Two members of Tracy Community Connections Center’s Street Outreach team, Elizabeth and Gavin, recently completed the Passenger Assistance, Safety and Sensitivity (PASS) Driver Training Program, an important certification that strengthens our ability to safely transport the clients we serve.
The PASS program, developed by the Community Transportation Association of America, is widely recognized as the industry standard for safely assisting passengers who may require additional care. The training focuses on proper transportation procedures for individuals using mobility devices, older adults, and people with medical or accessibility needs. It is commonly used for non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), ADA paratransit services, and other specialized transit programs that serve vulnerable populations.
During the training, Elizabeth and Gavin spent the day learning how to safely assist passengers and properly operate our ADA-accessible van, ensuring that clients can be transported with dignity, safety, and respect. This certification helps ensure that when our outreach team provides rides to appointments, services, or housing placements, clients receive the careful support they deserve.
We’re proud of Elizabeth and Gavin for completing this training and continuing to expand the ways TCCC can support the community. Their dedication helps ensure that transportation is never a barrier for people who need help accessing critical services.
Interested in volunteering with our team? Learn more about opportunities to help members of the Tracy community.
The Street Outreach team at Tracy Community Connections Center (TCCC) goes out into the community to meet and help unhoused individuals on the streets, in encampments, or in areas where services feel out of reach.
Street Outreach is about building trust, providing real-time solutions, and creating a pathway toward stability. Our outreach staff bring water, food, blankets, and hygiene kits to those who need immediate relief. They also offer transportation to critical appointments with doctors, pharmacists, social services, sober living homes, or even to reunite with family members far away.
Every interaction begins with listening. Many people experiencing homelessness have gone unheard for far too long. Our team offers a compassionate ear, while identifying specific needs, whether it’s an ID to apply for work, access to a wheelchair, a bus ticket, or even a simple haircut to help regain confidence.
Once trust is built, our outreach workers connect clients to case managers who can provide longer-term support, such as housing applications, disability assistance, or ongoing guidance. Many of our outreach team members have lived experience themselves, which helps bridge the gap between services and those hesitant to seek them.
Our staff is trained in trauma-informed care and mental health first aid, ensuring every interaction is grounded in dignity, empathy, and understanding. For some, the first step out of homelessness isn’t a shelter or a job but a conversation. That’s what our Street Outreach program delivers every single day.
Want to support this work? Donations of hygiene products, socks, and bottled water make a huge difference. Or, consider making a financial contribution to help us provide transportation, food, and emergency supplies. Together, we can help more people in Tracy take that first step toward stability.
