At Craig’s Doors, we recognize that homelessness is one byproduct of many overlapping systems of inequality. For many struggling with housing, food, and economic insecurity, equitable access to transportation is a crucial determinant of long-term outcomes.
The Craig’s Doors’ Fare Access Program was launched in 2023 in recognition of the significant barriers that public transit costs pose for shelter guests seeking permanent housing. The first of its kind in Hampshire County, the landmark program provides free PVTA bus passes to shelter guests and members of the community in need of transportation to work, therapy, recovery clinics, doctor’s offices, visits with friends and family, and much more.
The Fare Access Program was made possible by a generous grant from Amherst CRESS (in 2023), and continued into 2024 thanks to a state earmark secured by Representative Mindy Domb. During its pilot phase, the program provided 5,585 free bus passes to more than 340 individuals over a nine-month period, with participants calling it “genuinely life-changing.”
Between March and December 2023, guests were surveyed about its impact on their lives. They reported positive impacts on…
their path to housing (71%)
their physical health (91%)
their mental health (84%)
their access to food (84%)
their access to social supports (87%)
and more…
Full results of the program’s pilot period were compiled and published in Craig’s Doors’ 2023 Annual Fare Access Report. For more impact statistics and to read the full report, click here.
For questions about the Fare Access Program, please email admin@craigsdoors.org
If you or someone you know is in need of transportation assistance, please call the Craig’s Doors Resource Center at 413-256-0704, ext. 8.
Funding for the program’s third year is still being sought. To donate, click here.