MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom is hopeful a Sept. 11 meeting with some of the principal players could result in a short-term solution to problems caused by the abrupt closure of In Touch & Concerned (ITAC) last month.
The nonprofit non-emergency medical transportation service was crucial for a number of residents, as The Dominion Post first reported this week.
“The thing is, no one realizes how important ITAC was — In Touch & Concerned — until it’s not there,” Bloom told WAJR’s Morgantown AM. “And now we realize it.”
The formerly state-subsidized service estimated it provided about 800 round trips per month, including transport for medical exams and work, to elderly residents and those suffering from physical disabilities.
Next week, Bloom will meet with a representative of the now defunct ITAC, Dave Bruffy from the Mountain Line Transit Authority and representatives from PACE — the organization that helps connect people with physical disabilities to gainful employment — and Senior Mons.
“There are no quick fixes, and there is no money right now,” Bloom said. “So, we’re going to have to figure out how we can get the services, because I believe this community wants to continue those services.”
There are for-profit options that could theoretically replace ITAC, but prices thus far have reportedly ranged from approximately $500 to $1,300.
“They can pick and choose which individuals they want to choose,” Bloom said.
In addition to non-emergency transportation, ITAC also would provide transportation between the Bartlett House — a Morgantown homeless shelter — and the Caritas House — a food pantry in Monongalia County.
“ITAC was the group that would pick the people up from downtown or the Bartlett House in the colder weather and bring them out there,” Bloom said. “We needed to resolve that issue. So, we got together with Dave Bruffy and United Way, and we started to deal with that issue.”
Bloom added: “What we learned is that it’s a multi-faceted problem, and it’s not just that issue.”
ITAC closed Aug. 10, reportedly facing more than $100,000 in outstanding debt.