Some Tennessee families still haven’t received SNAP benefits after shutdown Healing Minds and Souls, a North Nashville nonprofit, continues to see a surge in people seeking help. The organization is open to the community Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and volunteers deliver too.

But the WeGo board chair said SNAP benefits were flowing:
www.newschannel5.com/news/state/t...

Heard from a volunteer with Dream Streets yesterday. They extended their food distribution hours bc people were choosing between getting a Journey Pass and getting food… exactly what advocates warned would happen.

Bag. The. Box.

Metro action commission at 1281 Murfreesboro pike!

Yes, very confusing to have no requirements / need for “proof” last time and then change it.

THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING ANY MORE PEOPLE IN LINE AT MAC TO RECEIVE JOURNEY PASSES. Tell your people so they don’t waste time and money trying to get there. This was entirely avoidable. We knew people were going to come out like crazy for these passes. Free bus access is life changing. #bagthefarebox

Update from outreach worker on the scene:
-WeGo staffer said later dates will be for folks who are low-income & they are not checking income verifications today. Today = for MAC customers, snap recipients, folks who are homeless
-HUNDREDS of folks at MAC trying to get passes

@themanaen.bsky.social @kellykitty.bsky.social @johnwesssley.bsky.social @erinfor12.bsky.social

Updates from MAC journey pass distro event #2:
-people are being denied passes for not having accepted documentation
-they are accepting physical EBT cards as proof of snap
-they are accepting homelessness affidavits our outreach workers brought with *just in case*

Council just unanimously approved a bus fare suspension amendment to a SNAP resolution (left). WeGo announced new Journey Pass enrollment events earlier today (right) but council just sent a clear message that we must do more

Share these events with SNAP recipients and service providers:

Mood @themanaen.bsky.social

What exactly is a “transition neighborhood” and can you define that sir without sounding like the complete classist racist you are?

Yes, it was all so confusing, so that’s why I wanted to go check it out myself before bringing a bunch of folks there and making them wait. Hoping my experience is what others across the board also experience consistently!

Ahhh yes I’m so glad we’re expanding BIDs and giving them even more power and land to control and sanitize

Brought some friends to MAC today & they too got Journey passes! One friend’s husband was at work, but she was able to get a pass for him. Love that flexibility, that’s how it should be. Also peep friends sitting on our community made bench across the street after they got their free bus passes!

Great question! One of many!

I do not believe so. I have not been helped by MAC before and got a journey pass. I make $21-$25/hour, but they didn’t care about my income or ask me for any documentation when I went. Headed back there now with some folks who could really use these passes!

Yes but some clarification is needed. Lots of confusion about who is eligible, what documentation you need, how many passes will be given out, et.

3 year!

@kellykitty.bsky.social @themanaen.bsky.social idk how BS works yet

They asked if I was a resident of Davidson Co and if I had ridden the bus before. I did not have to show my ID. I asked if there’s a limit to how many passes they are giving out today, and the worker I spoke to said there is not! Get to 1281 Murfreesboro Pike by 1pm today yall!

MAC/WEGO bus pass update! Due to minimal info, I went to MAC for us! If you haven’t been before, here’s a little video. There’s no signage. Once inside, you fill out a short form, get a #, wait in line. I asked about income limits, they said there are none. If you come today, you get a bus pass.

What does “starting conservatively” to “ensure funding” even mean? How much funding is there? Again bringing up the cap question- will only X number of ppl get a pass even if more are eligible? Why are we creating scarcity when fares could be free for all? The busses are running. Let people on them!

Monthly HMIS data report for y’all for my first post: In September, 3,585 people experienced homelessness in Nashville, while 131 people were housed. Over the past 12 months, 11,620 unique people experienced homelessness in Nashville.