Identifying the transportation need in New Haven
Through our REACH work and our partners at Project Access New Haven (PANH), a Community Health Worker is stationed in two local New Haven pantries to screen interested clients for needs related to the social determinants of health. This screening process allows the Community Health Worker to navigate clients to needed services related to food, transportation, housing, utilities, and medical needs. Clients are asked questions to identify what services are needed, what services they received, and if they did not receive services, was there a notable barrier to them receiving the service. This information allows CARE to address the reported needs at a systems level with its local organizational partners, when possible.
In the monthly team review of data, transportation arose as a common client-reported need, preventing individuals from receiving services. This issue revolved around personal finances, no access to car, public transportation, and not safe or easy to walk, among others. CARE, in collaboration with PANH, the City of New Haven’s Department of Transportation, Traffic & Parking, and other REACH Coalition partners were able to brainstorm ways to address this need by utilizing opportunities that the city offers.
In a coordinated effort, CARE, Transportation, Traffic & Parking (TT&P) and PANH had a meeting with transportation related organizations in the greater New Haven area, including CT Rides, the Kennedy Center, CT Transit, and the Greater New Haven Transit District to discuss services that are offered in order to help pantry clients who are in need of transportation.
Due to the connection PANH made with the Kennedy Center at the meeting of transportation partners facilitated by TT&P, the Community Health Worker invited the Kennedy Center to join PANH at Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK). The Kennedy Center now has a presence in the DESK food pantry, where they facilitate the process for obtaining a lifetime Reduced Fare Transit Photo ID Card for clients with a disability and/or over the age of 65 years, a service of the CT Department of Transportation. Together, the Kennedy Center, and PANH have been working to help pantry clients complete forms for a reduced bus fare card, and facilitate the process by taking their photo and printing it with a mobile printer. Clients are responsible for providing a $5.00 fee, a stamp, and an envelope.
We still have a long way to go in addressing transportation barriers clients experience accessing needed medical and social services. CARE and our Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Coalition partners will continue to consider opportunities to better address the lack of available and affordable transportation. We welcome both new ideas and partners. Please contact us if you would like to join this effort.
This work is funded in part by the CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program.