If you don t have a government-issued ID in Miami-Dade, you can t rent an apartment, register your kid for school, check out a library book, open a bank account, seek medical care, or get vaccinated for COVID-19.
People living without IDs a group that includes minors, formerly incarcerated people, the homeless, undocumented residents, victims of domestic violence, and those in the process of a gender transition can t prove who they are and are often barred from accessing basic services. But community advocacy groups are trying to change that. A community ID is a small piece of the broader work of uniting people and helping them feel more of a sense of belonging in their community, says the Rev. Aaron Lauer. Lauer s Congregational United Church of Christ in Coral Gables is a member of People Acting for Community Together (PACT), an interfaith group that has been pushing for a community ID program in Miami-Dade for years.