STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — The cost of transportation is taking a toll on Floridians.
“Costs have gone up to insure a car, to pay for a car, gas, all of that is costly," said Carol Houwaart-Diez, the President and CEO of the United Way of Martin County. "If you’re on a fixed income and you need to eliminate some of your expenses, what are you going to cut? The thing that you don’t have to have, right? You need to have a roof, you need to eat, your car is, again, a luxury.”
Now, cities across our area are trying to help:
United Way is partnering with Lyft for their 'Ride United' program.
Thanks to grant funding, the rides are completely free.
“I just couldn’t keep my car because I wasn’t working anymore," Sheila Robinson, who relies on 'Ride United," told CBS12 News Friday. "It’s been wonderful, it’s been a really good, good experience in my life and, like I said, it’s a godsend, it really is.”
They’re one of only four United Way’s in Florida to have this on-demand program, and its already making a difference for many people living on a fixed income.
“You can go for doctor’s appointments, food procurement, legal appointments, health appointments," Houwaart-Diez explained. "How amazing that we can provide that service.”
For more information on Ride United, click here.
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