St. Francis House is excited to have a new partnership with the Transportation Alliance Project (TAP). TAP is a pilot fare agreement program that allows the Arkansas Homeless Coalition to pay a flat monthly fee to METRO for a program total of 1,000 eligible riders on the METRO system. Riders will be vetted by the Coalition’s partner organizations participating in TAP, determined eligible for participation by the Coalition on a monthly basis, and then referred to St. Francis House where TAP staffers get them registered, take their picture and give them their monthly bus pass at no coast to them! Clients are referred from a variety of agencies including Jericho Way, Canvass Community, and Our House and those experiencing homelessness living in shelters, “sleeping rough”, in treatment centers and recovery programs are eligible.
Staffers are available Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 am and 1-6 pm, as well as Saturday 10 am-3 pm. “This allows people to get their picture, paperwork and bus pass all at one time once they’ve been referred” stated Darlene Shavis. “It makes it much easier.”
Lisa Reynard and Bernadette Reynolds agreed. “Transportation is a huge problem for someone trying to move out of homelessness. A simple way to get it done and have transportation for job interviews, medical appointments, even signing up for other services, makes a huge difference,” stated Lisa. “And with this program” adds Bernadette, “As long as they have been homeless with the last twelve months we can continue to serve them so it gives them time to really get back on their feet.”
