Mailed to subscribers only. Unsubscribe link at the bottom of this message.
September, 2006
Chaplain Dave Goodall
|
Chats with the Chaplain
Labor Day, 2006
It's been some months since our last newsletter, and a great deal has happened. It's fitting that this newsletter be written on Labor Day, because a job is one of those things that can assist someone in getting off the street. That brings us back to the essential service that the Chaplaincy so ably performs. We obtain identity documents for United States citizens who through accident, disaster, illness, or theft have lost them, thus enabling them to find assistance, employment and housing. Unfortunately, the homeless are the most vulnerable to these losses and the least able to rectify them. That is exactly why we do what we do. This is becoming increasingly difficult, and in some cases, impossible, thus sentencing some people to life on the street.
The Federal Government, in the interest of Homeland Security, has mandated that states only issue birth certificates to individuals who can prove their right to obtain them. There is broad latitude in how this is done, and of those states which require specific identification documents, most have alternative lists which are within reach of most homeless, if they happen to be born in that state. There are, however, a few states, which have so narrowed the list of acceptable identification that some homeless will never be able to qualify, and therefore never be able to obtain an ID. For example, some states will accept two recent utility bills showing your current address. Some will allow a parent with identification to apply, which is difficult if our subject is in his/her sixties and their parents have been dead for years. One state will accept a current student ID from one of its state universities. The Director of Vital Records for the State of New York wrote that he "recognizes that these may be problematical for some homeless people". He also suggested that they could have their lawyer apply for them or get an Arizona government agency to request a birth certificate.
On top of becoming more difficult to get, birth certificates are required for more things than they used to be. They are now necessary for AHCCCS health coverage, food stamps, general assistance, assisted housing, Social Security benefits and, in Phoenix, even for a duplicate SS card. Of course they are still required for an Arizona ID, which is necessary to get a birth certificate in most states. We at the chaplaincy are now requesting twice as many birth certificates as we used to even a short time ago, which is much more time consuming and expensive. We now spend as much on birth certificates as we do on the ID's themselves. The majority of the Chaplain's time is spent trying to figure out ways to comply with the requirements of the various states. It may seem unnecessary to many of you, but I urge you to get duplicate birth documents and store them all in separate, safe places. It is only going to get more and more difficult to get them.
On some brighter notes, through cooperation with various agencies in the Day Resource Center, we have been able to assist a number of families with infants to get off the streets, into family shelters and then into housing. We have volunteers at the Chaplaincy who provide double service by collecting clothing, toys and household items for the shelter and other items for their first apartment. Because we are located in the same building with so many service organizations and agencies, we not only get to refer our guests directly to someone who can help them, but we can check on their progress and status. Those agencies have the same abilities in referring people to the Chaplaincy, which they do in large numbers. We continue to help hundreds of people each month, of whom, an average of 200 or more are new to the streets and to the Chaplaincy's services. Thanks to David Kidder at Armature. Net, we can now add pictures of each client to their file. This prevents identity theft, and means we have the largest collection of identifying photos of homeless people and next-of-kin information.
Now I have some really big and very special news. As many of you know, we are having our third friend raising, fundraising banquet on September 21, 2006. We have been looking for a corporate sponsor to underwrite the cost of the dinner, and are grateful to be able to announce that Avondale Toyota has agreed to be our sponsor. I am looking forward to a long and growing relationship with them as we battle homelessness, one person at a time.
This is being sent to email addresses all over the country, and I have two hopes:
- That you will forward it to any you feel may be interested in the work that we are doing, asking them to sign up for future letters at www.azhomeless.org.
- Please go online to your birth state's vital records website and get duplicate copies of all your family's birth certificates. You might also check the state's identification requirements where you reside, to see if it's possible for a homeless person, who's possessions consist of the clothes on their back, to somehow get the certificate they need to change their life. With your understanding of the problem, you may be able to influence your state's policy. You will be doing nothing less than lifting a life sentence to filth, danger, illness and death from the shoulders of a homeless man or woman.
I will close with an ongoing story. A young man came to Arizona from Pennsylvania by way of Maryland. When he got off the bus in Phoenix, someone stole his luggage, which contained his driver's license, SS card and birth certificate. He reported it to the police, who immediately asked for identification, and didn't hold out much hope of recovering his property. Crimes like this don't have a high priority, mostly because no one understands the true aftermath of this kind of theft. The young man came here looking for work and a brighter future. Undaunted by being victimized, he went out and within a few days got a job paying $44.00 per hour! All he needed to start work was an Arizona driver's license, his Social Security card and his birth certificate. Born in Pennsylvania, he cannot get his birth certificate without a picture ID that shows his current address. He cannot get an Arizona ID without an original birth certificate. He cannot get his motor vehicle record with out an ID, and he needs both a valid state ID and an original birth certificate to get a duplicate Social Security card. He needs his motor vehicle record and his birth certificate before Arizona will issue him a driver's license. Instead of earning $44.00 per hour, he is living in a homeless shelter, while we try to figure out some way around this maze. His future employer continues to hold the job for him, but won't for much longer. This is the kind of story you help correct and prevent.
Thank you, and God bless you all,
Dave Goodall, Chaplain
Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless
1125 W. Jackson St.
Phoenix AZ 85007
Phone: 602-417-9853 - Fax: 602-258-2675
Website: www.azhomeless.org
E-mail: chaplaindave@azhomeless.org