Bill aims to help Utah's homeless population get ID cards
A bill is aiming to give one of Utah's most vulnerable communities a better chance to get jobs, while simultaneously giving them power to help themselves. (Photo: KUTV)
(KUTV) — A state lawmaker is looking to give one of Utah's most vulnerable communities a better chance to get jobs, while simultaneously giving them power to help themselves.
House Bill 352, sponsored by Rep. Rosemary Lesser, would require the Utah Department of Workforce Services to coordinate with the driver's license division to had out identification cards to the homeless, free of charge.
The lack of IDs is a set back only adding to the state's growing problems.
Salt Lake alone has poured a ton of money into resources addressing encampments and the state adding millions to help too.
The hope is that ID cards would enable more people to enter the workforce, giving homeless shelters and other related services the ability to issue verifications.
So far, the bill has won unanimous approval in the house economic development committee and is being considered by the full House.
The legislative session ends on March 5.
Utah’s homeless population is growing since the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn, a 2News Investigation found. Watch the full report on 2News at 10 p.m. on Monday.
