Compassion – Vision – Action

How It All Began

In November of 1987, the Rev. Gerald Roseberry spent a month living among the homeless in downtown Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. He chose to do this so he could understand the plight of the homeless and identify how his church could best assist the homeless community.

While assuming the identity of someone experiencing homelessness, Rev. Roseberry noted that the lack of personal identification documents was a serious impediment, preventing the homeless from accessing services to aid them in regaining their self-sufficiency.

As a result of his month of self-imposed homelessness, Reverend Gerald Roseberry founded the Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless in 1988.

What began as a small outreach effort in 1988, has evolved into an established office on the Keys for Change campus in downtown Phoenix and partnership programs across the Valley. In September of 2014, The Chaplaincy officially changed its name to the Homeless ID Project.

The Power of Partnership To Help End Homelessness in Arizona

At the Homeless ID Project, we know that ending homelessness doesn’t happen alone – it happens through partnership and community.  This video celebrates the incredible network of community partners, agencies, and supporters who come together every day to help people take that first step out of homelessness: obtaining identification.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the Homeless ID Project, we believe identification is the first step toward stability. Every day, we meet individuals who are ready to rebuild their lives but are held back by one barrier: the lack of identification.

We work closely with partners, donors, volunteers, and community organizations to remove these barriers for people experiencing homelessness.

If you’re new to the Homeless ID Project, this page will help you understand what we do, who we help, and why identification is such a critical first step toward rebuilding a life. Explore the answers to our most frequently asked questions below to learn how our services work and how you can support this mission.

The Homeless ID Project helps people experiencing homelessness obtain IDs and birth certificates. These important documents are the first step towards jobs, housing, and stability.

A valid ID is required for employment, housing, healthcare, and other vital services (source:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-9).  Without identification, people remain locked out of opportunities to rebuild their lives.
 ➡️ See why identification is essential → learn more 

Homelessness has many causes: domestic violence, job loss, rising rents, or medical and mental health challenges (source: https://endhomelessness.org/overview/).  A missing ID is often what keeps people from getting help or employment.
 ➡️ Explore the root causes and how we help break the cycle → learn more

Solving homelessness requires both compassion and practical solutions. Ids are critically important for ending homelessness because they are vital for accessing jobs, housing and other vital services (source: https://homelesslaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Photo-ID-Barriers-Faced-by-Homeless-Persons-2004.pdf).   Supporting organizations like the Homeless ID Project removes one of the biggest barriers identification, helping people get jobs and housing.
 ➡️ See how your support creates solutions → learn more 

No. Our services are 100% funded by our generous donors, sponsors, and the community, not by government funding.
 ➡️ See how your donation directly helps people rebuild → learn more 

Through our partnership with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, clients can use an on-campus “TeleMVD” station to connect virtually with MVD staff and obtain their IDs — no travel required (source: https://azdot.gov/news/adot-homeless-id-project-join-forces-human-services-campus)

All services are provided at no cost to clients. The costs of documents are fully covered by donors and sponsors.
 ➡️ Help fund an ID for someone in need → learn more 

The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit allows you to redirect a portion of your state taxes to qualifying charitable organization like The Homeless ID Project.   

  • The maximum QCO credit donation amount for 2025:  $495 single, married filing separate or head of household; $987 married filing joint.
  • The maximum QCO credit donation amount for 2026: $506 single, married filing separate or head of household; $1,009 married filing joint. 

(source:  https://azdor.gov/tax-credits/credits-contributions-qcos-and-qfcos)

 ➡️ Learn how to turn your taxes into hope → learn more 

In 2025, we provided 14,907 identification services — all free to clients and funded by donors like you.
 ➡️ See our impact in action → learn more 

Clients can have their IDs and birth certificates securely mailed to the Keys Campus post office, where they can retrieve them safely, even without a home address.  Not having a postal address to receive official documents is a significant barrier when homeless. 

We focus on solving one critical barrier: lack of identification. By addressing this first step, we make it possible for individuals and families seeking jobs, housing, and healthcare. All required identification.

We work with over 60 partners in Phoenix & Tucson, meeting people where they are at and, through our generous sponsors and donors, we are able to pay for these services on behalf of our clients.

You can donate, become a sponsor, or volunteer your time. Every contribution helps someone take their first step out of homelessness.

➡️ Find your way to help → Get Involved

We serve individuals and families in Phoenix, Tucson, and across Arizona through partnerships with local organizations and shelters.
 ➡️ See how we serve communities statewide → learn more