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County explains bus‑ticket procedure for people leaving the area; small number of tickets issued in 2024–25
Summary
Department of Social Services staff described the process, eligibility and usage statistics for bus tickets the county provides to help people return to stable destinations; the county verified destinations and showed limited use and low overall cost.
Tompkins County Department of Social Services staff briefed the committee Sept. 3 on how the county issues bus tickets to people seeking to return to another community as an alternative to shelter or as part of an exit plan.
DSS staff said that obtaining a bus ticket follows the same eligibility and intake procedures as applying for emergency shelter, including verification of the proposed destination to ensure it is stable and supported. "To get a bus ticket through DSS, you're basically going through the same process as applying for emergency shelter," a department presenter said.
Staff gave usage figures: in 2024 the county approved bus tickets for 28 adults and one family with two children; in 2025 to date the county has approved tickets for 12 adults. The county reported paying about $3,600 in bus‑ticket expenses in 2024 and roughly $1,300 so far in 2025. DSS staff said there is no statutory maximum dollar amount per ticket but that purchases must be "reasonable." The funding source for bus tickets is the same stream that funds emergency housing: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) covers family tickets at 100 percent, and the safety‑net program covers adults (about 29 percent is reimbursed under that line).
The department also reported return rates: in 2024 four households (about 14 percent of ticket recipients) later returned to Tompkins County, and in 2025 three households (about 25 percent of ticket recipients) returned; a small number of returning households subsequently reapplied for benefits or were issued a new ticket, depending on the verified destination and circumstances.
Committee members asked how the county responds when a ticketed person returns; staff said returning households follow the same intake process and that the county verifies destinations each time to reduce the risk of placing people in unsupported locations.
The presentation was informational; no committee vote or policy change was recorded.
