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Yesterday I was at the DMV, as I always am. My colleague and I took nine unhoused clients to get their IDs and, as it was an extremely packed day at the DMV, I was waiting outside for our clients to get through the incredibly long line. After a few minutes, a young man came up to me. He had some cash in his hand and he said “Excuse me ma’am, do you have any spare change? I only have $21 and I need to pay for my driver’s license". I have to admit, I couldn’t really believe that this was happening. I pointed at the giant pink ID on my shirt and said “My dude, this is your lucky day, paying for IDs is what I do for a living. Would you like me to pay for yours?”. His eyes lit up as he asked if I was serious, and when I said I was he gave me a huge hug. We waited for his number to be called and then I paid the $33 for his new license. His name is John, and he is yet another example of why IDs should be free.
We have vouchers for free and reduced IDs for the unhoused in California. This is great, it’s really wonderful. But, first of all, you have to be unhoused, which John was not. Second, you have to know that these vouchers exist. Third, you have to find an official organization that can give you one of the limited numbers of vouchers that they are allocated in a certain time frame. Then you have to get to the DMV, and if you are getting your first California ID, you still have to have your birth certificate which will cost an average of $50 if you are not from LA County and it has to be ordered online. 15-18 million American adults do not have access to their birth documents so it’s a pretty large percentage of the people we work with.
Last month, we worked with Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo to introduce AB 464, a bill that would make IDs and vital documents free for all low income Californians, including guys like John.
Last year, we worked with Reps Sean Casten and Cori Bush on HR 8821, the IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act, which will create a free and optional Federal ID.
John is why we are doing this work. 26 million American adults do not have the government-issued photo ID that they need to live their lives, and even when they go to the DMV and try, they still face barriers, even if that barrier is $12. IDs should be free, and that’s what we will keep fighting for.
~Kat
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