managers to work with cops, social workers to curb homeless problem