In the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda County), government-issued identification (ID) is required for housing, employment, healthcare, and public benefits. However, unhoused individuals face major barriers to obtaining ID due to cost, documentation requirements, lack of address, and fragmented systems. As a result, lack of ID functions as a systemic legal barrier that reinforces houselessness.

What This Means for Unhoused Individuals

Obtaining Foundational Documents

• Birth certificate: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records.aspx

• Social Security card: https://www.ssa.gov/number-card

Barrier: Fees, prior documentation, and mailing access are required.

Providing Proof of Residency

• Lease, utility bill, or shelter verification

Barrier: Many unhoused individuals lack a stable address.

Applying for a California ID

• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/identification-id-cards/

Key Policy: California offers a No-Fee ID Program (DL 933) for unhoused individuals.

Law: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=14902.&lawCode=VEH

Barrier: Requires verification from shelters or nonprofits.

Verification and Mailing

Barriers: Missing records delay approval; IDs are mailed and often lost without stable access.

Why This Matters

Without ID, individuals cannot:

• Access housing systems or shelters

• Enroll in Medi-Cal

• Obtain employment

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognizes documentation as a major barrier: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/barrier_design_guidance.pdf

San Francisco Homeless Response System (the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing): https://www.sf.gov/departments--homelessness-and-supportive-housing

Barriers:

• No stable address

• “ID to get ID” documentation loop

• Fees and indirect costs

• Fragmented agencies (DMV, Social Security Administration, county records)

• Document loss during encampment sweeps: https://www.aclunorcal.org/press-releases/san-francisco-supervisors-unanimously-approve-settlement-requiring-city-protect-unhoused/

Healthcare Impact

Without ID, individuals may face:

• Delayed Medi-Cal enrollment

• Loss of coverage

• Reduced access to care

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: https://www.cms.gov/

Policy Solutions

• Expand No-Fee ID access (DL 933)

• Allow shelter/United States Postal Service addresses

• Mobile DMV outreach to encampment and shelters

• Integrate ID services with local systems: https://socialservices.alamedacountyca.gov/index.page

• Legal aid support:

  • https://ebclc.org/

  • https://baylegal.org/

Conclusion

In the Bay Area, lack of ID is a structural barrier to housing, healthcare, and employment. Expanding access to ID is a high-impact, locally actionable solution to reduce houselessness.

Works Cited

Barrier Design Guidance for HUD Assisted Projects near Hazardous Facilities, www.hud.gov/sites/documents/barrier_design_guidance.pdf. Accessed 3 June 2026. 

“Can Homeless People Get the Real Id?” KALW, 9 Jan. 2020, www.kalw.org/show/crosscurrents/2020-01-09/can-homeless-people-get-the-real-id. 

“Code Section.” California Code, VEH 14902., leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=14902.&lawCode=VEH. Accessed 3 June 2026. 

Health, Department of Public. “Vital Records.” Vital Records, 21 Mar. 2026, www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records.aspx. 

“Home - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.” CMS.Gov, www.cms.gov/. Accessed 3 June 2026. 

“Home.” East Bay Community Law Center, 6 Feb. 2025, ebclc.org/. 

“Homelessness and Supportive Housing.” San Francisco City Seal, www.sf.gov/departments--homelessness-and-supportive-housing. Accessed 3 June 2026. 

“ID Cards.” California DMV, 20 Feb. 2026, www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/identification-id-cards/. 

“San Francisco Supervisors Unanimously Approve Settlement Requiring the City to Protect Unhoused People’s Belongings.” ACLU of Northern California, 9 Sept. 2025, www.aclunorcal.org/press-releases/san-francisco-supervisors-unanimously-approve-settlement-requiring-city-protect-unhoused/. 

“Social Security Number & Card.” Social Security, www.ssa.gov/number-card. Accessed 3 June 2026.

“Welcome to Alameda County Social Services Agency.” Alameda County Social Services Agency, 2 June 1970, socialservices.alamedacountyca.gov/index.page.