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Medical Non-Emergency Transportation Service (METS) Pilot Project - Staff
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
Informational presentation on Medical Non-Emergency Transportation Service (METS) Pilot Project.
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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 thes...
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