We’ve all been there — stopped at a red light, avoiding eye contact with the person holding that cardboard sign. Maybe you’ve thought, “I want to help, I should help, but I don’t think this is perhaps the right way?”
There is a great way to help those who are ready to help themselves. People seeking to work to support themselves. As businesspeople, we all appreciate the value of hard work and the drive to get ahead. We respect that. We can support that.
Did you know that transitional homelessness makes up 75% of the unhoused community? Transitional homelessness refers to a temporary situation where individuals or families experience homelessness for a short period, often caused by life events such as job loss, medical emergencies, domestic abuse, or other crises that disrupt stable living conditions.
People facing transitional homelessness generally seek to quickly stabilize their situation and return to permanent housing. These are individuals, veterans, family members, people escaping domestic abuse, and those who have faced devastating crisis. Many of them are capable and willing to work.
Over 68% of the people the Homeless ID Project assists with are seeking employment as their way to prevent or end their homelessness. In cases of domestic abuse, which account for 28% of the people we help, abusers often hold onto their victims’ IDs to prevent them from leaving (IDs are needed for hotels and other services).
A valid state-issued ID is required for employment. Who doesn’t have that? Those experiencing homelessness! To apply for a state ID, you need your birth certificate. Getting a copy of that official document is a challenge, and you also need a postal address to receive it. Plus, there are fees for the state ID and birth certificate.
Imagine being ready, willing, able and wanting to work, but the first step is having your ID and necessary documents. When you’re homeless, without easy access to the MVD, a postal address, or knowing where to start, these hurdles can seem insurmountable. But they don’t have to be.
For $32, you can help someone seeking work get their birth certificate and ID. Homeless ID Project has a highly unique partnership with the State of Arizona MVD, allowing ID applications to be processed directly in our office. We also partner with organizations like St. Joseph the Worker, which helps people secure jobs once they have their IDs. It’s working for those seeking to work.
So, next time you think there’s a better way to support people before they lose hope, consider investing to help someone get employed. Please consider financially supporting the Homeless ID Project, an AZDOR qualified tax credit non-profit.
