The Impact of Ride Hail Services on the Accessibility of Nonprofit Services

Nonprofit organizations are responsible for providing a significant level of human services across the United States, often in collaboration with government agencies. In this work, they address some of the most pressing social issues in society – including homelessness, poverty, health care and education. While many of these organizations consider location and accessibility crucial to supporting their clients – often locating services near bus or train stops, for example – little is known about the impact of new technologies, including ride hail services like Lyft and Uber, on nonprofit accessibility. These technologies, which are re-shaping transportation in both urban and suburban communities, are expected to dramatically shift how people move around and the accessibility of services they seek. This exploratory qualitative study, making use of interviews with nonprofit executives and nonprofit clients, is among the first of its kind to measure the impact of ride hail services and other emerging technologies on community mobility and accessibility.