Sheridan senior center warns federal cuts could squeeze services; Goose Creek Transit ridership remains strong

Carmen Rideout, executive director of The Hub senior center, told the Sheridan City Council on March 4 that the center served more than 3,400 people last year and relies on a mix of federal, state and local funding to provide meals, transportation and in‑home services.

The Hub’s annual report, Rideout said, shows 29 percent of Sheridan County residents are age 60 or older, and the organization is preparing for likely reductions in some federal and state grants next year. ‘‘This next year we expect cuts,’’ Rideout said, urging continued local support.

University research cited by Rideout — a 2023 healthy aging snapshot — also is notable, she said: nearly 9,000 county residents are age 60 or over, roughly 989 experienced a fall in the study year, 567 live with Alzheimer’s disease and roughly 1,500 people in that age group live below the poverty line. Rideout described the Hub’s purpose as promoting health, creating social connections and helping older adults remain in their homes as long as possible.

Ryan Landis, who manages Goose Creek Transit, presented ridership statistics for the transit system. For fiscal year 2023–24 Goose Creek reported 28,327 assisted (door‑to‑door) rides and 30,758 fixed‑route trips; through the current fiscal year to date the system has provided roughly 7,000 assisted rides and about 8,100 fixed‑route trips. Landis said fixed‑route riders include a large share of veterans (about 37 percent of survey respondents), and common trip purposes are shopping (23 percent), medical appointments (23 percent), grocery shopping (18 percent) and work (16 percent).

Landis also noted that on a survey 33 percent of riders said they would walk to destinations if transit were unavailable and 18 percent said they would not make the trip at all.

Rideout and Landis both thanked the city for financial and in‑kind support, including a GPET allocation and fuel support for Goose Creek Transit. Rideout said The Hub’s current operating budget is diversified — roughly 30 percent federal, state and other grants, about 7 percent local government — but that local support will become more important if some grants are reduced.

The Hub also reported recent capital improvements under a 2020 facilities master plan, including HVAC and fire suppression upgrades, a Brook Street parking lot and restoration of the Help at Home program to the center. Rideout said she will retire in April and introduced incoming director Carrie McMeans; she said she will assist with the transition through April.

Landis and Rideout said the transit and senior center services reduce demand for more expensive institutional long‑term care by enabling community‑based supports. Landis said the system covers the north–south corridor of Sheridan and key high‑traffic stops including the Hub, Sheridan College and major retail locations.

Council members thanked Rideout for her leadership and congratulated her on her upcoming retirement. No formal council action was taken; the presentations were informational.