Officials with Washington's Department of Licensing Visit Camp Hope to Help Homeless Obtain ID Cards

Homeless residents of Spokane's Camp Hope are a little bit closer to reclaiming their lives thanks to the efforts of officials from the Washington Department of Licensing. The agency visited Camp Hope earlier this week in an effort to help residents of the settlement get identification cards. Because many people who live at Camp Hope do not have IDs, they are not able to do basic tasks, such as apply for a job or provide information for housing assistance.

Dorothy Ana Baxter, a resident of Camp Hope, says that having an ID is a major benefit for her. Baxter has been living at the settlement for several months, unable to apply for housing because she could never present any form of identification. Baxter adds that her problem was exacerbated because she did not have an address. Now, with ID in hand, Baxter says that she is "over-enthused" for her future prospects at leaving homelessness.

Sandra Najera, a community outreach manager with the Department of Licensing, says that improving the lives of the citizens of Washington is one of the major goals of the department. Najera notes that having an ID enables people to do a number of things, including applying for jobs, opening a bank account, and even seeking medical care. Najera adds that the simplicity of having an ordinary plastic card with your personal information on it can open doors for the homeless.

Officials with the Department of Licensing say that they will be visiting Camp Hope each Wednesday for the next three weeks to help residents of the settlement obtain state identification cards. The department's effort is part of a coordinated push by city officials to close Camp Hope and help the settlement's residents come out of homelessness. In total, a little over 400 people currently reside at Camp Hope.