GENESEO, N.Y., March 31, 2025 - Livingston County’s partnership with Livingston County CARES is now entering its second year where it continues to reduce transportation barriers for vulnerable populations within the County. It was recently bolstered by a newly awarded grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF), as well as donations from community groups including the Geneseo Central Presbyterian Church and the Geneseo Rotary Club.
Livingston County CARES, a local non-profit humanitarian organization, is a collaborative effort among groups and organizations at SUNY Geneseo and the Geneseo and Livingston County communities that began in September 2005 to focus on Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts in Harrison County, Mississippi. Since then, Livingston County CARES has expanded its mission to include many programs and service opportunities.
This public/non-profit partnership strengthens the mobility management program within the County for low-income individuals, women, infants and children, older adults, individuals suffering from substance abuse disorder or mental health difficulties, veterans, and probationers. Clients are able to access critical services that are not financed through ordinary channels like Medicaid or County program budgets, including traveling to the grocery store or food pantry, doctor and pharmacy visits, trips to the library, job training classes, and prenatal care resources.
“I feel greatly encouraged by the Rochester Area Community Foundation, the Geneseo Central Presbyterian Church, and Geneseo Rotary Club for their support addressing poverty in Livingston County and critical transportation needs,” said Dr. Tom Matthews, president of the Livingston County CARES Board of Directors. “This project is making a difference to many, and we look forward to expanding and serving even more individuals and families in the next year.”
Livingston County’s multi-disciplinary Public Transportation Work Group provides guidance and direction for the mobility management program by connecting County human service agencies and local non-profit organizations. The County’s 2021 Mobility Management Strategy identified pockets of poverty and zero-vehicle households in rural villages, such as Geneseo, Dansville, and Mount Morris. Concentrations of individuals with disabilities also coincide with areas lacking adequate transportation access. This imbalance underscores the urgent need to continue bridging gaps in transportation infrastructure to ensure equitable access to healthcare, education, employment, and other essential services.
The mobility management project with Livingston County CARES has had far-reaching outcomes. In its first year, more than 130 total trips were referred to the program. Of those, 51% or 67 total trips utilized the funding for non-programmatic purposes, with more ridership forecasted for 2025. By leveraging RACF funding to support transportation expenses, Livingston County and Livingston County CARES are actively reducing transportation barriers and advancing the overarching goal of poverty reduction in the community.
All donations received directly fund trips for individuals and families with transportation needs in Livingston County. To make a contribution in support of the Reducing Transportation Barriers Program, please donate by Venmo at LivingstonCountyCARES.org or mail a check to Livingston County CARES at 31 Center Street, Geneseo, N.Y. 14454. Please specify “Transportation Fund” when making donations.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.