Colorado Legal Services (CLS), along with partners Metro CareRing (MCR), the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Denver Human Services, has created a special project to assist homeless clients and others with the sticky problem of needing an ID to get an ID. Without an ID, people find themselves unable to use a housing voucher or even get on a waiting list for permanent housing. Employers want to see an ID before offering a job. Many doctors and pharmacists also want an ID presented, even when a Medicaid or CICP card is shown. Picking up mail at a post office or opening a bank account can be impossible for those without IDs. Getting benefits like SSI, AND, food stamps and Medicaid is also a challenge without an ID. To solve these and many other problems, the ID Project was established in 2007.
Since that time thousands of people have received help getting a state ID, birth certificate or replacement immigration document. Only U.S. citizens and “lawfully present” immigrants can get help. Every week dozens of new clients call MCR for appointments or call or walk in to CLS to begin the application process. Some cases are considered “simple” and a $10.50 voucher is all that is needed to replace a valid or recently expired Colorado ID or Driver’s License. Such cases, along with those only needing a certified birth certificate, can be handled at Metro CareRing. (In May 2014 MCR moved from its building at 18th and Downing to allow for construction to begin on a new facility in the same location. During this period, MCR’s ID Project staff will only be able to see people through appointments. Call 303-350-3631 to make an appointment.)
Colorado Legal Services ID staff (one paralegal who is bi-lingual in Spanish and two attorneys) deals with more complicated cases. What is considered a more “complicated” case?
What do you need to get a Colorado ID? Answer: It depends. Many people think that a birth certificate and a Social Security card are all you need. Not necessarily. In some cases, this might be enough, but generally at least three more records in addition to the birth certificate are required, such as certified school and medical records. If there is a name change through marriage, you may need to provide a marriage certificate.
Each case is different, and it can be frustrating when one person seems to get an ID with no documents and another makes repeated trips to DMV without success. ID Project staff is experienced with all the variations and can quickly assess each situation and what supporting documents will be needed. Some cases are resolved quickly and others take many months.
Once the documents are obtained, the CLS staffer will meet you at the Lakewood DMV(1881 Pierce Street) and walk with you through the application process. We always ask clients to stay in touch so that we can contact you as soon as we have the needed papers and arrange a time to go to DMV. If your contact information changes, please let us know. If you have no address, phone or e-mail address, check in with us periodically the best way you can.
Examples of People Facing ID Challenges
James, a homeless vet age 62, was born at home in North Carolina, and never had a birth certificate. He had many documents proving who he was, but Social Security required a birth certificate. Our staff gathered old school records, census records, and old medical records to convince North Carolina Vital Records of his name and date and place of birth. He was issued a “delayed” birth certificate, and then could begin to receive the SSI benefits he desperately needed.
Edith was having her retirement benefits deposited in her bank account when the bank changed policies and said she was not allowed to withdraw any of her money until she showed a current picture ID. She was about to be evicted because she could not pay her rent. We gathered the necessary papers to prove her identity and citizenship, and DMV issued her an ID. She then took that ID to her bank.
John, a homeless teen, had been thrown out of his foster home and his foster parent refused to give him any of his papers. He needed a birth certificate, Social Security card and state ID to get a job. We worked with his case worker at Urban Peak to get him an ID and birth certificate as soon as possible so that he could get off the streets.
Mary lost her children’s birth certificates and her ID when she left her abusive spouse. Without these documents she could not enroll her children in school and find a job to support herself. We were able to replace the birth certificates and ID relatively quickly so that Mary could start a new life.
Abdul was robbed and his green card was stolen. He could not get a job or an ID until it was replaced. Lost immigration documents are expensive to replace and the federal government takes a long time to process the applications. In this case we were able to get the fee waived and to get USCIS to process his case as a “hardship” so the wait time was reduced.
CLS serves walk-in clients without appointments from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. The address is 1905 Sherman Street, Suite 400. If you prefer, you can be interviewed by phone. Call 303-837-1321 and leave your name and number, and someone will call you back to interview you at a later time. You can also check our website, www.coloradoidproject.org for more information.
Since that time thousands of people have received help getting a state ID, birth certificate or replacement immigration document. Only U.S. citizens and “lawfully present” immigrants can get help. Every week dozens of new clients call MCR for appointments or call or walk in to CLS to begin the application process. Some cases are considered “simple” and a $10.50 voucher is all that is needed to replace a valid or recently expired Colorado ID or Driver’s License. Such cases, along with those only needing a certified birth certificate, can be handled at Metro CareRing. (In May 2014 MCR moved from its building at 18th and Downing to allow for construction to begin on a new facility in the same location. During this period, MCR’s ID Project staff will only be able to see people through appointments. Call 303-350-3631 to make an appointment.)
Colorado Legal Services ID staff (one paralegal who is bi-lingual in Spanish and two attorneys) deals with more complicated cases. What is considered a more “complicated” case?
- No documents, or very few documents, and have never had a Colorado ID;
- Have gone to DMV and been told there is a problem, such as a “fraud block”, mismatch with Social Security records, or problem with fingerprints;
- Name on birth certificate does not match name on other documents or records;
- Had and lost green card, naturalization certificate, etc.;
- Social Security record has error in spelling of name or date of birth;
- Never had a birth certificate (born at home);
- Birth certificate has errors;
- DOC ID has errors in name or date of birth, or both; or
- Any other situation in which DMV has denied ID.
What do you need to get a Colorado ID? Answer: It depends. Many people think that a birth certificate and a Social Security card are all you need. Not necessarily. In some cases, this might be enough, but generally at least three more records in addition to the birth certificate are required, such as certified school and medical records. If there is a name change through marriage, you may need to provide a marriage certificate.
Each case is different, and it can be frustrating when one person seems to get an ID with no documents and another makes repeated trips to DMV without success. ID Project staff is experienced with all the variations and can quickly assess each situation and what supporting documents will be needed. Some cases are resolved quickly and others take many months.
Once the documents are obtained, the CLS staffer will meet you at the Lakewood DMV(1881 Pierce Street) and walk with you through the application process. We always ask clients to stay in touch so that we can contact you as soon as we have the needed papers and arrange a time to go to DMV. If your contact information changes, please let us know. If you have no address, phone or e-mail address, check in with us periodically the best way you can.
Examples of People Facing ID Challenges
James, a homeless vet age 62, was born at home in North Carolina, and never had a birth certificate. He had many documents proving who he was, but Social Security required a birth certificate. Our staff gathered old school records, census records, and old medical records to convince North Carolina Vital Records of his name and date and place of birth. He was issued a “delayed” birth certificate, and then could begin to receive the SSI benefits he desperately needed.
Edith was having her retirement benefits deposited in her bank account when the bank changed policies and said she was not allowed to withdraw any of her money until she showed a current picture ID. She was about to be evicted because she could not pay her rent. We gathered the necessary papers to prove her identity and citizenship, and DMV issued her an ID. She then took that ID to her bank.
John, a homeless teen, had been thrown out of his foster home and his foster parent refused to give him any of his papers. He needed a birth certificate, Social Security card and state ID to get a job. We worked with his case worker at Urban Peak to get him an ID and birth certificate as soon as possible so that he could get off the streets.
Mary lost her children’s birth certificates and her ID when she left her abusive spouse. Without these documents she could not enroll her children in school and find a job to support herself. We were able to replace the birth certificates and ID relatively quickly so that Mary could start a new life.
Abdul was robbed and his green card was stolen. He could not get a job or an ID until it was replaced. Lost immigration documents are expensive to replace and the federal government takes a long time to process the applications. In this case we were able to get the fee waived and to get USCIS to process his case as a “hardship” so the wait time was reduced.
CLS serves walk-in clients without appointments from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. The address is 1905 Sherman Street, Suite 400. If you prefer, you can be interviewed by phone. Call 303-837-1321 and leave your name and number, and someone will call you back to interview you at a later time. You can also check our website, www.coloradoidproject.org for more information.
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