Cost-Effective Options: Volunteer Transportation Options
The Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (2017) released a report stating that volunteer driver programs on average can save $18-$185 per trip compared to alternative services provided in the areas studied. Volunteer transportation programs main operating costs include reimbursement of volunteer drivers and personnel for program coordination. Utilizing volunteers to provide transportation provides a critical service while creating a person-centered and cost-effective model.
The top two modes of transportation chosen in the survey were family or friends and public transportation. Of those two options, both are met with barriers. Some common barriers with friends and family are not wanting to impose on friends or family or the availability of those individuals. Public transportation’s barriers include costs, safety and availability and reliability of public transportation in certain neighborhoods.
Volunteer transportation programs can overcome the cost and availability issues and maintain independence. However, volunteer transportation is not without its own barriers. A successful volunteer transportation program requires a reliable, safe network of volunteers and this can be difficult to create as there may be reservations about insurance and time commitments.
Organizations may also be leery in starting a volunteer transportation program due to insurance guidelines, volunteer coverage and startup costs an organization may be hesitant to start a volunteer driver program. To address some of those reservations, a Community Transportation: Volunteer Driver Program Guide (below) has been created. The guide was created utilizing the models of three successful volunteer driver programs in the Richmond metro area: Hanover Senior Rides, Shepherd’s Center of Richmond and Shepherd’s Center of Chesterfield. The guide outlines how to build the program’s structure including types of rides to be delivered, eligibility, potential partnerships, common policies and scheduling software.
Age Wave also supports exploring the feasibility of an interfaith volunteer driver program that uses some of the practices of CARITAS, i.e., multiple congregations are involved and each congregation provides screened and trained volunteers for a defined period of time .
The top two modes of transportation chosen in the survey were family or friends and public transportation. Of those two options, both are met with barriers. Some common barriers with friends and family are not wanting to impose on friends or family or the availability of those individuals. Public transportation’s barriers include costs, safety and availability and reliability of public transportation in certain neighborhoods.
Volunteer transportation programs can overcome the cost and availability issues and maintain independence. However, volunteer transportation is not without its own barriers. A successful volunteer transportation program requires a reliable, safe network of volunteers and this can be difficult to create as there may be reservations about insurance and time commitments.
Organizations may also be leery in starting a volunteer transportation program due to insurance guidelines, volunteer coverage and startup costs an organization may be hesitant to start a volunteer driver program. To address some of those reservations, a Community Transportation: Volunteer Driver Program Guide (below) has been created. The guide was created utilizing the models of three successful volunteer driver programs in the Richmond metro area: Hanover Senior Rides, Shepherd’s Center of Richmond and Shepherd’s Center of Chesterfield. The guide outlines how to build the program’s structure including types of rides to be delivered, eligibility, potential partnerships, common policies and scheduling software.
Age Wave also supports exploring the feasibility of an interfaith volunteer driver program that uses some of the practices of CARITAS, i.e., multiple congregations are involved and each congregation provides screened and trained volunteers for a defined period of time .
| volunteer_driver_program_model_manual.pdf |
