2026 Community Nonprofit Partner Program: OUD Treatment & Recovery

The City of South Bend is relaunching a new version of the Community Nonprofit Partner Program to make Ride Guarantee benefits available to nonprofit partners in St. Joseph County that offer OUD treatment and recovery services.

***The application to apply for the 2026 Community Nonprofit Partner Program will open on June 12. Applications must be submitted by Monday, June 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Please email info@commuterstrust.com to learn more about other Commuters Trust programs.

Commuters Trust Overview

Launched by the City of South Bend in 2019, Commuters Trust works to create equitable transportation systems to widen pathways to stable jobs and empower working families and racial minorities in the South Bend region. Commuters Trust provides subsidized and free transportation to employees, volunteers, and nonprofit clients in the South Bend area by organizing distribution of rides. Employers and nonprofit partners work with Commuters Trust to provide their constituents with transportation to get where they need to be; whether it is work, medical appointments, the grocery store, or other essential needs. 

Webinar

The City of South Bend will host a webinar on June 11, 2026 to introduce the program. A link to the webinar can be found here: bit.ly/cnpp2026.

Program benefits & overview

  • Transportation benefit program to assist adults who are seeking OUD treatment and recovery

  • Eligible participants will have access to a set number of Uber rides per month plus access to an unlimited monthly Transpo bus pass (digital or physical card)

  • Uber rides have $35 cap (any overage charged to user) and rides must start/end in St. Joseph County; no other time/location restrictions

  • Partner agencies refer clients for enrollment in the program

  • Monthly automatic renewal (1st day of month) for participants unless agency unenrolls participant

  • 1 year initial program duration

  • No fee to partner agencies


Eligible participants (referring non-profit must attest client meets these requirements)

  • Resident of St. Joseph County, age 18+

  • Active participant in programs/services provided by referring agency

  • Be in active OUD recovery and treatment and have 1 or more applicable use cases for transportation benefit (any of following: food, healthcare, work, education, social services, or childcare)

  • Have cell phone to participate in text-based surveys or phone interviews

  • Employees of referring agency are not eligible for this fully paid program (but may be eligible to participate in other Commuters Trust programs)

  • To use Uber benefit: Have smartphone  


Eligible partner agencies

The organizations that meet the following criteria are eligible for the Ride Guarantee program:

  • Organizations with 501(c)3 status or equivalent

  • Organizations that have a business location within St. Joseph County, Indiana

  • Organizations that directly serve OUD clients in St. Joseph County, Indiana with addiction recovery services

  • Provide services to clients who face transportation insecurity causing inability to access critical services

  • Agree to support participant referral and enrollment (and renewal/unenrollment), basic participant support, and data collection

2026 PROGRAM timeline

  • Thu. June 11: Webinar

  • Fri. June 12: Application opens

  • Fri. June 26 at 5PM EST: Application deadline for partners

  • Fri. Jul 17: City will notify applicants of program acceptance

  • Mid - Late Aug: Enrollment and benefits system training for agencies; promotion to and selection of agency client participants

  • Tue. Sep. 1: Program launch date