How to spend the newly dedicated public transportation funding: investigating transportation access among individuals experiencing homelessness

The current study explores perceived difficulty accessing transportation among persons experiencing homelessness in two communities, one with and one without a public bus system. Researchers administered a survey (N = 164) containing nine items measured on a 5-point Likert scale; higher scores indicated greater difficulty with transportation access. The scale, with the omission of one item, was found to demonstrate adequate validity and reliability in this sample. In addition, a higher percentage of participants reported finding it difficult or very difficult to cover the cost of transportation, get places quickly, find transportation, and find transportation at night and on the weekends. Residents in the community lacking public transit scored statistically significantly higher difficulties than the community with public transit. Findings can inform federal and state spending focused on transportation equity and disadvantaged communities.