Transport Services

Crisis Transportation Situations

In Critical Moments, We're the Bridge to Help

This section outlines when and how crisis transportation is offered during outreach efforts, ensuring individuals experiencing homelessness have safe, timely access to critical support. Transport may be provided in situations involving mental health crises, overdose risk, unsafe environments, urgent medical needs, extreme weather, or when individuals are ready to seek recovery or housing services.

Each scenario is approached with trauma-informed assistance, verbal consent, and coordination with destination agencies. Emphasizing safety, dignity, and rapid response, our crisis transport services aim to reduce harm and connect people to life-saving resources when they need them most.

During outreach, transportation may be offered when a person is:
  1. Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis
    • Showing signs of suicidal ideation or self-harm
    • Disoriented, paranoid, hallucinating, or otherwise in psychological distress
    • Needing immediate evaluation or stabilization
    • Willing to go to a mental health facility or crisis center voluntarily
  2. At Immediate Risk of Overdose
    • Actively using or withdrawing from substances in a way that poses imminent danger
    • Has recently overdosed and needs post-overdose care
    • Requests assistance getting to a detox, sobering center, or treatment program
  3. Fleeing Unsafe Conditions
    • Experiencing violence, assault, or threats in a camp or street location
    • Escaping human trafficking or exploitation
    • In a domestic violence situation and needs transport to a safe shelter
  4. Suffering a Medical Emergency (Non-911)
    • Has an urgent but non-ambulance-level medical need (e.g., infected wound, severe cold exposure)
    • Needs assistance getting to a walk-in clinic or urgent care
    • Declines 911 or hospital ER, but is willing to accept outreach transport
  5. At Risk Due to Weather or Exposure
    • Extreme cold or heat creates life-threatening conditions
    • Requests transport to warming or cooling centers, shelters, or indoor space
    • Has no gear and is unsheltered during a severe weather event
  6. Seeking Recovery or Support Services
    • Ready to enter detox or substance use treatment
    • Needs to attend an intake appointment at a recovery center
    • Requests support with housing intake, but cannot travel independently
  7. Best Practices for Crisis Transport
    • We always get verbal consent before transporting
    • We use trauma-informed, nonjudgmental language
    • We travel in pairs if possible for safety and documentation
    • We maintain contact with destination agency to confirm drop-off
    • We log all transports with basic details (date, initials, destination, reason)

In moments of crisis, access to safe transportation can mean the difference between harm and healing.

That's why we offer crisis transport to individuals experiencing homelessness—connecting them to urgent care, mental health services, shelter, or safety when they need it most. Our goal is to remove barriers, respond without judgment, and ensure no one is left to face a crisis alone.

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We don't ask people to change before we show up. We offer assistance without conditions, meeting people where they are and returning with consistency and compassion. Survival shouldn't depend on paperwork, readiness, or meeting expectations. If you're here, it means you care — and that makes you part of this work, too.