Post by dreamer on Jan 5, 2012 5:13:11 GMT -5
examiner.com
CLT's homeless population: Many lack identification
Nichole Jaworski
Mecklenburg County Homelessness Examiner
January 4, 2012
Undoubtedly, we've all had a frustrating experience at the Department of Motor Vehicles at some point. According to Carsdirect.com, any time you have to deal with the Department of Motor Vehicles, you are going to have to fill out the necessary paperwork. DMV forms are notorious for being frustrating and tedious. In addition, there are several steps and documents needed towards obtaining a North Carolina Driver's License. For most housed individuals, possessing these vital documents is not an issue. However, for an unhoused individual, these steps can be a major hurdle towards getting identification.
Gaby, left out on the streets
"I have no ID because my husband destroyed it. Without ID, I can't seek or obtain shelter. I can't get into the Center of Hope without identification. I have been to 38 different churches in the area. All of them have offered to pray for me, but none of them will give me the ten dollars that I need to obtain a new ID."
A local nonprofit gave Gaby the ten dollars that she desperately needed to obtain her driver's license. This exchange goes against the Charlotte Center City Partners new education initiative: "On the street, real change doesn't come from your pocket." Gaby’s situation is a perfect example of how the CCCPs initiative is flawed. In truth, some individuals abuse panhandling and take advantage of a person’s good nature, but Gaby's situation doesn't fit into that category. What's becoming lost in this equation is that homeless individuals need money -- we all need money to survive and thrive. Why does their unfortunate plight make them less worthy of receiving funds?
Gaby was connected to the resources that she needed to obtain identification; however, upon obtaining her ID, The Center of Hope was at capacity. Therefore, Gaby was turned away again even though she did everything right. She returned to the streets of uptown, to wander around aimlessly – as she had hopelessly done the week before. Unfortunately, Gaby's story is not unique. There are far too many homeless individuals in the Queen City who are not getting the assistance that they need because they lack Identification.
Having personal Identification is truly a matter of survival. The majority of government assistance programs require identification documentation to obtain assistance. Without IDs, homeless individuals cannot get food stamps. This can lead to food insecurity which can have adverse effects on their health. Additionally, homeless individuals cannot collect welfare without proper identification. The good news is that a homeless individual with physical or mental disabilities (which prevents them from working,) can obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with just their Social Security Number. SSA will look up a Social Security number in their system and ask a few questions to confirm a homeless individual’s identity.
The bottom line is that Charlotte residents should have the right to give freely from their hearts out on the street, if they choose to do so. While it is certainly wise to discourage handing out money that may enable an addiction, a humanizing interaction between a homeless individual and an area resident may just be the right measure towards tackling substance/alcohol abuse.
www.examiner.com/homelessness-in-charlotte/clt-s-homeless-population-many-lack-identification
CLT's homeless population: Many lack identification
Nichole Jaworski
Mecklenburg County Homelessness Examiner
January 4, 2012
Undoubtedly, we've all had a frustrating experience at the Department of Motor Vehicles at some point. According to Carsdirect.com, any time you have to deal with the Department of Motor Vehicles, you are going to have to fill out the necessary paperwork. DMV forms are notorious for being frustrating and tedious. In addition, there are several steps and documents needed towards obtaining a North Carolina Driver's License. For most housed individuals, possessing these vital documents is not an issue. However, for an unhoused individual, these steps can be a major hurdle towards getting identification.
Gaby, left out on the streets
"I have no ID because my husband destroyed it. Without ID, I can't seek or obtain shelter. I can't get into the Center of Hope without identification. I have been to 38 different churches in the area. All of them have offered to pray for me, but none of them will give me the ten dollars that I need to obtain a new ID."
A local nonprofit gave Gaby the ten dollars that she desperately needed to obtain her driver's license. This exchange goes against the Charlotte Center City Partners new education initiative: "On the street, real change doesn't come from your pocket." Gaby’s situation is a perfect example of how the CCCPs initiative is flawed. In truth, some individuals abuse panhandling and take advantage of a person’s good nature, but Gaby's situation doesn't fit into that category. What's becoming lost in this equation is that homeless individuals need money -- we all need money to survive and thrive. Why does their unfortunate plight make them less worthy of receiving funds?
Gaby was connected to the resources that she needed to obtain identification; however, upon obtaining her ID, The Center of Hope was at capacity. Therefore, Gaby was turned away again even though she did everything right. She returned to the streets of uptown, to wander around aimlessly – as she had hopelessly done the week before. Unfortunately, Gaby's story is not unique. There are far too many homeless individuals in the Queen City who are not getting the assistance that they need because they lack Identification.
Having personal Identification is truly a matter of survival. The majority of government assistance programs require identification documentation to obtain assistance. Without IDs, homeless individuals cannot get food stamps. This can lead to food insecurity which can have adverse effects on their health. Additionally, homeless individuals cannot collect welfare without proper identification. The good news is that a homeless individual with physical or mental disabilities (which prevents them from working,) can obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with just their Social Security Number. SSA will look up a Social Security number in their system and ask a few questions to confirm a homeless individual’s identity.
The bottom line is that Charlotte residents should have the right to give freely from their hearts out on the street, if they choose to do so. While it is certainly wise to discourage handing out money that may enable an addiction, a humanizing interaction between a homeless individual and an area resident may just be the right measure towards tackling substance/alcohol abuse.
www.examiner.com/homelessness-in-charlotte/clt-s-homeless-population-many-lack-identification