Abstract
More than 500,000 people experience homelessness in the United States, and many turn to transit vehicles, stops, and stations for shelter. This article presents findings from a survey of 115 U.S. and Canadian transit operators that inquired about homelessness on transit systems. The research found that homelessness is broadly present, though more concentrated on central hotspots, and worsened during the pandemic. In response, transit agencies often initiate a combination of punitive and outreach strategies.
