Did you know the state of Florida is home to more than 1.6 million veterans? Over 100,000 veterans and active duty personnel live in Hillsborough County alone. While veterans in the area have numerous services available to them through the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, the Bay Pines Veterans Hospital, and additional VA locations, many veterans struggle with finding transportation from their homes to their scheduled appointments.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is dedicated to ensuring that no one in our community faces crisis alone, including our veterans. The Crisis Center and the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) are working together to launch a new program for veterans called My Ride. The program will launch this Fall and will help veterans and their families find transportation solutions through the greater Tampa Bay area.  

A specialized toll-free number will connect veterans to the Crisis Center. The call will then be answered by an Intervention Specialist who will be able to interact with the TBARTA database and connect the caller with transportation assistance. Transportation options will include buses, taxi services and organized carpools. If there is a financial need for veteran transportation, the Intervention Specialist will access 2-1-1's extensive resource database for help.

Veterans are sometimes isolated and need the support of the community to get the help they need.  My Ride will assist veterans in navigating the various transportation options available to them, so they can access the basic services they need to lead a fulfilling and healthy life.

 

STAY CONNECTED