Hug-A-Bus is a non-profit organization that will serve all of Washtenaw County; Ann Arbor's system is a pilot program that will aid a larger national effort. The Rev. William Stein, president and founder of Hug-A-Bus, said that participants have to meet certain welfare requirements to prove that they are poverty-stricken. Furthermore, only HIV-infected Washtenaw County residents, their immediate families and personal health aides are allowed to take advantage of the free transportation.
Hug-A-Bus should prove to be a much-needed help to county residents with HIV or AIDS, as well as benefiting the community as a whole. People who use the bus system will no longer have to worry about missing doctor's appointments due to limited transportation or about being isolated from the community. Hug-A-Bus also attempts to maintain the dignity and privacy of its riders. In order to protect participant's anonymity, each person receives a coded access card to use when scheduling a ride. Only the transit administrator, dispatcher and referral agency will know the client's true identify. This is an important and considerate feature, as some patients are uncomfortable with identifying their HIV-positive status.
It is important that people with HIV are active in their community, to help shun the misconception that people living with the virus are "weak" or "helpless." Hug-A-Bus will assist them in continuing to have the opportunity to participate in cultural events or even go to the movies when physical or financial restraints might keep them home.
Stein feels that community members have the responsibility to help each other. Hug-A-Bus appears to have laid down a good foundation from which the program could eventually expand. Hug-A-Bus currently serves only individuals with HIV and their families, meeting a demand that has not previously been addressed.
Other communities around the country have established similar transportation programs for cancer patients, the elderly or others who find themselves virtually homebound due to medical conditions or financial difficulty. Programs like Hug-A-Bus should continue to expand - people impeded by disease or circumstance retain the ability and desire to participate in their communities.