From opening a bank account to enrolling in social services, a valid form of identification is crucial to navigate many aspects of daily life. For people experiencing homelessness, having an ID is a vital part of stability and security. IDs can help people access essential services such as health care, housing, and employment opportunities.
But people experiencing homelessness, especially those living outside, may not have traditional forms of identification. IDs and other documents are often lost or destroyed in encampment closures and moves between shelters. Obtaining another ID can be challenging, especially without proof of residency at a fixed address or access to vital documents.
In Washington, D.C., several government programs and nonprofit organizations are dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness get that crucial ID. Whether it’s accessing birth certificates through nonprofits such as Bread for the City, applying for a free ID with the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) during their weekly visits at the Downtown Day Services Center, or safeguarding IDs and other important documents at Miriam’s Kitchen, obtaining an ID is not just about meeting legal requirements — it’s a gateway to opportunity. Here’s how to get an ID and some of the organizations that can help along the way.
If you’re looking for more information, Bread for the City also offers a comprehensive guide to obtaining an ID in D.C. on the nonprofit’s website. Another helpful resource for young people experiencing homelessness is the Homeless Youth Handbook, specifically the chapter on Identification.
Step 1: Gathering required documents
The first step to obtain a non-driver’s license ID (which won’t allow you to drive, but is valid for all other purposes) is being able to prove your identity. This requires a birth certificate, a social security number, and proof of residency.
If you don’t already have access to a copy of your birth certificate, the No-Fee Birth Certificate program, run by D.C.’s Department of Human Services (DHS), can help. The No-Fee Birth Certificate program, through the use of identity-verification kiosks provided by the Office of Vital Records and an electronic form provided by DHS, allows anyone born in D.C. and experiencing homelessness to get a birth certificate at no cost.
To enroll in the program, contact DHS or one of DHS’s certified homeless service providers, listed in the link. Case managers there can fill out an application for a fee waiver. If you’re approved, you can then take the waiver with you to the D.C. Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records at 899 North Capitol St. NE, where a self-service kiosk will verify your identity.
If you already have a birth certificate but are still struggling to prove your identity because your other legal documents and records have a different name from the one shown on your birth certificate, the legal team at Bread for the City, with locations on 7th Street in NW and Marion Barry Avenue in SE, can help by assisting with a legal name change.
Foundry United Methodist Church, located at 1500 16th St. NW, also offers an ID ministry on all Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the first and third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers can help you get birth certificates, ID cards, and Social Security cards. To make an appointment, email [email protected].
While getting a birth certificate from another state can be more complicated and take longer, organizations like Bread for the City and Foundry’s ID ministry can also help with that process. Foundry, the Downtown Day Services Center, and Community Family Life Services may be able to help pay for the cost of getting records from another state.
If you have a social security number, you just need to write it on your application for an ID, which will then be subject to the DMV’s verification.
In D.C., people who do not have Social Security numbers can obtain a limited-purpose ID. In addition to proof of identity and residency, applicants for the limited-purpose ID need proof they have been in the city for at least six months and will have to fill out a form declaring they are not eligible for a Social Security number. The forms are available at the DMV and online.
To get proof of residency, both for regular IDs and limited-purpose IDs, applicants experiencing homelessness should ask their case managers, shelter staff, or other support workers for a form affirming they’re a D.C. resident. The form has to be dated within the last 60 days. If you have a fixed address, you’ll need two proofs of residency, like a lease, utility bill, or
official mail to your address.
Step 2: Applying for an ID
Once you have all your documents, you can apply for a non-driver’s license ID card at the DMV. To make the process more accessible, the DMV also visits the Downtown Day Services Center on Thursdays. Staff members assist individuals in applying for non-driver ID cards. This service is especially beneficial if you face challenges traveling to a DMV location.
If your application is approved, the DMV will provide you with a temporary paper copy of your ID that lasts 45 days, while you wait for your new ID card to be mailed to you.
Bread for the City (1525 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 and 1700 Marion Barry Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. 20020) and the Downtown Services Day Center (1313 New York Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005) may let applicants use their addresses to obtain IDs as long as the offices have sufficient notice. So Others May Eat also operates a mail service that people without a fixed address can use at their 61 O St. NW location, though you need to enroll by going to the offices before receiving any mail.
Step 3: Safeguarding the ID
After obtaining an ID, keeping it safe can be a significant challenge, especially if you don’t have stable housing. Fortunately, Miriam’s Kitchen provides a solution by securely storing IDs for individuals who have no other place to keep them. This service ensures clients do not lose their identification documents, which can be costly and time-consuming to replace. You can inquire about storage during their social services hours, weekdays from 7:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Several other organizations and programs in D.C. are dedicated to helping individuals experiencing homelessness navigate the ID process. Ask your case manager for more information.
