The ZAK Initiative Transportation Program was officially launched at an event on Tuesday at the Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP) campus in Clearwater. The program, which has been in development for multiple years, aims to provide affordable, user-friendly, and reliable transportation to underserved populations, including the homeless and low-income families.

Partnership and Funding

The program is a collaboration between People Empowering and Restoring Communities (PERC) and HEP, with funding partners including United Way Suncoast, Florida Hires, Pinellas County, Pinellas Community Foundation, and the Empowering People Program.

PERC CEO and executive director Michael Jalazo explained that the program was designed to address the transportation barrier that many underserved populations face. “We have to get people to and from work,” he said. “That’s literally the only part of this that’s simple. Transportation is a barrier for any underserved population and every underserved population.”

Honoring Zak White

The program is named after Zak White, who served as HEP’s executive vice president for over 15 years before his passing in 2024. White was remembered by those who knew him as a passionate advocate for social causes and a dedicated helper of others.

Tiffany Miller, who grew up with White in Dunedin, said that he would be pleased with the ZAK Initiative Transportation Program. “He was so passionate about social causes and helping people,” she said. “He helped everyone else but himself. His dedication was completely to helping not just his friends and loved ones, but people in society and the community.”

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.