A job offer does not help much if you cannot get to work. Neither does a doctor’s appointment, a meeting with a case manager or a safe place across town when transportation is unavailable or unaffordable. Dallas Hope Charities is launching Mobility for Milestones, a partnership program providing bicycles to LGBTQIA+ young adults ages 18–24 who are experiencing homelessness in North Texas.
Through the Dallas Hope Center, young adults receive affirming shelter and services as they work toward stability and independence. Mobility for Milestones extends that support beyond the center by helping participants reach jobs, healthcare, community resources and the people supporting them.
A Bicycle Opens Up the City
When someone is traveling primarily on foot, their job search may be limited to businesses within a mile or two. A bicycle can expand that reach to five or even 10 miles, opening more opportunities across Dallas.
It also offers reliable transportation when a shift begins early, ends late or falls outside available transit schedules. For young adults working in hospitality, cleaning, logistics and other shift-based jobs, that can mean getting to work without depending on a bus schedule or spending limited income on rideshares.
A bicycle can also help someone reach multiple appointments in one day, access identity-affirming healthcare, attend services at a welcoming congregation or reconnect with chosen family. The money saved on transportation can go toward the next milestone: identification, phone service, an apartment deposit or the countless other expenses involved in rebuilding a life.
Of course, a bicycle only opens those options when riders have a safe place to secure it after they arrive. That same connection between mobility and access led CSMA to install 18 rainbow bike racks along the Oak Lawn Strip. The racks provide practical infrastructure for employees, customers and neighbors who rely on bicycles to reach work, services and community spaces.
Donate a Bicycle or Sponsor the Program
Dallas Hope Charities is currently seeking:
- Adult hybrid, commuter and mountain bicycles in good working condition
- Business sponsors to help purchase bicycles
- Helmets, locks, lights and other essential safety equipment
Individuals and businesses interested in supporting Mobility for Milestones can contact Bob Grega at bgrega@dallashopecharities.org.
You can also support Dallas Hope Charities through a one-time or monthly donation, volunteer service and other opportunities available through its Get Involved page.
Learn more about its programs and services at Dallas Hope Charities.