Travelers Aid Society of San Diego Inc

At Travelers Aid Society of San Diego, we’ve been helping San Diegans in need for over 120 years. The mission of Travelers Aid is providing connections and solutions that prevent or address crisis. We assist individuals and families who, in times of crisis or transition, are disconnected from their support systems. Travelers Aid provides access to critical services for people who have no other means to reach those services.

Travelers Aid is a (more than) century-old nonprofit, social services agency. Part of a movement of Travelers Aid organizations that began opening all over the country in the mid-19th century, Travelers Aid San Diego first began its work at the Santa Fe Train Depot in 1901, helping women and children who were traveling alone. Case workers met them as they arrived, assisted them with finding safe accommodations and/or family members, and protected them from “unsavory types.”  The agency has evolved many, many times over the years, always with transportation/travel as a unifying element. We are part of a network of dozens of Travelers Aid agencies around the country (and world) called Travelers Aid International.

SOCIAL SERVICES: Our current social service programs include:

SenioRide serves low-income seniors by providing funding transportation to medical, shopping and social trips. Riders are offered a menu of transportation options which include volunteer drivers, paratransit services that use accessible vehicles, bus passes, and taxi vouchers. 

RIDEFinder offers information and referral services to anyone calling into (or visiting) our offices for help. It also offers Travel Training, whereby individuals with disabilities and/or seniors can receive tailored transportation experiences. A staff member will help the caller determine the best means of transportation and route planning for specific trips or for everyday needs. 

Senior Solutions offers safe transportation options for low-income, immunocompromised older adults living in the City of San Diego. This program is set to expand to assist resident’s county-wide later this year. Senior Solutions assists these riders with one-on-one transportation options for essential needs such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, pharmacy trips, and fulfilling civic duties. These low-capacity vehicle options help lower the risk of virus transmission among those most susceptible. 

Journey to Safety provides transportation to people experiencing or fleeing domestic violence. Transportation is available in county for trips such as going to police stations, domestic violence shelters, family justice centers, and attorney offices. Victims of domestic violence can text or call in their needs directly to a staff member who works quickly to screen them and provide assistance. Long distance transportation is also available to people fleeing to a different city or state where they have secured housing. In some cases, food and hotel assistance is also available.   

Homeless Outreach takes place at St Vincent de Paul Village. At this TA satellite office, case managers provide homeless outreach whereby clients can receive San Diego County birth certificate vouchers, ID vouchers, homeless certifications, and other information and referral services. 

VISITOR SERVICES: For our entire history, Travelers Aid has staffed several volunteer information desks at transit centers throughout the County, including the Santa Fe Depot, where we still operate. 

How We Serve:

Annually, our programs provide transportation, information, referrals, and case management services:

• Active Clients: 1,338
• One way passenger trips: 164,610
• Information: 26,114
• Referrals: 8,451
• Travel Training Encounters: 2,490
• Visitor Services Contacts/Referrals: 25,326
• Domestic Violence Inquiries/Services Since 7/2023: 280