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Medical Non-Emergency Transportation Service (METS) Pilot Project - Staff
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a.) Receive an informational presentation on a proposed Medical Non-Emergency Transportation Service (METS) Pilot Project.
b.) Provide direction to staff regarding next steps.
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Financial Impact:
To be determined
Background Information:
Unhoused individuals and those experiencing extreme housing instability face persistent and compounding barriers when attempting to access essential government services, including identity documentation, health coverage, income support, and housing assistance. While many services are nominally available, the lack of reliable, coordinated transportation remains one of the most significant practical barriers to successful service navigation, particularly in rural and small-urban regions.
Obtaining or replacing foundational documents, such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, state identification cards, and DMV records, is often a prerequisite to accessing nearly all other public benefits, including:
• Medi-Cal and Medicare
• CalFresh and General Assistance
• SSI/SSDI
• Housing vouchers and coordinated entry systems
• Employment and workforce training programs
For unhoused individuals, these processes frequently require multiple in-person visits, identity verification across agencies, and travel to regional offices that are not locally available. In Tehama County, this often necessitates travel to Redding, where Social Security Administration offices, specialized DMV services, medical specialists, and records repositories are located.
Transportation Challenges in a Rural Context
Traditional fixed-route transit is not always suitable for these trips due to:
• Long travel distances and travel times
• Limited service frequencies
• Appointment-specific timing requirements
• The need for accompaniment or advocacy during appointments
• Physical, cognitive, or behavioral health limitations
For many unhoused clients, even paratransit eligibility does not fully address these needs, particularly when trips involve multi-stop itineraries, document retrieval, or coordination with service providers. As a result, missed appointments, incomplete applications, and service drop-off are common, leading to increased system inefficiency and prolonged dependency.
The Role of Volunteer-Supported Mobility
Programs that combine agency coordination with volunteer driver models have been shown nationally to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations by:
• Reducing missed appointments
• Improving follow-through on documentation requirements
• Providing trauma-informed, client-centered travel support
• Leveraging community partnerships to stretch limited public resources
Partnering with a trusted local service provider, such as PATH (Poor And The Homeless), allows transportation services to be integrated directly into case management workflows. Volunteer drivers, operating under agency coordination, can provide flexible, appointment-driven trips that are not easily accommodated through standard transit service alone.
Pilot Concept: METS Expansion Through a Low-Risk Vehicle Investment
The proposed pilot would expand the existing Medical Non-Emergancy Transportation Service (METS) by:
• Procuring one additional ADA-compliant METS minivan, consistent with the vehicles currently in service
• Partnering with PATH to provide volunteer drivers who escort clients to critical appointments in Redding
• Targeting trips specifically related to records acquisition and benefit eligibility
This investment is considered low risk for several reasons:
• METS minivans are already in successful operation, with proven suitability for paratransit and medical transport
• The vehicle would replace an aging minivan already scheduled for phase-out, aligning with fleet lifecycle needs
• If the pilot does not achieve anticipated outcomes, the vehicle can be seamlessly reassigned to:
o ADA paratransit service
o Medical transport
o Other demand-responsive transit functions
As ADA-compliant assets, these vehicles retain long-term utility within the transit program, ensuring that public funds are protected regardless of pilot results.
Alignment With Transit and Human Services Objectives
This pilot directly supports:
• Improved access to government services and healthcare
• Reduced administrative churn and repeat service attempts
• Stronger coordination between transit and human service providers
• A data-driven approach to evaluating expanded mobility models before permanent adoption
By pairing infrastructure improvements (bus shelter installation) with service innovation (METS pilot expansion), the program addresses both immediate access needs and longer-term system efficiency, recognizing that mobility is a prerequisite to stability.