Jefferson Franklin Community Action outlines services, seeks support for volunteer transit EZMO

Donna Masters, communications coordinator for Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation, presented an overview of the agency’s programs and results and urged Jefferson County officials to help expand volunteer transit and other services.

Masters said the agency’s mission is “to serve individuals and families” and described year‑to‑date enrollment and service figures across multiple programs. She said Head Start enrolled 487 children across 13 sites, nine of which are in Jefferson County, and that the behavioral‑health program saw 148 clients in 2024 (78 adults and 70 minors). Masters said the agency’s housing waiting list had been reduced from about 5,000 names to roughly 2,500 after a review and outreach to identify duplicate or resolved cases.

Taylor Miller, transportation coordinator for Jefferson Franklin Community Action, focused on EZMO, the agency’s volunteer transit program. Miller said EZMO launched May 15, 2023, and described qualifying rules, volunteer recruiting and recent usage. “We were able to say this is doable. Let’s launch EZMO,” Miller said.

Why it matters: Jefferson Franklin Community Action provides multiple basic services county officials and residents rely on — early childhood care, behavioral health, housing referrals, utility assistance and accessible transportation — and leaders said those services feed local workforce stability. Miller told the council that the program’s most common trip purpose is commuting: she said more than 60% of total mileage was for work trips and that over 80% of riders are using EZMO to get to and from work.

Key details and numbers given at the meeting include: Head Start — 487 enrolled; behavioral health — 148 clients in 2024; utility applications processed Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024 — 4,144; Healthy Homes repairs in 2024 — 27 homes; an awarded older‑adult home modification grant — $1,400,000; WIC/Farmers Market nutrition distributions in 2024 — $5,180 plus an additional $2,788; EZMO year 1 (7/1/2023–6/30/2024) Jefferson County riders — 244 riders and 3,689 trips; EZMO year 2 (seven months in) Jefferson County riders — 384 riders and 10,164 trips; active volunteer drivers in Jefferson County — 47; reimbursement paid to drivers seven months into year 2 — $250,413.97; mileage reimbursement rate cited — $0.70 per mile.

Miller described EZMO’s eligibility and funding constraints: riders must meet low‑income criteria and also be age 60+, have a disability, or be receiving behavioral‑health services to qualify for the funding streams the program currently uses. She said the program relies on a mix of federal funds, foundation grants, partner contributions and local donations and that the agency is exploring an app to allow real‑time ride booking.

County discussion following the presentation focused on ways to share program materials with residents and on securing volunteers and funding. Council members agreed to distribute a PDF of the presentation and resource flyers via county staff. The presenters asked county staff to include the agency in referral materials and to share a county‑wide resource guide maintained by local partners.

Votes at a glance: At the start of the meeting the council voted to approve the agenda. A motion was made and seconded; the chair called for a voice vote and the agenda was approved with “Aye” votes and no recorded opposition. (Mover and seconder not specified in the transcript; roll call names were recorded earlier but the motion/second were not tied to named speakers.)

The agency left contact details and sign‑up information for volunteers and promised to send the presentation link and flyers to county staff for distribution. Masters and Miller said staff can be contacted through Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation for program referrals and volunteer information.