丁香园AV

Principle Investigator: , University of Utah

Co-Investigators: , University of Utah; , University of Utah; , University of Utah

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Abstract

In 2019, the delivery of homeless sheltering services in Salt Lake County transitioned from a centralized emergency shelter鈥擳he Road Home Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center (TRHSLC)鈥攐perated by The Road Home to a decentralized, scattered site model with multiple 鈥淗omeless Resource Center鈥� (HRC) locations operated by multiple service providers. To understand to what degree and to which 鈥減roximity鈥� to public transportation and other needed services was achieved, this study examined: 1) how the decentralization of homeless services influenced transportation demand and mobility patterns for persons experiencing homelessness (PEH); and 2) how transportation and mobility changes affected access to services for PEH. Using a mixed methods research design, this interdisciplinary study conducted historical public document analysis, GIS spatial analyses, client (PEH) surveys, and interviews with clients (PEH) and professional service providers. Findings reveal that while the region鈥檚 homelessness services system changed, the transportation network went unchanged, challenging the use of transportation, PEH mobility, and access to services. Recommendations to mitigate transportation issues when homeless services are decentralized include significant consideration of how the transportation network system will evolve alongside the restructured service system. This could include development of no- or low-cost transportation on demand options, expanding bus routes, state-level funding for a shuttle system, and education to PEH on how to use public transit.