Addressing the need of follow-up care for individuals who are experiencing homelessness, being discharged from the hospital, and/or frequent users of the emergency department.

In 2020 the Hospital Transition Workgroup became an ad-hoc committee, and as such will convene when specific action items arise.

A key barrier for people seeking employment, housing, utilities, medical care, and participation in essential programs and services that support a healthy and successful life is their inability to obtain legal identification. This may include state issued driver's license as well as other ID cards which help a person to access programs and services. Vital documents, such as a birth certificate, divorce papers, social security cards, are often additional documentation necessary to support this process.

The ID Task Force is a subgroup of the Homeless Healthcare Collaboration (HHC) dedicated to breaking barriers for individuals who do not have proper identification, which leads to the inability to receive services, secure a job, and open a bank account or vote. State agencies as well as human service agencies throughout Michigan identify barriers and possible solutions to ensure that those who are homeless have a realistic way to obtain identification documents. We have partnered with a variety of groups that are working collectively to achieve this goal including:

• Increase Economic Security Workgroup – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
• Oakland County Clerk, Lisa Brown
• Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness State ID Taskforce
• Legislative Action Committee
• ID Task Forces in Calhoun, Genesee and Kalamazoo counties
• Michigan Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity
• Michigan Interagency Council on Homelessness
• Social Security Administration
• Vital Records Office – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Recent accomplishments include partnering with Oakland County Clerk, Lisa Brown, to implement a vital document fee reduction / waiver for people who are experiencing homelessness. This makes it easier for those with economic need to secure these vital documents from Oakland County without delay. It's been so successful that similar models have been implemented by other Michigan counties who participate in the ID Task Force.

We are also working with the Michigan Secretary of State on a pilot program to streamline the State ID process for people experiencing homelessness. Documents such as utility bills or a lease are impossible to produce for someone experiencing homelessness. This pilot allows for the use of some "exception" documents which meet the proof standard for legal presence but are accessible to the individual.

Contact

If you would like to know more about the Identification Task Force, please contact Genessa Doolittle at 248-496-4590 or doolittleg@oakgov.com

Oakland County Warming & Cooling Centers

Affirmations LBGTQ+ Community Center

290 W 9 Mile Road, Ferndale MI 48220

Open: Monday - Saturday 10am - 9pm

Salter Community Center

1545 E Lincoln Avenue, Royal Oak MI 48067

Open: When police declare it is open

Troy Community Center - LOBBY

3179 Livernois, Troy MI 48083

Open: Monday - Friday 5am - 9pm, Saturday 7am - 5pm, Sunday 8am - 4pm

December 31 hours - 8am - 2pm

January 1 hours - 12noon - 5pm

Welcome Inn Day Center - Winter Season - Adult Only Emergency Shelter

Day Center Location: 1717 W 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak MI 48073

Overnight Location: Rotating group of churches

Open December 4th, 2023 - March 3rd, 2024

Welcome Inn hours: Monday - Friday 7am - 7pm

Overnight Host hours: 7 days/week, 7pm - 7am

*Guests must register at Welcome Inn, Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm*

Check website: www.sochwi.org or call 248-850-3219 for capacity.

Guest info: https://www.sochwi.org/about-5

Pontiac Public Library

60 E Pike Street, Pontiac MI 48342

Open: Monday - Thursday 10am - 9pm, Friday - Saturday 10am - 5:30pm, Closed Sunday