The Role of Transportation in Sustaining and Reintegrating Formerly Homeless Clients

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes spontaneous qualitative interviews with formerly homeless individuals living alone, on the importance of transportation in meeting everyday needs. Some participants identified that transportation subsidies were often haphazard, sometimes requiring tremendous effort to obtain, and discouraging use. Those who had access to transportation note the importance of access to healthcare, personal fitness needs, reduced food insecurity, increased access to health-care needs, and increased quality of life. This paper argues that piecemeal approaches to transportation denies the inherent needs of people living in extreme poverty, thereby increasing the chances of reentry into homelessness using principles of social exclusion.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• transportation
• social exclusion
• poverty
• reintegration

Notes

1. At the time of the study, the transportation system policy is that a single fare could be used for a maximum of 2 h in any direction. After the time limit was exceeded, passengers must pay a second fare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Region of Durham Social Services Department [None].