The District updated its identification process for unhoused individuals looking to get an ID in July, after months of confusion and frustration from outreach workers. The changes will streamline the process and keep IDs free, but will not increase the number of places that can help people experiencing homelessness get necessary documents.
In many cases, identification is necessary to be employed, receive government assistance, rent an apartment, and access other resources. Generally, to obtain a free ID, a person experiencing homelessness can have one of a few approved providers complete the Homeless Services Proof of Residency Form on their behalf and bring it to a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Service Center. But outreach workers have said changes and conflicting information over the last year have made IDs harder to get.
A June 18 memorandum circulated to homeless service providers stated the District’s identification card process has been updated. The memo was circulated to “support interagency partners and service providers in understanding the revised requirements, planned system enhancements, and the legal foundation guiding these changes.”
According to the memo, D.C.’s DMV and Department of Human Services (DHS) are coordinating to ensure both agencies’ websites reflect identical, accurate guidance as of July 1. As Street Sense reported, the District had previously offered proof of residency forms at more than 30 nonprofit organizations, but cut the list to just three centers for adults in the spring of 2025. DHS did not immediately update its website to reflect the change, creating confusion.
The memo also answers a long-standing question about whether people experiencing homelessness can get replacement IDs for free.
Previously, the District provided a fee waiver for original IDs, but organizations heard different things about renewal or replacement IDs, including that individuals would be responsible “for all associated costs.” Unhoused individuals have a higher risk of losing their identification, as living without a permanent address and dealing with weather, encampment clearings, and constant moving can make it hard to maintain important documents.
According to the memo, there are officially no fees for replacement IDs for anyone with a proof of residency form, which certifies they are homeless and reside in D.C. This update was made to better reflect D.C. municipal regulations, which authorizes issuance of no-fee identification to residents who “do not have a fixed, regular District residence as determined by the Department of Human Services,” the memo said.
The update also includes a “streamlined internal processing” system. The DMV said this new system will verify fee waivers are processed correctly, eligibility verification is accurately captured, and customers do not experience barriers at service centers, like unnecessary closures of centers and refusal of service.
These changes don’t address all the concerns outreach workers have raised about the ID process. When DHS cut the number of service centers from 30 to three, many people faced an added inconvenience in getting their ID, having to travel further or connect with new organizations. People looking for IDs have also reported locations running out of available forms, and concern about two of the locations being male-only shelters, which can make women reluctant to go there.
The memorandum stresses coordination between the DMV and DHS, but it is yet to be seen what impact the changes will have.
This article originally appeared in Street Sense’s July 15, 2026 edition.
