6.1 Overview and Summary
Accessing services often involves providing valid, government-issued identification (ID). For example, Social Insurance Numbers are required for filing income taxes and accessing government programs and benefits. Opening a bank account requires presentation of at least one piece of government-issued ID. When one is unable to produce valid ID, one cannot apply, and therefore cannot receive the service.
Applying for ID can be completed in person at relevant government agencies or through online application processes (Service Canada lists helpful links at http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/lifeevents/wallet.shtml).
However, individuals who live in unstable and complex circumstances often experience difficulties obtaining and maintaining the ID required for services. Obtaining ID often requires proof of identification (i.e. getting ID means needing to already have ID) as well as having the resources to complete application processes. The following chart provides information regarding various types of ID.
|
Type of ID |
Cost |
Location |
Other Information |
|
Health Card (OHIP) |
$0 |
Any ServiceOntario office across the region |
Residents under 15½ or over 80 may renew by mail. All others must go to the office. |
|
Birth Certificate |
$20-$40 varies by Province |
By mail or on-line with a credit card |
Must apply to the Province in which you were born. |
|
Immigrant Record of Landing |
$30 or free if on OW/ODSP/CPP /OAS/GIS |
Waterloo/Wellington Canadian Immigration Centre 29 Duke St. E., Kitchener |
Must be a permanent resident of Canada or a naturalized Canadian citizen who once was a permanent resident. |
|
Social Insurance # |
1st card is free and replacement copies are $10 |
Service Canada Centre at 409 Weber St W, Kit. or 350 Conestoga Blvd., Camb. or by mail |
|
|
Ontario Photo ID |
$35 |
ServiceOntario 1151 Victoria Street N., Kit. 1400 Weber Street E., Kit. 105 Lexington Road, Kit. 561 Hespeler Road, Camb. |
For those without a valid drivers licence. |
|
Drivers Licence |
$125 initially $75 for renewal |
Any ServiceOntario office across the region |
|
|
Passport |
$87 for adults $37 children 3-15 $22 children 0-2 |
Passport Canada at 40 Weber St., E, Kitchener or Canada Post Outlet, 33 Water St. N., Cambridge |
|
Identification supports, such as ID Clinics, assist individuals to obtain government-issued identification. ID Clinics available in Waterloo Region typically assist people who do not have valid identification to access a health card, birth certificate, record of landing and social insurance number. These services are focused mostly on supporting people who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, new Canadians and Aboriginal people. Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program may access discretionary benefits to pay for ID for their clients is necessary to determine eligibility or to support access to employment. Typically the support can only be offered one-time.
As of July 2011, for people who do not have a driver’s licence, the Government of Ontario photo identification card will be recognized as government-issued identification. Individuals experiencing homelessness can provide an institution's address by filing the form “Address Requirement for the Homeless or Marginally Housed Applicants,” which can be accessed at: http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetFileAttach/023-SR-LD-050E~1/$File/SR-LD-050E.pdf
There are two agencies that provide ID Supports:
- The Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre
- The Cambridge Shelter Corporation
6.2 Programs
6.2.1 Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre
|
Program |
ID Clinic |
Since: 2000 |
# Served 2011: 451 |
|
Funded: Local Health Integration Network |
|||
|
Program Description |
The clinic provides assistance to people within Kitchener-Waterloo to obtain ID primarily to support access to and maintenance of OHIP coverage (includes OHIP card, birth certificate and/or Record of Landing). For individuals experiencing homelessness, KDCHC can register individuals for OHIP without an address.
First-come first-serve drop in ID Clinic services are available at Mary’s Place on Mondays at 12:00 pm, on Tuesdays at St. John’s Kitchen from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and on Wednesdays at Charles Street Men’s Hostel at 9:00 am.
Can also work with patients in hospital with no fixed address and no health coverage and others who cannot access the outreach locations by making an appointment with the community development worker at the direct line listed below. |
||
|
Seek to Serve |
- Low Wage Individuals - Lowest Income Individuals (homeless) - Life Change (immigrants) |
||
|
Capacity to Serve |
Can serve up approximately 500 individuals in a year. Budget of approximately $7,000 to support costs to replace ID. |
||
|
Eligibility |
Individuals experiencing homelessness or at-risk of housing loss People living in the downtown Kitchener area New Canadians Aboriginal People living in Kitchener or Waterloo |
||
|
Languages |
English |
||
|
Locations |
Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre 59 Frederick Street Kitchener, ON N2H 2L3
YWCA Mary’s Place 84 Frederick Street Kitchener, ON N2H 2L7
St. John’s Kitchen 97 Victoria Street North, second floor Kitchener, ON N2H 5C1
Charles Street Men’s Hostel 63 Charles Street. E., Kitchener, ON N2G 2P3 |
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|
Contact Information |
Doug Rankin, Community Development Worker (519) 745-4404 ext. 207 |
||
|
Information Last Updated |
April 2012 |
||
6.2.2 Cambridge Shelter Corporation
|
Program |
ID Clinic (part of Welcome Aboard Drop in Centre services) |
Since: 2003 |
# Served in 2011: 142 |
|
Funded: Within existing funding |
|||
|
Program Description |
Welcome Aboard: Drop-in Centre is located at The Bridges and is open Monday to Friday from 7:00am - 8:00 p.m. At the drop-in, people can access a wide variety of programs and services designed to help them move forward. Some of these include medical clinic, identification clinic, clean needle exchange program, literacy programs, social and recreational programming, trustee program, and various groups and meetings. Through partnership with more than 40 other community agencies, we are able to provide a number of services and prevent duplication.
Each Tuesday (except July) can drive up to five people to the ServiceOntario office in Kitchener to access health cards (assisted approximately 107 people in 2011). Assist people to complete paperwork and mail applications for birth certificates (assisted approximately 35 people in 2011). Sometimes assist with accessing records of landing and social insurance numbers. Can have identification mailed to the Bridges and will keep copies of ID on file for people. |
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|
Seek to Serve |
- Low Wage Individuals - Lowest Income Individuals - Life Change |
||
|
Capacity to Serve |
Could serve up to 220 with Health Cards. Could serve up to 350 people with birth certificates if person comes with funding or further funding could be accessed. Used to exclusively assist those accessing the Bridges but now serve the broader community. Currently operate with budget of $5,000 but to fully provide program in Cambridge would require $18,000. |
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|
Eligibility |
16 years of age and up |
||
|
Languages |
English |
||
|
Locations |
Cambridge Shelter Corp. 26 Simcoe Street Cambridge, ON N1R 8P2 |
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|
Contact Information |
Jonathon Chapman, Drop-In Coordinator (519) 624-9305 ext. 102 or Jonathon@cambridgesheltercorp.ca |
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|
Information Last Updated |
May 2012 |
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