Fort Lauderdale volunteer-run shuttle seeks city support to expand services for people experiencing homelessness

Gwyn Beatty, a Fort Lauderdale resident, told the Hollywood City Commission on the evening of the meeting that she co-founded Rotary Connection, a privately funded shuttle service that provides rides and warm handoffs to medical care, mental-health and rehabilitation facilities for people experiencing homelessness. "We have one 14 seat bus and we've already delivered over 4,000 rides," Beatty said, and added that the program distributes "600 essential items a week."

Beatty described four program functions: scheduled loop rides to service locations, same-day reunifications with family (including Greyhound bus tickets and supplies), direct placement into rehab facilities with navigators who escort clients inside, and distribution of basic needs items. She said the nonprofit has run since August, averages 35–45 riders a day (roughly 700 a month), and operates on private donations and corporate support; "no taxpayer dollars," she said. Beatty also said operational costs are about $22,000 a month and that the initial bus was purchased for $15,000.

The presentation included a specific cost claim: citing a Broward County figure, Beatty said the county spends about $47,000 per person experiencing homelessness per year on public services and used that number to estimate what reunifications could save local public systems. The commission did not independently verify that calculation during the meeting; Beatty framed it as her estimate.

Members of the commission and staff asked practical questions about how a Hollywood route would operate and how riders would return after placement. Beatty said a Hollywood bus would be a separate route focused on door-to-door service and that navigators provide day passes or afternoon pick-ups so people can return to their original locations. Commissioner Shuham noted existing local services — a Task Force for Homelessness, a police homelessness outreach team and a Community Court partnership — and asked the parties to coordinate.

The mayor suggested city manager designees and community-development staff meet with Beatty to assess whether the program would fill gaps in Hollywood. A commissioner asked whether police forfeiture funds might be available; Public Safety Director O'Brien said, "We have had some initial conversations about this with the community development folks, and so we would like to explore it a little bit more," and pledged staff follow-up after collecting Beatty's contact information. Several commissioners offered to do ride-alongs to observe the operation in Fort Lauderdale before any formal commitment.

Beatty said the program has performed reunifications and placements that, in her account, led to housing in certain cases; she emphasized that navigators avoid uniforms to build trust. She requested consideration for 2027 budget startup funding and offered materials listing stops and operational details.

No formal motion, vote or funding commitment was taken at the meeting. The mayor closed citizen comments after the exchange and staff agreed to follow up with Beatty.

The next procedural step recorded at the meeting was staff follow-up to explore partnerships and potential funding sources; commissioners signaled interest in learning more through ride-alongs.