Prince Frederick, MD – Calvert Family Advocates announces a new program to assist Calvert County veterans who rely on public transportation to travel to their medical appointments. For veterans unable to travel by personal car, and without friends or family to lend a hand, reliance on bus or other public transportation to see their doctor is challenging and stressful. Private transportation providers are unaffordable for veterans with low or fixed income.
Rick Reed, Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans Southern Regional Resource Coordinator, and a disabled combat veteran, said his region covers a wide range of disabled and aging veterans who chose to live in rural parts of the state because quiet communities are beneficial for veterans with diagnosed mental and physical health issues. These veterans need reliable transportation to healthcare that they require and have earned.
According to Nicky Pires, Tri-County Transit Coordinator, the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland’s Regional Transportation Committee recognizes the need for improved transportation in our rural community and has recently received a grant to address the issue. The project will consist of contracting with the Community Transportation Association of America and the National Center for Mobility Management to facilitate a regional workgroup using a human-center design process, called Design Thinking, to lead community stakeholders through creatively thinking “outside the box” to develop mobility solutions that meet the needs of the users, use existing resources and can be financially sustained.
In the interim, the non-profit Calvert Family Advocates, http://www.calfam.org, has established a grant to provide veterans meeting financial need criteria free transportation to any type of medical appointment. The medical appointments can be scheduled within Calvert County or outside of Calvert County (Charlotte Hall Outpatient Clinic, Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, etc.). For veterans who qualify for this program, transportation will be provided as long as Calvert Family Advocates grant funding is available. Veterans interested in this program should contact the Intake Team, Department of Social Services, at 443-550-6900, to apply.
Said Mr. Reed, “Since accepting this position I’ve struggled, alongside many other concerned agencies and organizations, to sustain the critical transportation resources needed to serve this wonderful veteran population. As a resident of Maryland, and more importantly a disabled combat veteran myself, I am deeply hurt to see our veterans lacking such a key resource for sustaining healthy lives. Equally disappointing is the fact that there are many organizations and agencies willing to assist, but there is an absence of organizational support and appropriation of truly needed funds essential in solidifying a system of critical resources. In today’s world of technology and advancement, the struggle veterans must face simply to access healthcare is inexcusable.”