transportation

We are a small, grassroots, non-profit organization committed to providing affordable transportation. Our screened, reliable, volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to connect members of our community with the services and supports they require.

We provide transportation to those who are unable to access the supports or services they need. These clients are often restricted due to their financial situation or other life circumstances. We require a minimum of 24 hours notice. We cannot provide emergency service. Annually, we provide over 12,000 rides.

This meeting is open to all Transportation Working Group members who are interested in developing a sustainable transportation strategy.

"Our recent project working on the transportation needs of the homeless is just one example of the leadership role the York Region Alliance to End Homelessness has taken.  They were able to co-ordinate and facilitate the needs assessments, and focus groups.  As one agency this is something we would be hard pressed to find the time to do, but participating and giving information to one central organization made it all work."

"Everybody was there [at the Transportation Working Group], because we are all in the same region, so it was just like: it’s not that it’s my planet, it’s our planet. It was just the whole idea of how we can serve the most people, and we looked at the geography as well. Who needed gas more than bus tickets?"

“HPI and the York Region Alliance to End Homelessness have been the catalyst for a remarkable new collaboration between two neighbourhood agencies.

The Challenge

York Region is large, covering 1,776 km² between Lake Simcoe and Steeles Avenue. Adequate transportation is essential for access to schools, job skills training, employment resource centres, workplaces, grocery stores, food banks, medical offices, hospitals, social services offices, shelters, and homes.

We are trying to get people out of poverty. And it seems like such a small thing with transportation, but that small thing is so expensive, you know… when you are in Georgina, to go to Newmarket. Newmarket is right in the middle of York region. When you are in Markham or Richmond Hill to go to a court house… honestly, just trying to get custody, or access settled, it’s very difficult. […] They don’t have that money to spend; they are waiting for everything pending. So the money they have to spend on transportation really locks them into system of poverty. Really, it does.

The Transportation Working Group will be meeting to discuss updates on the usage of first installment HPI funding and first and second quarter reports.