Providing identification cards for people without standard IDs such as drivers licenses could eliminate barriers many people face in addressing a host of personal needs, Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver) said today.
“ID cards are so common that most of us use them constantly for all kinds of purposes without even giving it a thought,” Cleveland said. “But think how difficult our everyday activities might be if we had no proof of identification. That’s the problem facing many people who don’t have standard ID documents, and particularly for those facing homelessness.”
Cleveland’s SB 5815 would make anyone experiencing homelessness eligible for a state-issued identicard at no cost on a one-time basis, provided they do not already possess a valid, state-issued identicard or driver’s license.
“The homelessness crisis is fueled in no small part by our longstanding, regional housing shortage and exacerbated by the hardships of the pandemic,” Cleveland said. “This is just one small way we might make it easier for someone to transition from homelessness, but if it helps make a difference, that difference could be life-changing.”
Laura Ellsworth, a strategic partnerships and advocacy manager at the Council for the Homeless in Vancouver, said the lack of an ID card poses considerable hardship.
“Not having a state-issued ID is a major barrier for people experiencing homelessness,” Ellsworth said. “Their IDs are often lost or stolen, making it difficult to access housing. Anything we can do to remove barriers and improve access is a good thing.”
More than a dozen states currently provide free state ID cards for the unhoused, including California, Nevada and, most recently, Oregon.
Having been approved in committee, SB 5815 is now available to be pulled to the floor for a vote of the full Senate.
