Impact of a free transit intervention on access to essential destinations and quality of life for youth experiencing homelessness

The cost of public transportation has been identified as a critical barrier to social inclusion, supportive services, housing, and employment for people experiencing homelessness. However, little research has explored the efficacy of affordability-based interventions in addressing this barrier to essential transportation. This article examines the impact of a three-month free public transit intervention on access to essential destinations and quality of life for youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada. Semi-structured interviews and a longitudinal survey were used to assess participants’ perceived access to essential destinations and quality of life before and during the free transit intervention. A realist evaluation framework was used to evaluate the context of the intervention, the generative mechanisms of change, and the outcomes of the intervention. Pre-intervention findings revealed that the cost of public transit suppressed travel demand, leading to limited access to employment, education, healthcare, food, and social connections. During the intervention, youth reported that the provision of free monthly transit passes improved their access to essential destinations, including employment, housing opportunities, supportive services, healthcare, food security programs, and social connections. These changes were associated with improved social inclusion, financial security, mental well-being, and feelings of agency. Findings suggest that transit equity interventions have the potential to alleviate suppressed travel demand, increase access to essential destinations, and improve quality of life for youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto and in similar urban contexts.