A partnership between the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division and the Homeless ID Project has helped more than 8,300 people obtain state-issued IDs in its first year at the Keys to Change campus near downtown Phoenix.

Nearly 6,600 people experiencing instability or homelessness have been able to get replacement driver licenses or state IDs at the campus, while an additional 1,800 were connected with help available beyond the location, according to a release from the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Getting a state-issued ID is essential for obtaining housing, services and employment, ADOT officials said.

The Arizona Motor Vehicle Division’s presence began with an on-site representative and has transitioned to a TeleMVD location connecting clients with live assistance.  

“The TeleMVD setup inside the Homeless ID Project offices is an exciting opportunity for MVD to use technology to provide services at places they are needed at the moment our customers need them,” Eric Jorgensen, ADOT MVD director, said.

“With TeleMVD directly on site, we are excited to assist the Homeless ID Project with their community efforts helping those individuals experiencing homelessness.”

The MVD presence complements the efforts of the Homeless ID Project, which helps provide documents, including replacement copies of birth certificates from all 50 states, on the Keys to Change campus, according to the release.

The location, 204 S. 12th Ave., Phoenix, is set up with the computer equipment, printer, scanner and camera necessary to help fulfill requests as a TeleMVD office in which customers can conduct transactions with MVD representatives located elsewhere.

TeleMVD allows a customer to complete dozens of vehicle and driver license services without having to travel to an MVD office, officials said.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.