POULSBO — For those hard up for cash, it may now be easier to get from point A to B.
The Kitsap Transit Board of Directors unanimously approved providing free bus passes to homeless and low-income residents at their Tuesday meeting, to help them get to shelters, food banks, social services and job training centers. The program will go into effect May 1 and run through the end of the year.
Regular fares range from $1 to $2 each way.
Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson, a Kitsap Transit board member, suggested the assistance program at a board meeting in November. She said at the time, with ridership on a steady decline, Kitsap Transit needs to fill the empty seats anyway, and Kitsap Transit should set a policy to help transportation for the “most vulnerable.”
The program is “temporary directed at those people having tough times. It’s not a long-term subsidy,” she said Thursday. “Some of these passes are going to go to people having tough times right now, but everyone’s having some tough times. In a couple months or a year they’re going to be fine.”
“Transportation is always a big issue,” Kitsap Transit Executive Director John Clauson said. “We hear this often from folks, it’s difficult for [low-income] folk to get to the Salvation Army or DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) … It’s the starting point to start getting you in those services.”
Kitsap Community Resources will print the tickets, costing $400, and distribute them to locations to be determined. Erickson said the program will be coordinated by KCR’s new organization, Homeless Housing Solution Center.
One location that hopes to be a distribution center is Sound Works Jobs Center, located on 7th Avenue and Iverson Street in Poulsbo. Executive Director Bob Middlebrook said his office is partnered with WorkSource in Bremerton, which has expanded the services it can offer, such as food stamps and unemployment, as well as job training.
“I can’t put a volume on this [need], but there are days where you can’t get in this place,” Middlebrook said.
Free transportation will be a big boost to those who need to get to Bremerton for services, and around the county for job opportunities, he added.
