With more people experiencing homelessness in California cities, some transit agencies have begun to comprehensively address the needs of people experiencing homelessness, a population which historically may not have been included in their planning. Research suggests that people experiencing homelessness rely on public transit for the same variety of reasons that all riders do, and that, like other riders, they find it difficult to reach those destinations due to prohibitive costs and transit schedules that do not meet their needs. California transit agencies vary in terms of whether, and how well, they engage with the issue of homelessness. Interviews and a review of policy and programming documents show that most major transit agencies in California made some reference to people experiencing homelessness, but just ten of fifteen addressed their transit needs, and only three addressed those needs through dedicated programs. We use this research synthesis to draw greater attention to the ways that transit agencies can serve the mobility needs of people experiencing homelessness. We present findings from a case study on transit accessibility in San Diego County to supplement our statewide review. This includes a geospatial analysis of transit accessibility from locations where people experiencing homelessness have been known to congregate in San Diego County, as well as interviews with three people who have experienced homelessness in the region and three advocates for the unhoused population. We identify the ways that transit accessibility is a complex issue, requiring consideration of proximity, ease of physical access, and programmatic supports. Based on our research, we recommend that transit and service organizations consider the following: (1) establish coordinated outreach in transit environments, (2) offer shuttles to services and employment to help one resolve their homelessness, (3) improve the reliability and connectivity of public transit, (4) support fare assistance programs, and (5) incorporate expertise from people with lived experience of homelessness.

Increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness in California cities have prompted some transit agencies to address the needs of unhoused people and riders more comprehensively in their service plans. Some of these efforts respond to the presence of transit riders who are visibly homeless and seek shelter on transit vehicles, at transit stops, and on other agency property. Many people experiencing homelessness, however, are also active users of public transit, relying on buses and trains to access services, get to work, visit family, and more. Public transit is especially critical for those working to exit homelessness who do not have access to a personal vehicle.

The State of California has increasingly urged construction of affordable housing development in transit-rich areas (California Department of Housing and Community Development 2024) but so far transit-oriented development has generally not reduced vehicle miles traveled for low-income renters (Chatman et al. 2019; Lund, Cervero, and Willson 2004). This report quantifies the cost of daily travel needs for affordable housing residents in San Diego, California, especially seniors aged 62 and older, in two ways. First, it analyzes their trip travel time for the entire San Diego region using activity-based model (ABM) data. Second, it summarizes results from surveys of residents in six affordable housing buildings, three of which provide supportive housing to seniors. Overall, it finds that affordable housing residents use public transit more often than those who have access to a car. But traveling by public transit takes much longer on public transit than traveling by personal vehicle. Survey respondents under age 62 expressed greater dissatisfaction with the costs of public transit ridership, compared to seniors, and were also more likely to express dissatisfaction if they were working. Seniors were more likely to express dissatisfaction with the conditions of public transit stops.