Alberta’s government will be using plastic ID cards to fight homelessness.
One of the greatest challenges facing the homeless population is establishing their identity in order to get jobs, start bank accounts and increase their overall standing in the economy.
The provincial government in Alberta will institute a new plastic ID card program to help homeless citizens make the climb out of poverty.
Jonathan Denis, minister of housing and urban affairs, said at a news conference "lack of identification has a domino effect. We want to remove those barriers homeless people face for everything."
Denis elaborated, saying many homeless people in Alberta have jobs, but struggle to maintain a stable income because they constantly have to pay to cash checks because they lack identification. By providing plastic ID cards to all of its citizens, the government can give homeless people the opportunity for economic recovery.
Identification will also help the area's homeless get jobs. According to Denis, the lack of an address or identification makes it difficult for individuals to get hired. Many companies will not hire individuals without these credentials. Giving the homeless IDs is a step towards solving this problem.
Alberta minister, Heather Klimchuk, said this project comes as a result of cooperation between the government and nonprofit organizations. By working together with groups that have an intimate knowledge of the homeless, the government can begin to provide real solutions with plastic ID cards.
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