Tens of thousands of veterans need IDs to find jobs, housing, medical care, and more. In 2022, Project ID will demand that state legislatures across the country expand access to IDs to veterans by passing legislation that provides #freeidsforvets.
This is Beth.
Beth is an Army Veteran. When we met Beth, she had been without an ID for 9 years. She had difficulty with banking and some other activities. Because of the difficulty getting around on her walker, she had not tried to get an ID and relied on her Veteran's ID, which allowed her to get her medication but not much else. Now that she has an ID she plans on pursuing getting qualified to get into either an assisted living apartment or a nursing home.
Veterans need IDs for housing. According to the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1, on a single night in January 2020, 37,252 veterans were experiencing homelessness in the US, 8% of all homeless adults.
This is Steven.
Steven is an Army veteran. His belongings and ID were stolen while he was homeless. He receives VA disability and needs an ID for banking access and to be able to get a job once he levels up. Steven is in recovery and trying to get back on his feet. He hopes to one day return to radiology school.
Veterans need IDs for medical care. According to medical researchers, in 2019, 1.5 million veterans remained uninsured and 2.0 million went without needed care due to cost.
This is Gary.
Gary is a 22 year Navy veteran. With a long history of homelessness, he was being assisted with housing through the homeless veteran program at the VOA. He lost his driver’s license and without it he wasn’t able to access the funds from his retirement checks. He also needed an ID to access supplemental employment. He ended up having a $45 suspension fee on his record from an old issue that had since been resolved. We covered the suspension fee and replaced his driver’s license for a total of $72.
A current and valid government-issued ID is required for a Veteran ID Card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
VA Cards cannot be used to:
Prove eligibility for any federal benefits
Access military bases or installations
Present as a form of identification at the airport
Check into a VA hospital
Show as proof of retirement from the Armed Forces
This is Roy.
Roy is a disabled army veteran with a limited income. His driver’s license was suspended after one of his children got a red light ticket using his car and he was unaware. Although he addressed the ticket in court, he didn't have the funds to cover the $45 DMV suspension fee. He also didn't have the funds to cover his $48 DL renewal + $15 late fee. We covered the total cost of $108 to help get him back on track. Without an updated driver’s license he has struggled with accessing resources to pay his electric bill. He also needs an ID to enroll his son in school.
Unfortunately a few days after getting his driver’s license, Roy’s wallet was lost or stolen while he was on the bus. We assisted him with filing a lost item request, but it was not found. He later verified that his food stamps were used fraudulently so it was likely it was stolen. We assisted him with replacing his lost driver’s license immediately.
In 2022, Project ID Action Fund will work with state legislatures to provide free IDs to veterans. Our fight to increase access to IDs for the over 21 million American adults who do not have ID starts here. But we need your help:
Donate to our campaign.
Volunteer to make phone calls, write letters, and fight for change in your state.
Connect us with veteran’s organizations advocating for better lives and opportunities for veterans.