Broward County Transit Security Program Provides Services to Unhoused Riders

Broward County Transit (BCT) is launching a new program that aims to take a ‘compassionate’ approach to improving transit security and addressing the needs of unhoused riders.

According to an article in Mass Transit, Project Homeless Connect is a partnership with the Broward County Human Services Division of Housing Options, Solutions and Support (HOSS-D) team and community partners that began in November of last year. “A dedicated team of street outreach workers that includes a licensed clinical practitioner began engaging, assessing and providing shelter and housing referrals to the people served in this pilot.”

Since its launch in February, the program has connected with 324 unhoused residents that frequent the transit system, sheltered 19 individuals, connected 20 people to addiction recovery services, and provided medical care for one person. “Beyond these direct interventions, the project also improved the environment at the transit center as the individual’s belongings were humanly cared for and stored and the entire terminal was freshened-up through deep cleaning, new lighting and other customer amenities.”