GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Director

December 8, 2015
The Honorable David Grosso
Councilmember At-Large
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 402
Washington, DC 20004
RE: Access to Identity Documents
Dear Councilmember Grosso:
I am writing in response to your letter dated October 20, 2015 with recommendations to improve policies
and programs that assist residents experiencing homelessness to obtain identity documents. As you noted,
barriers to accessing identify documents can be a major setback for people transitioning out of
homelessness. As you also noted in your letter, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has been
working closely with the Department of Motor Vehicles (which also received a similar letter from your
office) to improve accessibility to identity cards and drivers licenses, and I am pleased to report progress
on recommendations you presented.
Please find DHS responses to your recommendations below.
Recommendation 1: Publicize online the list of current approved Certified Providers for DHS
Homelessness Verification Vouchers. Please include any eligibility requirements the providers have for
program participants or target populations.
DHS response 1: A current list of approved certified providers for DHS Homelessness
Verification Vouchers with eligibility requirements can be found on the DHS website at
http://dhs.dc.gov/node/1127166
Recommendation 2: Expand the list of approved Certified Providers to better meet the demand from
individuals experiencing homelessness.
DHS response 2: There are currently 34 certified providers for DHS Homelessness Verification
Vouchers. In order to become a certified provider, the organization must provide walk-in
services for people experiencing homelessness, have a system in place for accepting mail on
behalf of their clients, and submit a Request for Certification Provider form to the DHS
Homeless Services office for approval. Once the interested provider is approved, DHS notifies
the DMV of the providers status as a Certified Provider, and DMV will then honor Social
Service Proof of Residency forms issued from that provider. DHS accepts applications to
become a Certified Provider on an on-going basis.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
P.O. Box 91920, 64 New York Avenue, N.E., Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20002 (202) 671-4200 Fax (202) 671-4326

Letter to Councilmember Grosso

Page 2

Recommendation 3: Remove from the application to become a Certified Provider the requirement that
an individual reside at the address of the certifier. The current language would technically exclude nonresidential direct services agencies working with homeless populations from becoming certified
providers.
DHS response 3: The majority of Certified Providers are not residential providers. The
requirements to become a certified provider are that the organization must provide walk-in
services for people experiencing homelessness, have a system in place for accepting mail on
behalf of their clients, and submit a Request for Certification Provider form to the DHS
Homeless Services office for approval. Any organization interested in becoming a Certified
Provider should contact DHS.
Recommendation 4: Decouple the vouchers from mailing addresses, allowing homeless individuals who
have a friend or family member willing to accept mail on their behalf to list that address. It is my
understanding that an agreement on this issue was made some time ago between the Interagency Council
on Homelessness and the DMV but nothing has been implemented.
DHS response 4: DHS is working with DMV, through the Interagency Council on
Homelessness, to amend the Social Service Proof of Residency form to allow for the use of a
contact address (e.g. family or friend), where mail can be received on the applicants behalf.
Recommendation 5: Work with the DMV to allow homeless individuals to apply for a drivers license if
they can provide appropriate credentials, including changing your Memorandum of Understanding with
DMV to allow for this.
DHS response 5: The Social Service Proof of Residency form is also being amended to allow
people experiencing homelessness to use the form to apply for and receive a drivers license.
However, while fees are waived for identity cards as they are a necessity, there is a DMV fee
associated with obtaining a drivers license.
Thank you for the opportunity to address your concerns.
Sincerely,

Laura Green Zeilinger

Director

cc:

The Honorable Yvette Alexander, Ward 7 Councilmember

Brenda Donald, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
Lucinda M. Babers, Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles