By guest blogger Danielle Robertson, South Sound 2-1-1 Transportation Specialist
“Thank you for calling
South Sound 211, how can I help you?”
“I need transportation
assistance today to get to my medical appointment at 2pm. I have had to cancel
the past two appointments because I couldn’t find transportation.”
As I sit listening to the urgency in the caller’s voice and
I learn that my caller is unable to safely get to the bus from where she lives
and does not have the money to pay for a transportation program such as Lyft. I
stare at the screen of transportation resources that my caller is not eligible
for, preparing myself to tell my caller that there are not transportation
options that can help get them to their appointment today at 2 pm.
If only there was a program that was designed specifically
for this situation…
“Thank you for calling
South Sound 211, how can I help you?”
“My car won’t start
and if I am late to work one more time, I will lose my job. I need to be there
in a half hour.”
Once again, I find myself taking a sharp breath preparing
myself to tell another caller that there is not a transportation resource that
is able to provide transportation right now to get them to work. The only
option that is able to provide immediate transportation is the bus or a paid
ride sharing program like Lyft. I sit there knowing that if this caller is
unable to get to work and loses their job, they won’t be able to afford rent
and could become homeless.
If only there was a program that was designed for this
situation…
“Thank you for calling
South Sound 211, how can I help you?”
“I couldn’t make it to
my appointment to receive utility assistance because the bus does not run where
I live. I missed my appointment. Our utilities were shut off for a week and
half. Now I have to pay a late fee and reconnection fee in addition to the
utility bill. All of this could have been prevented, if I had only had
transportation to get to my original appointment”
If they only had transportation. Their utility bill would
have been paid on time. They would not have had their utilities shut off and
have to replace the food that went bad. They wouldn’t be scrambling to find the
money to pay these late fees and reconnections.
If only there was a program that could have prevented this
situation.
Ride United to the Rescue!
Transportation remains one of the largest barriers facing
211 clients who are trying to secure employment, access medical care, obtain
healthy food, and escape emergencies and crises. Without reliable
transportation people struggle to complete the most basic daily activities.
That is why Ride United was created.
In June 2018, Lyft partnered with United Way and 211 to
launch a pilot program to address this gap in resources. When eligible
individuals call 211 and express a transportation need, a 211 specialist
assesses their need, looks for available resources, and if none are available,
they are able to utilize Lyft’s Concierge portal to dispatch a free round trip
ride on behalf of the individual. This summer, Ride United expanded to
twenty-five 211 communities across the US, including South Sound 211, to
start providing free Lyft rides for qualifying individuals seeking to meet the
highest unmet needs in our communities.
We are excited about the partnership between United Way and
Lyft to add Ride United as a resource available to individuals in our
community. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide even better service in
the area of transportation.
This means that people living in 5 targeted Tacoma zip codes
(98404, 98405, 98408, 98409 and 98444) can receive an on-demand round trip Lyft
ride when no other transportation option is available for:
Medical Related Transportation Needs
Medicare Appointment
Non-Emergency Medical Appointment
Pharmacy/ Prescription Pick Up
Non-Emergency Hospital Visit
Employment Related Transportation Needs
Job Interview
Job Training
Job Fair
Pre-job Requirements
One Time Work Trip
Public Benefits
Department of Social and Human Services
Social Security Administration
Rental Assistance Appointment
Utility Assistance Appointment
WIC Appointment
Tax Preparation Services
Financial Coaching
Medicaid/CHIP Benefits Access
Housing Benefits Access
Ride United Works Wonders
Over the past year, United Way has seen great success and
benefit in partnering with Lyft through Ride United. Across the nation, 211’s
are able to provide transportation when there were no other options for people.
In Houston, a 66-year-old needed assistance with
transportation to her last physical therapy appointment and a follow-up
appointment with her physician. She explained that she’d suffered from a stroke
and lost the ability to care for herself with daily tasks, including brushing
her teeth, washing, and getting dressed. Even a simple task became seemingly
unmanageable. She shared that her son usually drove her to the appointments,
but had finally started a new job. The local 211 was able to provide her with a ride to and from her appointments
to ensure she received the care she needed.
In Denver, 211 was able to assist a disabled veteran who had
been homeless through the Ride United program. This individual had been
homeless for some time and was only able to move with the help of a
walker. Knowing he was in need of
transportation to the Veteran Services Center in order to get assistance
applying for housing and other essential services, he called 211 for help. When
he was told that he would receive a ride and get the help he needed, he was
very happy, thankful, and hopeful that things were beginning to change for him.
The value and need for transportation is often overlooked by
most people who have reliable transportation, but for those who do not have
reliable transportation it becomes a barrier and affects their lives in
multiple ways. South Sound 211 is excited to be able to provide transportation
to individuals in our community in a new way that can change their lives and
help remove barriers for individuals and families in Pierce County.
To learn more visit uwpc.org/get-help-now
