An ecumenical coalition of five downtown churches – First United Methodist, the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, St. James Cathedral, First Presbyterian, and Trinity Lutheran – have united through PICO affiliate Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS) to provide services for the area's homeless population.

After speaking with homeless people and researching the issue with service providers and elected officials, the coalition of churches decided to launch the IDignity program. This program will provide free Florida ID cards to the homeless. Referred to as the "golden ticket," a Florida ID is crucial to access services and obtain employment. Unfortunately, because secondary services (such as a birth certificate or other proof of identity) is often needed, the cost and availability of these services often serves as a barrier for homeless people wishing to get an ID.

By forging alliances and building bridges with partners in Legal Aid at Work, the Health Department, the Florida Dept. of Drivers Licenses, and the Orlando Union Rescue Mission, this group of downtown churches has allowed more to be done on a regular basis—in one place—than ever before to meet critical needs for Orlando's homeless population. 

The first event was held May 28th and was a great success, with 160 clients receiving IDs.  After the three-month pilot program has finished, a community meeting is planned to publicize the project. Additionally, the data captured from this undertaking will better inform the Mayor's Regional Commission on Homelessness to help ensure that the solutions are grounded in the real-life experience of Orlando's homeless population. 

For more information on FOCUS, visit www.focusorlando.org

Media Coverage
One-stop shopping for documents
Our Position: An effort by local churches to help with identification cards can provide fresh starts